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Abscission

(Science: botany) The normal shedding from a plant of an organ that is mature or aged, for example a ripe fruit, an old leaf. Adj. Abscissile. Shedding of flowers and leaves and fruit following formation of scar tissue in a plant.The act of cutting something off.A plant process that initiates the removal or part of the plant in cases of aging or infection. This process is controlled primarily by 3 compounds, namely auxin, ethylene and abscisic acid. Human medicine incorporates the idea of abscission in the form of an amputation, where a badly infected area of the body is amputated to prevent infection spreading towards more vital and uninfected areas of the body.