Auxin vs. Gibberellin — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 15, 2024
Auxin promotes cell elongation and root growth, while gibberellin stimulates stem elongation and seed germination in plants.
Difference Between Auxin and Gibberellin
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Auxin is a plant hormone primarily involved in cell elongation, root initiation, and overall growth regulation. It helps plants maintain their shape and respond to light and gravity. Gibberellin, on the other hand, primarily promotes stem elongation and seed germination. It plays a crucial role in breaking seed dormancy and accelerating the growth of various plant parts.
Auxin is crucial for the directional growth of plants, known as phototropism and gravitropism. It moves to the darker side of the plant, causing cells to elongate and the plant to bend towards the light. Gibberellin also affects growth but is more influential in elongating stems and expanding leaves, leading to taller plants.
In root development, auxin encourages the formation of lateral roots, enhancing the plant's stability and nutrient uptake. While gibberellin can influence root growth, it is more notable for its effect on the elongation of stems and the germination of seeds, particularly in breaking dormancy.
Auxin's effect on plant cells includes increasing their plasticity, making them stretch more easily and facilitating growth. In contrast, gibberellin does not significantly alter cell plasticity but instead promotes the division and elongation of cells, which results in noticeable increases in plant height and size.
Auxin can inhibit the growth of lateral buds, maintaining apical dominance, where the main stem grows more vigorously than the side branches. Gibberellin can counteract this effect by promoting the growth of these lateral buds, thus encouraging a more bushy plant structure.
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Comparison Chart
Primary Function
Cell elongation and root growth
Stem elongation and seed germination
Growth Direction
Promotes phototropism and gravitropism
Promotes overall elongation
Root Development
Encourages lateral root formation
Less effect on roots
Cell Plasticity
Increases cell plasticity
Promotes cell division and elongation
Apical Dominance
Maintains apical dominance
Encourages lateral bud growth
Compare with Definitions
Auxin
A hormone involved in the suppression of lateral bud growth.
High auxin levels maintain the dominance of the main stem over side branches.
Gibberellin
A plant hormone that promotes stem elongation.
Gibberellin treatments can make dwarf plants grow taller.
Auxin
A plant hormone that promotes cell elongation.
Auxin concentrations are higher in the darker side of a plant, causing it to bend towards the light.
Gibberellin
A hormone that enhances cell division and elongation.
Applying gibberellin results in larger leaves and longer stems.
Auxin
A chemical that influences phototropism and gravitropism.
Auxin helps plants orient their growth in response to gravity.
Gibberellin
A substance that breaks seed dormancy.
Gibberellin application is often used to wake seeds from dormancy.
Auxin
A regulator of plant growth and development.
Auxin plays a critical role in the development of fruits and leaves.
Gibberellin
A chemical that stimulates seed germination.
Farmers use gibberellin to ensure seeds sprout uniformly.
Auxin
A substance that regulates root formation.
Gardeners use synthetic auxin to promote root growth in cuttings.
Gibberellin
Gibberellins (GAs) are plant hormones that regulate various developmental processes, including stem elongation, germination, dormancy, flowering, flower development, and leaf and fruit senescence. GAs are one of the longest-known classes of plant hormone.
Auxin
Auxins (plural of auxin ) are a class of plant hormones (or plant-growth regulators) with some morphogen-like characteristics. Auxins play a cardinal role in coordination of many growth and behavioral processes in plant life cycles and are essential for plant body development.
Gibberellin
Any of several plant hormones, such as gibberellic acid, that stimulate stem elongation, seed germination, and other physiological processes.
Auxin
Any of several plant hormones that regulate various functions, including cell elongation.
Gibberellin
(hormone) Any of a class of diterpene plant growth hormones first isolated from the fungus Gibberella fujikuroi.
Auxin
(botany) A class of plant growth substance (often called phytohormones or plant hormones) which play an essential role in coordination of many growth and behavioral processes in the plant life cycle.
Gibberellin
Any of a number plant growth hormones, the first of which was isolated in 1938 from the fungus Gibberella fujikuroi; more than 60 related gibberelins are known. The most important is gibberellin A3, also called gibberellic acid. They are used in agriculture for promoting plant growth.
Auxin
A substance which, in small concentrations, promotes root formation, bud growth, or certain other processes such as fruit ripening or leaf drop in plants.
Gibberellin
A plant hormone isolated from a fungus; used in promoting plant growth
Auxin
A plant hormone that promotes root formation and bud growth
Gibberellin
A regulator of various developmental processes in plants.
Gibberellin is essential for the growth of certain fruits and flowers.
Common Curiosities
Does gibberellin influence root growth?
Gibberellin has a lesser impact on root growth compared to auxin.
How does gibberellin affect plant growth?
Gibberellin stimulates stem elongation, seed germination, and overall growth enhancement.
Can auxin and gibberellin be used together?
Yes, combining them can synergistically promote various growth processes in plants.
What is phototropism, and which hormone regulates it?
Phototropism is the growth of a plant towards light, regulated by auxin.
Can auxin be synthetically produced?
Yes, synthetic auxins are used in agriculture to promote rooting and other growth processes.
What is seed dormancy, and how is it broken?
Seed dormancy is a period of inactivity; gibberellin helps break this dormancy, promoting germination.
What is gravitropism in plants?
Gravitropism is the growth of plants in response to gravity, influenced by auxin.
What is the primary role of auxin in plants?
Auxin promotes cell elongation, root growth, and regulates phototropism and gravitropism.
How does auxin contribute to apical dominance?
Auxin suppresses lateral bud growth, maintaining the dominance of the main stem.
What effect does auxin have on fruit development?
Auxin regulates various stages of fruit development, including cell division and elongation.
Are gibberellins naturally occurring?
Yes, gibberellins are naturally occurring hormones in plants but can also be synthetically produced.
How does gibberellin affect seed germination?
It stimulates the growth processes within the seed, leading to germination.
Can gibberellin be used to enhance crop yield?
Yes, gibberellin treatments can increase crop yield by promoting faster and more uniform growth.
Do gibberellins affect flowering in plants?
Yes, gibberellins can promote flowering and influence the size and quality of flowers.
What is the effect of auxin on leaf growth?
Auxin promotes leaf expansion by increasing cell elongation.
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Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
