The aging hormone in plants is ethylene.

The aging hormone in plants is ethylene.

• A. Ethylene
• B. Auxin
• C. Cytokinin
• D. Gibberellin

Answer: (A)

Ethylene is the aging hormone in plants. It is a gaseous signal produced especially in aging or stressed tissues and it accelerates senescence, causing processes like leaf yellowing, abscission, and the ripening of fruits. This quickening of aging helps the plant recycle resources and complete developmental transitions. Other common plant hormones have different roles that don’t primarily drive aging: auxin mainly promotes cell elongation and growth, sometimes delaying senescence in certain tissues; cytokinins help maintain chlorophyll and delay leaf aging; gibberellins stimulate stem growth and seed germination. Because the aging process is tightly tied to accelerated senescence and ripening, ethylene best fits the description.

Ethylene is the aging hormone in plants. It is a gaseous signal produced especially in aging or stressed tissues and it accelerates senescence, causing processes like leaf yellowing, abscission, and the ripening of fruits. This quickening of aging helps the plant recycle resources and complete developmental transitions.

Other common plant hormones have different roles that don’t primarily drive aging: auxin mainly promotes cell elongation and growth, sometimes delaying senescence in certain tissues; cytokinins help maintain chlorophyll and delay leaf aging; gibberellins stimulate stem growth and seed germination. Because the aging process is tightly tied to accelerated senescence and ripening, ethylene best fits the description.