Re: Hormones

Robins,

This is just a small part of a conversation I have been having with a
guy in Canada about Indolebutyric Acid, Naphthaleneacetic Acid,
Indoleacetic Acid, and a few other synthetic hormones and their effect
on plants. I'm a litle late in copying you but  I thought some might be
interested even at this point.


Jim Hawes wrote:
> 
> Bill,
> 
> You asked if there was anything that one can put on roots to make them
> grow. IMO, no. Let me explain how I understand how things work. In
> nature, there is always "response to the environment" to consider. One
> of these responses is a "balance" in growth between shoot and root.
> Under good light conditions  (as well as other good conditions) growth
> of shoot is maximized. As more food (carbohydrates) are manufactured and
> moved to roots, then root growth is maximized (if all major
> environmental factors in the soil are optimum). These include good level
> and balance of nutrients in the soil, optimum moisture availability,
> good drainage...meaning good pore space for good balance of air and
> water, and a good balance and percentage of organic matter in process of
> decomposition. The root growth keeps up with shoot growth and balance is
> maintained. Roots provide water and nutrients to the shoot and shoot
> growth increases. Then more food is transferred to the root and
> everything keeps growing better and better with everything coming into
> balance. ...a symbiotic relationship between shoot and root exists.
> 
> Are hormones involved? Yes. Auxins work in above-ground  tissues and
> organs to maintain apical dominance and prevents excessive  side growth
> on plants. Cytokinins produced in roots move upward and maintain the
> balance of cytokinins and auxins in various tissues and organs. Other
> hormones such as ethylene gas, gibberillins and abscissic acid serve
> their functions in respiration, cell division and dormancy respectively
> but they are not nearly as important as auxins and cytokinins in the
> processes we consider to be " growth".
> 
> I know of nothing that one can add to make this process better or to
> make roots grow faster and better.
> 
> Now I know that you are aware of all of this. I am just repeating it to
> you to remind you of how plants grow in a balanced way.
> 
> Professor Jimbo

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