CHEM 162

Plant
Biochemistry
 Exam 4
 Plant Phenolics
 Phytohormones and Related
Compounds
 Biochemical Basis for Plant
Resistance

17 May 2019
(Friday, Class hour)
 Plant
Hormones
Phytohormones and Related
Compounds

1. Auxins
2. Gibberellins
3. Cytokinins
4. Abscisic acid
5. Ethylene
Source: Goodwin and Mercer, 1983
A. Auxins
• Promote cell enlargement, cell division,
vascular differentiation, root initiation &
flowering and increase growth rate
• Most active ingredient in most rooting
compounds

• Many microorganisms involved in auxin

synthesis in pure culture and in soil

• Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA)

 one of the most common
auxins
 primary auxin in most
plants
 The endogenous pool of plant IAA may be
altered by the acquisition of IAA that has been
secreted by soil bacteria.

 In this regard, the level of IAA synthesized by

the plant is important in determining whether
bacterial IAA stimulates or suppresses plant
growth.

 In plant roots, endogenous IAA may be

suboptimal or optimal for growth and additional
IAA that is taken up from bacteria could alter
the IAA level to either optimal or supraoptimal,
resulting in plant growth promotion or
inhibition, respectively.
Source: Goodwin and Mercer, 1983
Source: Goodwin and Mercer, 1983
Root Development
 Coffee

Farmer’s BIOTECH Plant

Practice Growth Regulator
Formulation
Marcotting

Farmer’s Synthetic BIOTECH Plant

Growth
Practice Hormone
Regulator
Formulation
Treated Hibiscus rosa-sinensis var. Australian
Cartwheel at 4 weeks after treatment application.
Phytohormones and Related
Compounds

1. Auxins
2. Gibberellins
3. Cytokinins
4. Abscisic acid
5. Ethylene
Gibberellins (GAs)

 Constitute a large family of tetracyclic

diterpenoid carboxylic acids.

 Occur naturally in plants or fungi.

 These compounds are members of

higher plant hormones characterized by
the ent-gibberellane skeleton with a
carboxyl group at carbon 7.
B. Gibberellins (GA)

• Regulate stem growth in higher plants

• Promote germination of dormant seeds

• Induce flowering in plants

• Increase flower size on certain

ornamentals (e.g. “gibbing” camellias)

• Stimulate fruit set

 20
1 11
9
2 12
10

A B C
5 8 13
3 6 14

4 D 17
18 16
19 15

O7
H

The ent-Gibberellane Skeleton

 Mevalonic
Acetyl-CoA HMG-CoA acid

Mevalonic acid Mevalonic acid

pyrophosphate phosphate

Dimethylallyl
Isopentenyl pyrophosphate
pyrophosphate

Farnesyl
Geranyl
pyrophosphate
pyrophosphate
Geranylgeranyl
pyrophosphate

The Polyisoprenoid Pathway

Source: Heldt, 3rd ed (2005)
Source: Heldt, 3rd ed (2005)
Biosynthetic Pathways to GA and ent-Kaurenoids
Plants…

Chemical Structure of GA1

Fungus…

Chemical Structure of Gibberellic Acid (GA3)

Source: Goodwin and Mercer, 1983
Seed Germination
http://www.science.org.au/sats2004/images/helliwell2.jpg
 Kaurene synthase

http://www.science.org.au/sats2004/images/helliwell2.jpg
http://www.science.org.au/sats2004/images/helliwell2.jpg
 Cacao

BIOTECH Plant Growth

Farmer’s
Regulator Formulation
Practice
Phytohormones and Related
Compounds

1. Auxins
2. Gibberellins
3. Cytokinins
4. Abscisic acid
5. Ethylene
PURINE
Source: Goodwin and Mercer, 1983
C. Cytokinins

• Influence cell division, seed germination,

root development, accumulation of
chlorophyll, leaf expansion and delay
senescence
• Promote axillary bud growth in orchids, day
lilies
• Increase flowering, fruit and seed set

• Improve crop quality, uniformity, size

and yield
Source: Heldt, 3rd ed (2005)
Grafting in Cacao
Phytohormones and Related
Compounds

1. Auxins
2. Gibberellins
3. Cytokinins
4. Abscisic acid
5. Ethylene
 Abscisic acid
Functions:

 Acceleration of the abscission of cotyledonary

petioles in explants
 Inhibition germination
 Inhibition of growth
 Inhibition of IAA-induced bending in coleoptile
 Inhibition of GA-induced synthesis of alpha-
amylase
 Stimulation of stomatal closure in response to
water stress
 Induce seed and bud dormancy
Source: Heldt, 3rd ed (2005)
Source: Goodwin and Mercer, 1983