How do commercial products use plant hormones?

Commercial products use plant hormones to stimulate or inhibit growth, control ripening, and manage plant diseases.

Plant hormones, also known as phytohormones, play a crucial role in the growth and development of plants. They are used in a variety of commercial products to manipulate these processes for beneficial outcomes. For instance, auxins, a type of plant hormone, are used in rooting powders and cloning gels to stimulate root growth in cuttings. This helps gardeners and horticulturists to propagate plants more effectively.

Another hormone, gibberellin, is used in the brewing industry. It stimulates the production of amylase, an enzyme that breaks down starch into maltose, a key process in beer production. Gibberellins are also used to increase the size of fruits and to speed up the germination process in certain seeds.

Ethylene, a gaseous plant hormone, is used commercially to control the ripening of fruits. By exposing fruits to ethylene gas, producers can synchronise the ripening process, ensuring that the fruits are ripe and ready for sale at the same time. This is particularly useful for fruits like bananas and tomatoes that are often harvested green and then ripened in controlled conditions.

Cytokinins, another group of plant hormones, are used in the cosmetic industry. They have anti-ageing properties and are used in creams and lotions to promote cell division and delay the ageing process of skin cells.

Lastly, some plant hormones are used in agriculture to manage plant diseases. For example, salicylic acid, a plant hormone, is used to induce systemic acquired resistance (SAR) in plants, which helps them to resist viral, bacterial, and fungal infections.

In conclusion, plant hormones are used in a wide range of commercial products, from gardening supplies to cosmetics, to improve plant growth, control ripening, and manage plant diseases.