Auxin transport is the process by which the plant hormone auxin is moved from one part of a plant to another. The spelling of "auxin transport" has unique features that may be difficult for beginners to grasp. The word "auxin" is pronounced /ˈɔksɪn/, while "transport" is pronounced /trænsˈpɔrt/. The use of the letter "x" instead of "cs" in "auxin" is derived from the Greek roots of the word. The combination of vowels "au" is pronounced like "aw" and "in" is pronounced like "in" not "een".
Auxin transport is a biological process that refers to the movement of the hormone known as auxin within a plant. Auxins are a class of plant hormones that play a crucial role in various aspects of plant growth and development, including cell elongation, tropisms (response to external stimuli), root formation, and fruit development.
The transport of auxins occurs through specialized cells and tissues in the plant, primarily in a polar manner, meaning it travels in a specific direction. There are two main types of auxin transport: polar transport and basipetal transport.
Polar transport involves the movement of auxin from the apical meristem (the tip of the plant, including the shoot and root tips) towards other parts of the plant. This movement is unidirectional, typically from the shoot towards the root or from younger to older tissues.
Basipetal transport, on the other hand, refers to the movement of auxin from the shoot towards the root. It plays a crucial role in controlling various processes, such as the branching and formation of lateral roots.
The process of auxin transport relies on specialized carrier proteins known as auxin efflux carriers, which regulate the movement of auxin molecules across cell membranes. These carriers help establish concentration gradients of auxin and maintain the directional flow of the hormone within the plant.
Overall, auxin transport plays a vital role in coordinating plant growth and development by regulating the distribution of auxin throughout different parts of the plant.
The word "auxin" originates from the Greek word "auxein" (αὔξειν), meaning "to grow". It was first coined by the Dutch botanist Frits Went in the 1930s to describe a plant hormone that regulates growth and development. The term "transport" comes from the Latin word "transportare", which means "to carry across". Thus, "auxin transport" refers to the process of carrying or moving auxin molecules within a plant.