Auxin

Contents

Key Stage 4

Meaning

Auxin is a plant hormone that causes plant cells to elongate.

About Auxin

Auxin is photophobic so it will build up on the darker side of a plant. This causes cells on the shaded side of a plant to elongate, bending a shoot towards the source of light.

Auxin is found in high concentrations in shoot tips.

Using Auxin

Gardeners use auxin to encourage cuttings of plants to grow new roots when they are planted.

Auxin can be used to kill plants by causing them to grow too fast, using up their stores of energy. Since auxin is sprayed on leaves, plants with larger leaves will absorb more and are more likely to die.