abscisin
n. C1 Advanced ab·scisin
n. a chemical substance in plants that helps them drop their leaves and stop growing. It is also used to help fruit ripen and fall from the tree.
n. a plant hormone that regulates abscission, the process by which leaves, flowers, and fruits detach from the plant. It also plays a role in the ripening of fruits and the shedding of leaves.
The plant produces abscisin to help the leaves fall in autumn.
Farmers often apply synthetic abscisin to accelerate the ripening of fruit before the harvest season begins.
The signaling pathways involving abscisin are crucial for the plant's response to environmental stress, allowing it to shed unnecessary foliage to conserve water during periods of drought.