27 Apr 2021

The Main Synthetic and Natural Plant Growth Hormones used in Tissue Culture

Anjali Singh, MS

As a content and community manager, I leverage my expertise in plant biotechnology, passion for tissue culture, and writing skills to create compelling articles, simplifying intricate scientific concepts, and address your inquiries. As a dedicated science communicator, I strive to spark curiosity and foster a love for science in my audience.

Table of Contents

PCT Product Catalog

We have got good news!

Plant Cell Technology has extended its catalog of products just for you. This time, we brought you all plant growth regulators (PGRs) or hormones used in tissue culture. If you are confused about the products and their uses, this article is for you. In this article, we talk about different plant growth hormones and their applications in tissue culture, why are they required, and much more!

What are plant growth regulators?

Plant growth regulators, also known as phytohormones, are small chemical molecules produced by plants for their growth and development. Plant hormones are categorized into two groups based on their origin: natural (if produced within plants) and synthetic hormones (if produced in laboratories). There are five major classes of plant growth hormones: Auxin, Cytokinin, Gibberellin, Ethylene, and Abscisic acid. However, we mainly use In this article, we will only analyze the three main hormones that are also called plant growth promoters.

1. Cytokinins

Cytokinins are the growth hormones that promote cell division in plant roots and shoots. Naturally occurring cytokinins are only purine-derived compounds. But there are also some synthetic purine-derived cytokinins which include kinetin, zeatin, and 6-benzylaminopurine. There are other synthetic phenylurea derived cytokinins which include diphenylurea and thidiazuron. Of the naturally occurring cytokinins, zeatin and 2iP (2-isopentenyl adenine) have some use in plant tissue culture.

The use of naturally occurring cytokinin is now widespread because they are expensive and unstable. So, the best alternatives to these hormones include benzylaminopurine, kinetin, and meta topolin. Let’s learn more about these plant hormones.

1a. Benzylaminopurine (BAP)

What is it?

It’s a synthetic cytokinin, a plant growth regulator or plant hormone that supports the development of plants when added to growth media.

Applications

It influences plant growth and development, sets blossoms, and stimulates fruit richness by stimulating cell division.
It modifies MS media for shoot initiation in cultures
It stimulates seed germination.
It’s an adenine-based cytokinin that’s perfect to be supplemented with culture media including MS media, Gamborg’s media, and Chu’s N6 media.

1b. Kinetin

What is it?

It’s a synthetic cytokinin that stimulates cell division when added to growth media such as Murashige and Skoog media in conjunction with auxins.

Applications

It helps to stimulate cell division and promote the proper growth of plants.
It induces callus development and shoots initiation from callus at its later stages.
It’s used for shoot induction and proliferation.

1c. Meta Topolin

What is it?

It’s an adenine-based cytokinin required for the shoot regeneration of cultures.

Applications

It’s used for shoot regeneration.
Plants supplemented with meta topolin cause lesser root inhibition compared to other cytokinins.

2. Auxins

Auxins are a class of growth hormones that promote both cell division and cell elongation. These are categorized into two categories based on their origin: natural if derived from plants and synthetic if produced in labs. The naturally occurring auxin includes IAA (indole-3-acetic acid). Some other auxins include IBA (indole-3-butyric acid), 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), and 1-naphthylacetic acid (NAA). Plant Cell Technology brought you two of these commonly used hormones that include IAA and IBA. Let’s learn more about them.

2a. Indole-3-Acetic Acid (IAA)

What is it?

It’s a natural auxin, a plant growth regulator or plant hormone that is required for the proper growth and development of plants.

Applications

It has a role in cell enlargement and division, tissue differentiation, and response to light and gravity.
In the plant tissue culture, it’s used for the organ development of plants like shoots and roots.
It’s used as a supplement in growth media like MS media or Gamborg’s media for callus initiation.

2b. Indole-3-Butyric Acid (IBA)

What is it?

It’s an auxin family plant hormone that is used in agriculture and tissue culture for the development of plant roots.

Applications

It helps to initiate adventitious root formation in cultured tissues.
It helps to stimulate callus development.
It’s thought to be a precursor of indole acetic acid (IAA).

3. Gibberellic Acid

What is it?

It’s a growth hormone and plant growth regulator that promotes the proper growth and development of plants in culture.

Applications

It has a role in cell division and elongation of tissues in cultures.
In some plants including Arabidopsis and peas, it helps in seed germination.
It’s supplemented with growth media like Murashige and Skoog media for the proper development of young leaves and stems.
It’s essential for the flowering of plants.
It’s also used for agricultural and home gardening uses.

More for you in the PCT store!

That’s not it! Plant Cell Technology brought two more essential elements of your tissue culture media that help to keep your culture healthy and promote proper development.

1. Folic Acid

What is it?

It’s a supplement having a role in the growth and development of cultured plants. It’s also known as folate or B9 Vitamin.

Applications

Folic acid helps to fulfill the deficiency of folates in crops. Any disturbance in a plant's folate metabolism leads to severe growth inhibition and low productivity.
It has an essential role in amino acid metabolism and nucleic acid synthesis in plants.
They can be supplemented to staple crops like rice, potato, and maize that contain insufficient amounts of folates.

2. Myo-Inositol

What is it?

It’s a sugar-like carbohydrate that is important for the normal growth and development of plants.

Applications

It helps in the cell wall formation of plant cells.
It protects the plants against salt stress.
It’s involved in the storage and transportation of some plant hormones like auxin.

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Happy culturing!!