Chapter 5 : Response in Plants Biology F5 Notes
5.1 Types of Response
Types of Response
Tropism responses Nastic responses
• responses of certain parts of a plant • non-directional responses to stimuli
• such as roots and shoots
• that respond towards or away
• from a stimulus
Characteristics of tropism responses Characteristics of nastic responses
• response is slow and not apparent
• not all nastic responses are growth
• response is permanent and
responses
influenced by plant hormones • response is quicker and more
• response direction is dependent on apparent compared to tropism
the direction of the stimulus response.
• positive tropism: growth towards • responses are intended for survival
direction of stimulus
• negative tropism: growth away
from stimulus
Types of tropism responses in plants Types of nastic responses in plants
Thigmotropism Photonasty
• occurs in flower petals as a response
to light
• Japanese roses
• response to touch o open when they receive
• tendrils exhibit positive maximum sunlight
• thigmotropism o close at night
• coils or wraps around an object
• for support
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Chapter 5 : Response in Plants Biology F5 Notes
Geotropism Seismonasty
• response to gravity • response that occurs due to a
• shoots show negative geotropism mechanical stimulus
• roots show positive geotropism • such as shock, touch, wind and
raindrops
Hydrotropism • can be seen on leaves, stigma and
stamens
Nyctinasty
• response to water
• roots show positive hydrotropism
• they grow towards water
• circadian rhythm
Phototropism • responds towards the onset of
darkness
• occurs in the leaves of legume plants
• river tamarind
o closes its leaves at night
o unfurls them during daytime
• response to light.
• shoots show positive phototropism
• they grow towards light
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Chapter 5 : Response in Plants Biology F5 Notes
Chemotropism Thermonasty
• response towards changes in the
surrounding temperatures
• tulips open when there is an increase
in temperature
• response to chemical • close when the temperature drops
• roots show positive chemotropism
• when they grow towards mineral Thigmonasty
salts
• roots show negative chemotropism
• when they grow away from
chemical substances such as poison
• response towards vibration
• in carnivorous plants such as the
Venus flytrap
• stimulus causes it to clamp its leaves
shut
• trap the insect inside it
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Chapter 5 : Response in Plants Biology F5 Notes
5.2 Phytohormone
Effects of Auxin on Growth Response
• plants respond to stimulus in the form of growth
• controlled by the auxin
• auxin which has been synthesised at the coleoptile tips
• stimulate cell elongation
• auxin distribution influences the direction of the shoot growth
• uniform distribution of auxin causes the coleoptile to grow upwards
• the area which receives more auxin will grow faster
• cause coleoptiles to curve to the side that receives less or none of the auxin
High auxin concentrations
stimulate inhibits
cell elongation
in the shoots in the roots
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Chapter 5 : Response in Plants Biology F5 Notes
The Roles of Auxins in Plant Responses
The Role of Auxin in Phototropism
• if the shoots are exposed to the light from all directions
• distribution of auxins in the shoots is uniform
• causes the shoots to grow upward
• when the shoots are exposed to the light from only one direction
• auxin will move away from the light
• auxin concentration is higher on the shaded side
• concentration of auxin becomes uneven on the shoots
• cells in the shaded side elongate more than the cells in the bright side
• the shoots bend towards the light
• shoots show positive phototropism
The Role of Auxin in Geotropism
• Auxin also controls plant response to gravity.
• Seeds germinate horizontally in the soil.
• Due to the pull of gravity, auxin pools at the bottom side of the tips and roots.
• Roots grow downwards following the pull of gravity and exhibiting positive
geotropism.
• Shoots grow upwards against the pull of gravity, exhibiting negative geotropism.
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Chapter 5 : Response in Plants Biology F5 Notes
5. 3 Application of Phytohormones in Agriculture
Phytohormones Application
Auxin • Encourages growth in crops
• Promotes root growth on woody plant stems for horticultural crops
• Produces fruit without seeds via parthenocarpy
• Used as weed killer
• Induces dormancy in potatoes during storage or distribution
• Promotes growth of low-lying and lush plants
Gibberellin • Treats mutated dwarf plants to grow to normal heights
• Promotes rapid elongation of flower stems
• Used to produce larger grapes
• Promotes germination of seeds such as salad, oats and tobacco
during low temperatures and low light intensity
Cytokinin • Tissue culture technique
o promote division and differentiation of cells
o used together with auxin to form plant organs such as roots
and stems
• Used to delay leaf senescence in newly cut flowers
Ethylene • Used commercially to promote maturation of fruit quickly and
evenly
• Promotes simultaneous flowering in plants in the field
Abscisic acid • Inhibits germination and growth
HOTS CORNER
