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Multiple Choice
As leaf lettuce matures, a tall flowering shoot extends beyond the basal, edible leaves. After the plant bolts like this, it no longer produces broad, tasty leaves. Suppose you want to prevent bolting so that you can harvest lettuce longer. You may want to prevent the plant from synthesizing __________.
A
abscisic acid
B
cytokinins
C
ethylene
D
brassinosteroids
E
gibberellins
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the process of bolting in plants: Bolting is the rapid growth of a floral stalk. In lettuce, this process is undesirable for prolonged harvesting of edible leaves.
Identify the hormone responsible for bolting: Gibberellins are plant hormones that promote stem elongation and flowering, which are key components of the bolting process.
Consider the role of other hormones: Abscisic acid, cytokinins, ethylene, and brassinosteroids have different roles in plant growth and development, such as stress response, cell division, fruit ripening, and cell elongation, respectively.
Determine the target for prevention: To prevent bolting, you would aim to inhibit the synthesis or action of gibberellins, as they are directly involved in promoting the growth of the flowering shoot.
Apply this knowledge to practical gardening: By understanding the role of gibberellins, you can explore methods to inhibit their synthesis or action, such as using growth regulators or selecting varieties with lower gibberellin activity, to extend the harvest period of lettuce.