Chemical Properties
Crystals.The natural material is levorotatory, specific rotation ?3.8
degrees in alcohol (20C). Insoluble in water and
chloroform; soluble in alcohol and ether.
Uses
Agriculture and horticulture, growth-promoting
hormone, plant cell enlarger.
Uses
Indole-3-acetic acid is a plant growth regulator. It induces cell division and cell elongation that promotes plant growth.
Definition
A plant hormone.
Synthesis Reference(s)
Journal of the American Chemical Society, 74, p. 3916, 1952
DOI: 10.1021/ja01135a061Organic Syntheses, Coll. Vol. 5, p. 654, 1973
General Description
Indole-3-acetic acid is a plant growth regulator.
Indole-3-acetic acid induces cell division and cell elongation that promotes plant growth.
Biological Activity
Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) is a plant growth regulator. Indole-3-acetic acid induces root initiation, cell division, and cell elongation which promotes plant growth. It mediates organ development, fertility, cell orientation, and elongation. Overproduction of IAA is found to trigger ethylene production and therefore inhibit plant growth. In addition, up-regulation of IAA by pathogenic bacteria causes excess cellular division leading to gall disease in the plant.
