Triacontanol as a Plant Growth Regulator

Abstract

Triacontanol (TRIA) is synthesized by plants and is a component of most biological material. New formulations of TRIA have shown activity with femtomolar doses. Although the majority of TRIA in plants is bound to (and is located in) the cuticle, small amounts can be found in parenchyma tissue. Exogenous applications of TRIA regulate directly or indirectly several physiological and biochemical processes. Many studies have shown that TRIA can increase the yield of crops, but the results have not been sufficiently consistent in the United States to recommend its use commercially. Several experiments suggest that TRIA, a metabolite of TRIA, or a secondary messenger, moves rapidly in plants after initial application. Changes in the levels of several metabolites and the optimum environmental conditions for treatment indicate that carbohydrate metabolism may be involved in the plants’ response to TRIA. Additionally, several enzymes relating to carbohydrate metabolism increase in activity following TRIA treatment. Warm temperatures before foliar applications improved the plants response to TRIA. Many compounds have an antagonistic effect on the response of plants to TRIA. The most significant are phthalate esters, which commonly occur in water and the research environment. This contamination may explain the inconsistent results encountered by several researchers in the laboratory and field. TRIA has elicited many growth responses in plants with a rapidity not shown for other plant hormones or growth regulators.

The Effect of the Stress-Signalling Mediator Triacontanol on Biochemical and Physiological Modifications in Dracocephalum forrestii Culture

“…Earlier reports suggest that the observed increase in biomass and multiplication ratio of plants treated with TRIA could result from the formation of the second messenger 9-ß-L (+) adenosine, with a similar structure to purine cytokinins [ 5 , 6 ]. The 9-ß-L (+) adenosine influences the physio-biochemical processes related to plant growth.…”

“…The 9-ß-L (+) adenosine influences the physio-biochemical processes related to plant growth. It leads to the formation and proliferation of cells and induces activities of enzymes relating to carbohydrate and protein metabolism in plants, and the increase in plant dry weight may result from an increase in the levels of reducing sugars, soluble proteins, and free amino acids in the plant [ 6 ]. Additionally, TRIA promotes growth by inducing other substances stimulating plant development, such as gibberellic acid, IAA, glucosamine, melatonin, and serotonin [ 12 ].…”

“…It is an aliphatic thirty carbon alcohol used as a growth promotor and is commonly applied to horticultural and agricultural crops [ 5 ]. It can be obtained from epicuticular waxes in several plant species, such as Medicago sativa , Vaccinium ashei or Oryza sativa [ 6 , 7 , 8 ]. TRIA application was found to significantly increase fresh and dry weight, leaf area, and plant weight [ 9 , 10 ].…”

Nutrition and Related Factors Affecting Maple Tree Health and Sap Yield

“…Six growth-regulating substances were tested for their abilities to stimulate wound healing in sugar maple with only glutathione found to have a significant effect [99]. Finally, triacontanol may play a crucial role in conversion of starch to sugar in sugar maples and may contribute to spring sap flow [100] [101].…”

Effects Of Organic Substance And Plant Growth Regulators On Yield Attributes And Quality Of Guava Cv. Lucknow 49

“…Triacontanol (TRIA) is a natural plant growth regulator found in epicuticular waxes. Triacontanol is reported to accelerate the rate of cell division, photosynthesis, transpiration, stomatal conductance and uptake of water and nutrients and other metabolic activities in plants (Ries and Houtz 1983).…”