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Plant Hormones

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577 views6 pages

Plant Hormones

Uploaded by

xulunkazimulo083
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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1

RESPONDING TO THE ENVIRONMENT (PLANTS)

Paper 1: 11 marks

1. Introduction

 Growth is the increase in the size of plants. Cell division occurs and the cells differentiate in order to
develop
 Growth and development is affected by:
 internal factors such as hormones
 external stimuli such as water, light, gravity, gases and contact.
 A tropism is the response to an external stimulus, causing a plant to grow towards (positive tropism)
or away (negative tropism) from the stimulus.
 The word tropism means ‘to turn’.

2. Plant hormones

Auxins Gibberellins Abscisic acid


 Auxins stimulate or inhibit (prevent) growth in  elongation of  inhibits growth of apical
areas internodes in stems buds, seeds and also
 A high concentration of auxins in an area will  development of roots
stimulate cell elongation and cell differentiation, flowers  regulates the abscission
especially in stem tips (growth tips).  sprouting of buds of leaves
 results in apical dominance  germination of seeds  plays a role in the
 This action inhibits the development of auxillary opening and closing
buds on the lateral branches mechanism of stomata
 If the tip is removed the auxillary buds develop into (for transpiration)
lateral branches causing the plant to grow thicker
on the sides (like when cutting a hedge).

Auxins cause:
 cell division
 formation of adventitious roots in cuttings
 development of flowers and fruit
 abscission (breaking off) of leaves and ripe fruit
 tropism in stems and roots

ADAPTED BY MR S.J SILAULE


2

 Apical dominance is when the growth point at the tip of the stem grows upwards

3. Tropism

 Tropism: means ‘to turn’ and occurs when external stimuli affect the direction in which a plant
grows and develops
 A growth movement towards the stimulus is Positive
 A growth movement away from the stimulus is Negative
 A tropism is a result of the unequal distribution of auxins in the plant

A high auxin concentration in stems stimulates growth

A high auxin concentration in roots inhibits growth

 There two forms of tropism:


o Phototropism
o Geotropism

4. The role of auxins in phototropism (photo = light)

 Phototropism is the growth movement of part of a plant in response to a unilateral (one-sided)


light stimulus.
 Unilateral light is light from one direction only
 Stems and leaves usually grow towards the light to absorb the maximum amount of sunlight for
photosynthesis and exposure of flowers for pollination/seed dispersal
 Auxins are sensitive to light and thus when exposed to unilateral light move to the shaded side

ADAPTED BY MR S.J SILAULE


3

Stem/shoot exposed to unilateral light Stem/shoot exposed to uniform light

 Auxins are produced at the tip of the stem/shoot  Auxins are produced at the tip of the
 When the stem/shoot is exposed to unilateral light stem/shoot
 The light sensitive auxins move to the shaded side  When the stem/shoot is exposed to
 This results in uneven distribution of auxins uniform light
 The side exposed to unilateral light will have a higher  Using a clinostat which rotates the plant
concentration of auxins than the side exposed to slowly
light/brightly-lit side  The plant receives light from all sides
 Since auxins promote cell elongation, the shaded side will  This results in even distribution of auxins
grow faster than the side exposed to unilateral light since  cell elongation will be same on all sides
the low concentration of auxins inhibits growth  This causes the stem to grow upward
 This causes the stem to bend toward the light
This is used as a control
Therefore the stem displays positive phototropism

ADAPTED BY MR S.J SILAULE


4

 When the tip of the apical bud is removed


 No auxins are produced in the tip
 Therefore no apical dominance
 There will be growth of lateral branches
 There will also be no/limited growth
upward

 Auxins from the agar jelly can diffuse into


the shoot
 The cells on the side where the agar jelly will
be stimulated to grow/elongate
 In the side with no agar jelly, the cells will
grow slower as they receive no auxins
 This causes uneven distribution of auxins
and therefore uneven growth
 The stem will bend toward the side where
no agar was placed
*Agar jelly is used because it allows for the
diffusion of auxins

 If the tip is covered with an opaque cap


 there is no light stimulus
 There will be even distribution of auxins
 Therefore the stem grows upward/upright

ADAPTED BY MR S.J SILAULE


5

5. The role of auxins in geotropism (Geo =gravity)

 Geotropism is the growth movement of a plant or part of a plant in response to gravity


 When a young seedling is placed horizontally, the roots will eventually curve downwards and the
stem upwards
 Auxins are produced at the tip of roots

Unilateral gravitational stimulus No effect of gravity/control

The root The stem Root and stem


 Auxins accumulate at the  Auxins accumulate at the lower  Due to the rotation of the clinostat
lower part of the root part of the stem there will be equal distribution of
 Due to the effect of gravity  Due to the effect of gravity
auxins on both the stem and root
 There will be uneven  There will be uneven
distribution of auxins distribution of auxins  Therefore both the stem and the root
 The higher concentration of  The higher concentration of grow straight since the effect of
auxins at the lower side of auxins at the lower side of the gravity has been eliminated
the root inhibits cell stem stimulates cell
elongation/growth elongation/growth
 The lower concentration of  The lower concentration of
auxins at the upper side of auxins at the upper side of the
the root stimulates cell stem inhibits cell
elongation/growth elongation/growth
 This results in the root  This results in the stem bending
bending downwards upwards

*Therefore the root displays *Therefore the stem displays


positive geotropism negative geotropism

ADAPTED BY MR S.J SILAULE


6

6. The control of weeds using plant hormones

 Some herbicides contain high concentration of auxins that accelerate the growth of weeds. The
weeds grow so fast that their water absorption and food production is insufficient such that the
plants weaken and die. Most effective on dicotyledonous weeds

7. Plant defence Mechanisms

Chemicals Thorns
 plants produce chemicals to defend  Sharp structure found on plants for protection against
against insects herbivores.
 The chemicals cause insects to moult  There are various types of sharp structures:
prematurely, lose weight and if enough is  Prickles are modified extensions of the cortex and
ingested, metabolic damage and death. epidermis of a plant that shape into a sharp, needle-
 Cultivated tobacco plants produce like structure, for example rose bushes
nicotine. The leaves are eaten by insects  Thorns are modified branches or stem that form
and kill them hard, pointed and sharp ends that can pierce the skin
 The leaves of mopane trees contain high of herbivores. Examples are acacia trees
levels of tannins making the leaves  Spines are modified leaves that have a cylindrically
distasteful to herbivores shaped hard and sharp point, for example aloes and
cacti. Spines also reduce water loss by the plant.

ADAPTED BY MR S.J SILAULE

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