Plant Growth and Development Question 16

16. It takes very long time for pineapple plants to produce flowers. Which combination of hormones can be applied to artificially induce flowering in pineapple plants throughout the year to increase yield?

(a) Auxin and Ethylene

(b) Gibberellin and Cytokinin

(c) Gibberellin and Abscisic acid

(d) Cytokinin and Abscisic acid

Show Answer

Answer : a

Hints & Solutions

(a) A pineapple plant flowers only once, and produces one pineapple. Then it dies. But before it dies it also produces offspring. Auxin and ethylene can be applied to artificially induce flowering in pineapple to increase yield throughout the year. Applied auxin mimic the action of ethylene by stimulating ethylene formation, and that ethylene, not auxin, causes pineapples to flower. Ethylene initiates flowering and synchronising fruit-set in pineapples.