Which phytohormone is known to influence plant growth and development?

The phytohormone that is known to significantly influence plant growth and development is cytokinin. Cytokinins are a group of hormones that promote cell division, or cytokinesis, in plant roots and shoots, which leads to increased growth and development of new tissues. They play a key role in various processes such as shoot formation, leaf expansion, and the delay of leaf senescence. Moreover, cytokinins work in concert with other hormones, including auxins and gibberellins, to regulate the balance of growth and developmental processes in plants. This coordination between different hormones ensures that plants can effectively respond to environmental changes and developmental cues.

While other phytohormones like gibberellin, auxin, and ethylene also influence plant growth, each has specific roles. For instance, auxin is crucial for stem elongation and root formation, gibberellin is important for seed germination and flower development, and ethylene is primarily associated with fruit ripening and responses to stress conditions. However, cytokinin’s direct role in promoting cell division makes it particularly significant in the realm of growth and development.