What is a possible injury symptom from high application rates of growth regulators?

When considering the effects of high application rates of growth regulators, abnormal tissue growth is a significant symptom that can manifest. Growth regulators are chemicals that influence plant growth by either promoting or inhibiting certain physiological processes. When applied excessively, they can disrupt normal growth patterns, leading to irregularities in tissue formation.

Abnormal tissue growth might present as swelling, malformations, or other atypical structures within plant tissues. This can occur because growth regulators modify the hormonal balance within the plant, and an excess can lead to uncontrolled or inappropriate responses in growth.

Other symptoms, while related to plant growth and development, do not specifically represent the direct consequences of high application rates of growth regulators as effectively as abnormal tissue growth does. Though leaf curl can be a result of other stressors or common pests, lateral root growth can be a normal physiological response to certain conditions, and overgrowth typically describes a vigorous growth rather than a pathological response. Thus, abnormal tissue growth stands out as a clear symptom associated with excessive application of growth regulators.