What are Auxins?

Auxins are a class of plant hormones (or plant growth stimulants) with some morphogen-like characteristics. Auxins have a cardinal role in coordination of many growth and behavioral processes in the plant’s life cycle and are essential for plant body development.

Auxins were the first of the major plant hormones to be discovered. They derive their name from the Greek word (auxein – “to grow/increase”). Auxin is present in all parts of a plant, although in very different concentrations. The concentration in each position is crucial developmental information, so it is subject to tight regulation through both metabolism and transport. The result is the auxin creates “patterns” of auxin concentration maxima and minima in the plant body, which in turn guide further development of respective cells, and ultimately of the plant as a whole.

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