Question: 122: Production of Cucumber has increased manifold in recent years. Application of which of the following phytohormones has resulted in this increased yield as the hormone is known to produce female flowers in the plants :
(1) Ethylene
(2) Cytokinin
(3) ABA
(4) Gibberellin
Answer: Option (1)
Explanation:
Cucumber is a cucurbit plant that shows unisexual flowers,
and fruit yield depends mainly on the number of female flowers.
Ethylene is a plant hormone that promotes femaleness in cucurbit plants such as cucumber.
Application of ethylene or ethylene-releasing compounds increases the number of female flowers,
leading to higher fruit production.
Cytokinin mainly promotes cell division and delays senescence but
does not specifically induce female flowers.
Abscisic acid (ABA) is a growth-inhibiting hormone involved in stress responses.
Gibberellins generally promote maleness in cucurbits rather than femaleness.
Therefore, the increased production of cucumber is due to the application of ethylene,
making Option (1) correct.