Plant growth regulators are synthetic or natural compounds that optimize growth metabolism by regulating the balance of endogenous hormones in plants. As a landmark achievement of modern agricultural science and technology, its application has not only revolutionized traditional farming models, but also demonstrated significant advantages in the fields of efficient resource utilization and ecological environmental protection. There are mainly the following advantages.
First, regulating growth. Regulators can simulate or interfere with the effects of plant hormones to achieve targeted intervention. For example, gibberellin preparations can break seed dormancy and accelerate the germination process; ethephon can regulate the rhythm of fruit ripening, allowing crops such as strawberries, grapes, and tomatoes to be put on the market earlier. Chlorpyrifos can prevent fruit drop and promote fruit enlargement by treating fruits. Let agricultural production break free from seasonal constraints, significantly improve land utilization, and crop yields.
Second, improve quality. Enlargement agents promote cell division, increasing the weight of single tomatoes and watermelons by 20%-30%; abscisic acid inhibitors reduce the fruit drop rate of apples and citrus, while increasing sugar accumulation and color uniformity. Significantly improve the quality of fruits. This leap from “quantity” to “quality” precisely matches the market’s pursuit of high-quality agricultural products.
Third, enhance stress resistance. Under adverse conditions such as drought and low temperature, salicylic acid and jasmonic acid regulators can activate plant resistance genes and enhance cell membrane stability. Aminoethyl esters and brassinolide can promote rooting and improve the plant’s ability to resist cold and drought. Experimental data show that the cold resistance of winter wheat treated with regulators is increased by 40%, and the fluctuation range of corn yield in arid areas is reduced by 35%, building a scientific and technological defense line for food security.
Fourth, practice green agriculture. Regulators and mechanized operations can reduce the use of fertilizers and pesticides by 20%-50%, and at the same time, increase crop yields by 20 to 60%. For example, using dwarfing to cultivate compact wheat can not only enhance lodging resistance, but also facilitate combine harvester operations; flower and fruit protectors replace some manual fruit thinning processes, greatly reducing labor costs. This “subtraction agriculture” model is helping to achieve the goal of carbon neutrality.
From the laboratory to the field, plant growth regulators, with their wisdom of “making a great difference with a little effort”, are reshaping the efficiency boundaries of agricultural production and playing an important role in many aspects.
