ABSCISSIC ACID Meaning and
Definition
-
Abscisic Acid (ABA) is a plant hormone that plays a crucial role in a variety of physiological processes, primarily related to plant growth, development, and response to environmental stressors. It is a naturally occurring organic compound, belonging to the class of sesquiterpenoids.
ABA acts as a signaling molecule in plant cells, helping to regulate various physiological functions. It is synthesized by plants in response to adverse conditions like drought, cold, or salinity, and is involved in protecting plants from the detrimental effects of these stressors. ABA helps regulate stomatal closure, reducing water loss from leaves and preventing dehydration in response to water scarcity. It also promotes seed dormancy and inhibits seed germination, allowing plants to conserve energy and survive in unfavorable conditions.
Furthermore, ABA controls various aspects of plant growth and development. It inhibits shoot growth, promoting branching and lateral bud development instead. It also affects root development and influences the response of plants to environmental cues such as light and temperature.
In addition to its role in stress response and growth regulation, ABA also interacts with other plant hormones, such as auxins, cytokinins, and gibberellins, to coordinate various physiological processes within the plant.
Abscisic Acid is not only present in higher plants but is also found in some algae and fungi. Overall, it is a critical hormone in plants, helping them adapt to adverse conditions and maintaining their proper growth and development.
Common Misspellings for ABSCISSIC ACID
- zbscissic acid
- sbscissic acid
- wbscissic acid
- qbscissic acid
- avscissic acid
- anscissic acid
- ahscissic acid
- agscissic acid
- abacissic acid
- abzcissic acid
- abxcissic acid
- abdcissic acid
- abecissic acid
- abwcissic acid
- absxissic acid
- absvissic acid
- absfissic acid
- absdissic acid
- abscussic acid
- abscjssic acid
Etymology of ABSCISSIC ACID
The word "abscissic acid" has a relatively straightforward etymology. The term "acid" refers to a class of chemical substances that have a sour taste and can react with metals to form salts. The term "abscissic" comes from the Latin word "abscissus", which means "cut off" or "separated", ultimately derived from the verb "abscindere", meaning "to cut off" or "to tear away". This name was given to the acid because it was discovered to have a role in the abscission or shedding of leaves, fruits, and flowers in plants.
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
