Question

Fruit and leaf drop at early stages can be prevented by the application of:

• A. Ethylene
• B. Auxins
• C. Gibberellic acid
• D. Cytokinins

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

To address the question of how to prevent fruit and leaf drop at early stages, it is crucial to understand the role of plant hormones in the process.

Fruit and leaf drop is a common physiological process in plants where fruits and leaves fall off prematurely. This usually occurs due to hormonal imbalances within the plant, often during the stress periods or development changes.

1. Ethylene: This is a plant hormone known to promote fruit and leaf abscission (dropping). Hence, an application of ethylene would increase rather than decrease fruit and leaf drop.
2. Auxins: These are plant hormones that play a significant role in cell elongation and growth regulation. They are known to be effective in delaying abscission, i.e., the shedding of leaves and fruits. Therefore, the application of auxins can help prevent premature fruit and leaf drop.
3. Gibberellic acid: It mainly stimulates stem elongation, germination, and flowering. Although it has some effects on encouraging growth, it is not primarily used for preventing abscission.
4. Cytokinins: These are another group of hormones that primarily promote cell division and can delay the aging of leaves. However, like gibberellins, they are not directly used to prevent fruit or leaf drop.

Considering all the explanations, auxins are indeed the most suitable option for preventing early-stage fruit and leaf drop. They counteract the effect of ethylene, thus maintaining the stability of leaves and fruits on the plant during the critical growth phases.