Plant Growth Regulators in Today’s Environment
Posted on August 29, 2024
With farming practices constantly evolving, growers are always looking for new ways to improve their operation. One practice that has gained popularity in recent years is incorporating products into management plans that contain plant growth regulators (PGRs).
With PGRs, growers can increase overall profitability by reducing plant stress, improving root growth, and ultimately increasing yields at harvest. Before applying PGRs on a growing crop, it is important to know what PGRs are and how they work.
What Are They?
Much like nutrients that are essential for plant growth and development, PGRs are key to helping crops thrive. PGRs affect the hormones of a plant to improve flowering, reduce stress and much more.
There are five different types of plant growth regulators: cytokinins, gibberellins, auxins, ethylene, and abscisic acid, with the first three being most commonly used.
Cytokinins synthesize in the roots and then move up into the plant to help stimulate cell division within the plant and increase shoot length. They also promote chlorophyll synthesis which encourages plants to create energy.
Gibberellins are essential for stem elongation, flowering, and seed germination. Gibberellins are also part of seed dormancy regulation.
Auxins are responsible for cell elongation and fruit development. They are the compounds that plants need to bend towards light to optimize sunlight.
Ethylene is a gaseous hormone that is normally released when a plant is in stressful conditions. This hormone can cause fruit to begin ripening and leaves to wilt and die.
Abscisic Acid, unlike the other hormones listed above, is a plant growth inhibitor. Abscisic acid can cause seed dormancy and inhibit growth during unfavorable and stressful growing conditions.
Why Do They Matter?
By incorporating products that contain PGRs into a nutrient management plan, growers can enhance the efficiency of the nutrients that are applied and increase yields at harvest. Plant growth regulators are easily incorporated into crop management plans because they can be applied throughout the entire growing season.
In foliar applications, PGRs can improve cell division, root formation, and leaf expansion. This allows the plant to take in more energy from both nutrients and the sun, allowing for the energy of the plant to focus on grain production.
Plant Growth Regulators at The Andersons
Phosfix® Gen II is a foliar plant growth regulator and micronutrient package that helps to “fix” the crop during stressful growing conditions. This product contains cytokinins, gibberellins, and auxins that help aid the crop by improving root development, cell elongation, flower development and much more.
In our 2024 research trials, Phosfix Gen II was applied at the V5 stage, and when scouting the field our agronomists observed an increased kernel count around the ear where Phosfix Gen II was applied.
2024 Research Results
Stay tuned to learn about the final yield results later this year, including more information on Phosfix Gen II and PGRs from The Andersons.
If you have any questions about Phosfix or plant growth regulators, please reach out to our team.
