Phytohormones

What Does Phytohormones Mean?

In botany, phytohormones refer to signal molecules that are vital to plant development. These molecules occur in very low concentrations and control various stages of development, including reproductive, stress tolerance, pathogen defense, organ size and embryogenesis. While this molecule only controls specialized glands in animals, it has a more crucial role to play in plants.

Maximum Yield Explains Phytohormones

The term phytohormones is derived from a Greek term that means ‘set in motion’. According to botanists, phytohormones can even be found in algae, as well as in microorganisms like bacteria and fungi. In these organisms, however, they are perceived as secondary metabolites since they do not adopt a hormonal function.

In all plants, this hormone has also been shown to heavily influence transcription levels and gene expression. Phytohormones can also be used to regulate the growth of in-vitro plants, weeds, cultivated plants and even cells. In these cases, an artificial form of manmade phytohormones is used. These are known as PGR’s or Plant Growth Regulators.