What is a characteristic of synthetic auxins in agriculture?

Synthetic auxins are a class of herbicides that are particularly known for their selective action against broadleaf plants while generally being less harmful to grasses and other crops. This property makes them valuable in agriculture, especially in maintaining the desired balance of different plant types in lawns and agricultural fields. By mimicking the natural plant hormone auxin, which regulates growth, synthetic auxins can disrupt normal growth patterns in certain plants, leading to their elimination.

The selective killing of broadleaf plants is intentional in many agricultural applications, allowing farmers to control weeds without damaging the crops, which often belong to other plant families. This selective action is a defining feature of synthetic auxins in agricultural practices.