Which of the following plant growth regulators is responsible for initiating germination in peanut seeds and sprouting of potato tubers?

Step-by-step solution

According to NCERT, ethylene breaks seed and bud dormancy, initiates germination in peanut seeds, and causes sprouting of potato tubers. Although gibberellins are also known to break seed dormancy in some cases, the specific examples of peanut seeds and potato tubers are explicitly attributed to ethylene. Auxins are primarily involved in apical dominance and root initiation on stem cuttings, while cytokinins help overcome apical dominance and delay leaf senescence. Answer: Ethylene