Auxin Mimics

Auxinic herbicides possess specific characteristics that support they are synthetic mimics of the natural auxin, IAA. These characteristics include:

1. Dose-response patterns whereby at low doses they act as plant growth regulators and have a stimulatory effect on plant cell growth, while at high doses they display phytotoxic effects;
2. Some (e.g. 2,4-D, picloram, dicamba) have replaced IAA as the hormone supplement used for proper cell development in plant cell culture medium;
3. Differential sensitivity has been observed among different tissues as well as between tissues at different physiological stages of growth; and
4. Auxin and auxinic herbicides induce growth by cell elongation as opposed to cell division.