Question

The plant hormone which promotes parthenocarpy (formation of seedless fruit) is:
A. Auxins
B. Gibberellin
C. Ethylene
D. Both A & B

Answer 1

Hint: Parthenocarpy is the process of artificially or naturally implemented production of fruit by skipping the fertilization of ovules and as a result the fruits developed are seedless. There are certain plant hormones which are sprayed on the plant are responsible or beneficial for the development of the parthenocarpic fruit and it is referred to as artificial parthenocarpy.

Complete answer:
To develop fruit, the flower of the plant first needs to undergo the process of pollination and fertilization. But in some species, a different process is implemented in which either the fertilization or both the fertilization as well as the pollination is not required for developing the fruit. This process is termed as parthenocarpy. But the fruit formed in this process is seedless. Specific plant hormones including auxins, gibberellins and cytokinin are responsible for the formation of seedless fruit. These hormones are proved to be very beneficial in this method when they are sprayed on the flower of the plant then as a result the flowers stimulate the development of the seedless fruit (parthenocarpic fruit). These hormones are used in the cultivated fruit crops in which it is quite difficult to pollinate or fertilize the flower. Crops including tomato and fig, etc. are some of the crops in which the process of parthenocarpy is desired.

Therefore, the correct option is D (both A & B).

Note:
Auxin and Gibberellins are the plant Hermes and both perform specific functions in the plant development. Auxin is the major plant hormone that controls the meristem differentiation, cell elongation in gravitropism and phototropism and promotes the development and arrangement of the leaf. While Gibberellins seed germination, shoot elongation and flower and fruit maturation.