What is etiolation treatment?
INTRODUCTION The etiolation of stock plants as a pretreatment to cutting propagation involves growing shoots in the absence of light, The etiolated shoots which result from this treatment are typi cally chlorotic, possess smaller leaves, longer internodes, and are more succulent than their light-grown counterparts (5).
What is etiolation in biology?
Etiolation /iːtiəˈleɪʃən/ is a process in flowering plants grown in partial or complete absence of light. It is characterized by long, weak stems; smaller leaves due to longer internodes; and a pale yellow color (chlorosis).
How does etiolation happen?
Etiolation in plants is a natural phenomenon and is simply a plant’s way of reaching for a light source. If you have ever started seeds without sufficient lighting, then you have seen how the seedlings grow rather spindly with a long, abnormally thin, pale stem. This is an example of etiolation in plants.
Why is de etiolation important?
Etiolation and de-etiolation systems are therefore important for understanding both the acquisition of photosynthetic capacity during chloroplast biogenesis and plant responses to light—the most relevant signal in the life and growth of the organism.
Can you fix etiolation?
It’s impossible to fix an etiolated succulent. It can never recover once the succulent has become leggy, thin, and stretched. Etiolation is permanent.
How etiolation is used in agriculture?
The classic plant response to low levels of light is etiolation: placing seedlings of species such as mustard, beans or wheat in dark or near-dark conditions causes them to become elongated. This response is often said to allow the plant to ‘reach the light’.
Is etiolation due to mineral deficiency?
Etiolation is the symptom developed by plants when grown in the dark. Examples include pale yellow or white color due to lack of chlorophyll, long, internodes, small and rudimentary leaves, poor development of lignified tissue.
What is leaf etiolation?
Lack of sufficient light retards chlorophyll formation and promotes slender growth with long internodes, thus leading to pale green leaves, spindly growth, and premature drop of leaves and flowers. This condition is known as etiolation.
Can etiolation be reversed?
Etiolation occurs usually in plants below a canopy. Far red light is what triggers etiolation, which penetrates through the shade of the canopy. In order to reverse etiolation, all that would be necessary would be for the plant to be exposed to red light again, because red light is what activates de-etiolation.
What causes Heterophylly?
arcuata, ethylene as well as ABA are known to be the key factors regulating heterophylly; ethylene treatment induced the formation of submerged leaves in this plant (Kuwabara et al., 2003; Figure 2).
Why are etiolated plants white?
Etiolated plants have a white or yellowish coloration that is due to the absence of chlorophyll, the green plant pigment. The stem becomes greatly elongated, and there is poor development of leaves, mechanical tissue, and stomata.
What is an etiolated cactus?
Etiolation is common in cacti and succulent plants. Etiolated cacti are plants that lose their natural color and become thin. They grow tall and lose their natural shape. Cacti with etiolation are more susceptible to diseases such as root rot or stem rot.
Why is etiolation bad?
It should be noted that etiolation is not an inherently harmful process. In nature, the plant will often find the sunlight it needs and resume normal growth. In the worst case, the plant suffers stability issues from the uneven weight distribution.
What is etiolation and why does it occur?
Etiolation increases the likelihood that a plant will reach a light source, often from under the soil, leaf litter, or shade from competing plants. The growing tips are strongly attracted to light and will elongate towards it. The pale color results from a lack of chlorophyll. Some of the changes that occur include: elongation of stems and leaves;
What is an etiolated plant?
This condition is known as etiolation. Etiolated plants are found outdoors only when plants are spaced too close together or when they are growing under trees or other objects.
What happens to phytochrome during de etiolation?
During the process of de- etiolation when dark-grown seedlings first perceive light, extensive developmental and metabolic changes occur. The levels of various enzymes increase and some of these are found to be under the control of phytochrome.
What is de-etiolation?
De-etiolation is the transition of seedlings from below-ground growth to above-ground growth form. Elongation is controlled by the plant hormones called auxins, which are produced by the growing tip to maintain apical dominance.