Read the following statements on plant growth and development.

A. Parthenocarpy can be induced by auxins.

B. Plant growth regulators can be involved in promotion as well as inhibition of growth.

C. Dedifferentiation is a pre-requisite for re differentiation.

D. Abscisic acid is a plant growth promoter.

E. Apical dominance promotes the growth of lateral buds.

Choose the option with all correct statements.

The correct option is A, B, C only.

Let's analyze each statement step-by-step to determine its correctness:

Statement A: Parthenocarpy can be induced by auxins. (Correct)
Parthenocarpy is the development of fruit without fertilization, resulting in seedless fruits. Plant hormones, particularly auxins (such as indole-3-acetic acid or IAA), are widely used in agriculture to induce parthenocarpy in crops like tomatoes, grapes, and oranges.

Statement B: Plant growth regulators can be involved in promotion as well as inhibition of growth. (Correct)
Plant growth regulators (PGRs) exhibit a wide range of functions. Some PGRs, such as auxins, gibberellins, and cytokinins, are primarily involved in growth-promoting activities like cell division, cell enlargement, pattern formation, and flowering. Others, such as abscisic acid (ABA), play an important role in growth-inhibiting activities like dormancy and abscission. Ethylene can fit into both categories but is largely a growth inhibitor.

Statement C: Dedifferentiation is a pre-requisite for redifferentiation. (Correct)
In plant tissue culture and development, differentiation is the process where cells lose their ability to divide and take on specific roles. Dedifferentiation is the process by which fully differentiated, mature cells regain the capacity to divide under specific conditions (forming a meristematic tissue like cambium). Once they have dedifferentiated, these cells can once again lose their capacity to divide and mature to perform specific functions, which is called redifferentiation. Thus, dedifferentiation must occur before redifferentiation can take place.

Statement D: Abscisic acid is a plant growth promoter. (Incorrect)
Abscisic acid (ABA) is a plant growth inhibitor. It regulates abscission and dormancy, inhibits seed germination, stimulates the closure of stomata, and helps plants tolerate various environmental stresses.

Statement E: Apical dominance promotes the growth of lateral buds. (Incorrect)
Apical dominance is a phenomenon where the growing apical bud inhibits the growth of lateral (axillary) buds. Decapitation (removal of shoot tips) releases the lateral buds from this inhibition, promoting their growth into branches.

Therefore, statements A, B, and C are correct, while statements D and E are incorrect.