18 Growth responses of green plants

• 18.1 Do plants respond to external stimuli?

• 18.2 What are tropisms?
• 18.3 The growth response of shoots to light
• 18.4 The growth response of roots and shoots to gravity
• 18.5 The growth response of roots to water
• 18.6 What are the substances for controlling growth
movements in plants?
• 18.7 More about auxins
• 18.8 The role of auxins in phototropic and geotropic responses
• Mind Map
18.1 Do plants respond to external stimuli?
18.1 Do plants respond to external stimuli?

Stimulus
Stimulus
Will it happen ?
YES!
YES!

Plants Response
Response
18.2 What are tropisms?
18.2 What are tropisms?
l us l us l us
u u u
t i m t i m t i m
s s s

growth
Tropism
Tropism
Response
directional
directional growth
growth
movement
movement
made
made by
by aa plant
plant

in
in response
response to
to aa
unilateral
unilateral stimulus
stimulus
plant
18.2 What are tropisms?
Direction
Direction of
of growth
growth

towards
towards stimulus
stimulus away
away from
from stimuli
stimuli

positive
positive tropism
tropism negative
negative tropism
tropism

stimulus stimulus

plant plant
18.2 What are tropisms?

light

Phototropism

Geotropism
Hydrotropism

water
H2O H2O gravity
H2O H2O
H2O
18.3 The growth response of shoots to light
18.3 The growth response of shoots to light

Phototropism
h t ht ht
l ig li g li g

shoot

root
18.3 The growth response of shoots to light

Phototropism
h t ht ht
l ig li g li g

Importance:
Importance:
shoot Positive
Positive
phototropism Leaves
Leaves can
can gain
gain
phototropism
maximum
maximum amount
amount
of
of light
light for
for
root Negative
Negative photosynthesis
photosynthesis
phototropism
phototropism
18.3 The growth response of shoots to light

Clinostat
Clinostat
18.3 The growth response of shoots to light

Clinostat
Clinostat

cancel
cancel out
out the
the effects
effects of
of
unilateral
unilateral light
light && direction of
gravity
gravity by
by rotating
rotating rotation
the
the disc
disc

set
set upup asas aa control
control
for
for investigation
investigation of of
growth
growth responses
responses
of
of roots
roots && shoots
shoots toto
unilateral
unilateral light
light && gravity
gravity
18.3 The growth response of shoots to light
Experiment 18.1
To investigate the phototropic response of shoots

1. Select three pots of young seedlings of similar size and

label them as pots A, B and C respectively.

2. Put pot A in a light- light-proof

proof box with a small box
window on one side on
unilateral
that light reaches the
light
shoot from one
direction only. This is
unilateral light.
set-up A
18.3 The growth response of shoots to light
Experiment 18.1
To investigate the phototropic response of shoots
3. Set up pot B in a similar way except that it is put on a
clinostat. Switch on the clinostat.
light-proof box in complete
4. Put pot C in
darkness
complete unilateral
darkness. Both light
pots B and C are
controls.
clinostat
5. Observe the plants
after 1 or 2 days. set-up B set-up C
18.3 The growth response of shoots to light
Experiment 18.1
To investigate the phototropic response of shoots

Question 1:
What has happened to the shoots of plant A? Explain.

Answer:
Seedlings in pot A are exposed to unilateral
light. The shoots respond by growing
towards the light source.
18.3 The growth response of shoots to light
Experiment 18.1
To investigate the phototropic response of shoots

Question 2:
What has happened to the shoots of plant B? Explain.

Answer:
In pot B, as the effect of unilateral light is
cancelled out by the revolution of the
clinostat, the shoots do not show any
curvature but grow vertically upwards.
18.3 The growth response of shoots to light
Experiment 18.1
To investigate the phototropic response of shoots

Question 3:
What has happened to the shoots of plant C? Explain.

Answer:
In pot C, in complete darkness, the shoots
grow vertically upwards. The plant becomes
taller with slender and longer internodes, and
carries smaller leaves which are yellow in
colour. This condition is called etiolation.
18.3 The growth response of shoots to light
Experiment 18.1
To investigate the phototropic response of shoots

Question 4:
What is the significance of phototropism to plants?

Answer:
The shoot tends to grow towards the light source. This
phototropism ensures that a plant gets maximum light energy
for photosynthesis.
18.4 The growth response of roots & shoots to gravity
18.4 The growth response of roots & shoots to gravity

Geotropism

shoot root
ground

Gravity
18.4 The growth response of roots & shoots to gravity

Geotropism
Importance:
Importance:

grow
growdeepdeep
Negative Positive into
intosoil
soiltoto get
get
Importance:
Importance: Geotropism Geotropism aa firm
firm
anchorage
anchorage
leaves
leaves can
can
receive
receive roots
rootscan
can
maximal
maximal shoot root absorb
absorb
ground
sunlight
sunlight for
for maximum
maximum
photosynthesis
photosynthesis amount
amount ofof
water
water and
and
Gravity mineral
mineralsalts
salts
18.4 The growth response of roots & shoots to gravity

Experiment 18.2
To study the geotropic response of roots and shoots

1. Add some moist wool in two Petri dishes.

2. Place three bean seedlings on the cotton wool in each Petri
dish.
Seedling P – placed horizontally
Seedling Q – with radicle pointing upwards
Seedling R – with radicle pointing downwards
18.4 The growth response of roots & shoots to gravity

Experiment 18.2
To study the geotropic response of roots and shoots

3. Cover the lid and place the whole Petri dish A with its edge
on a support.
4. Attach Petri dish B onto the cork disc of a clinostat.
in complete darkness in complete darkness
plumule radicle P2
P1
Petri dishes Q2 R2
Q1 R1
support

Set-up A Set-up B
18.4 The growth response of roots & shoots to gravity

Experiment 18.2
To study the geotropic response of roots and shoots
5. Put both set-ups into a light-proof box.
6. Switch on the clinostat in set-up B.
7. Observe the seedlings after 1 or 2 days.
in complete darkness in complete darkness
plumule radicle P2
P1
Petri dishes Q2 R2
Q1 R1
support

Set-up A Set-up B
18.4 The growth response of roots & shoots to gravity

Experiment 18.2
To study the geotropic response of roots and shoots

Question 1:
What has happened to the radicles and plumules in set-up A?
Draw a diagram to show the appearance of the seedlings.

Answer: P1

The radicles grow downwards, while

the plumules grow upwards. Q1 R1
18.4 The growth response of roots & shoots to gravity

Experiment 18.2
To study the geotropic response of roots and shoots

Question 2:
What has happened to the radicles and plumules in set-up B?
Draw a diagram to show the appearance of the seedlings.

Answer: P2

All the radicles and plumules Q2 R2

grow straight because the effect
of gravity is cancelled out by the
revolution of the clinostat.
18.4 The growth response of roots & shoots to gravity

Experiment 18.2
To study the geotropic response of roots and shoots

Question 3: Question 4:
Why is it necessary to Do the radicles and plumules show
leave the apparatus in positive geotropism or negative
darkness? geotropism?
Answer:
Answer:
In set-up A, the radicles grow
The apparatus is left
downwards and are positively
in darkness to avoid
geotropic, while the plumules grow
the stimulus of light.
upwards and are negatively geotropic.
18.4 The growth response of roots & shoots to gravity

Experiment 18.2
To study the geotropic response of roots and shoots
Question 5:
What advantage do the seedlings have by showing such
geotropism?
Answer:
Being positively geotropic, roots grow downwards deep into
the soil to provide a firm anchorage underground and absorb
maximum water and mineral salts in the soil. Being negatively
geotropic, shoots grow upwards to ensure that a plant gets
enough light energy for photosynthesis.
18.5 The growth response of roots to water
18.5 The growth response of roots to water

Hydrotropis
m

Shoot
Root

Wet Dry
18.5 The growth response of roots to water

Hydrotropis
m
No
Importance:
Importance: response
get
get maximum
maximumwater
water
Shoot
as
asaaraw
rawmaterial
materialfor
for
photosynthesis
photosynthesis
Positive Root
get
get maximum
maximummineral
mineral Hydrotropism
salts
saltsto
tomaintain
maintain
normal
normalgrowth
growth Wet Dry
18.5 The growth response of roots to water
Experiment 18.3
To investigate the relative effects of gravity and water on the
growth response of green plants

1. Prepare a 20cm X 20cm gauze square. Bend it to form a

shallow tray that is 2cm deep.
2. Place an even 1-cm deep layer of damp vermiculite.
3. Sprinkle about 20 pea seedlings onto the vermiculite. Cover
the seedlings with damp vermiculite.
18.5 The growth response of roots to water
Experiment 18.3
To investigate the relative effects of gravity and water on the
growth response of green plants

4. Set up the apparatus in

darkness as shown in
the diagram.
water
5. Observe the results
after 2 days.
18.5 The growth response of roots to water
Experiment 18.3
To investigate the relative effects of gravity and water on the
growth response of green plants
Question:
Which response is stronger, hydrotropic or geotropic? Explain.
Answer:
Some pea seedlings reverse their normal
geotropic response and grow upwards
towards the damp vermiculite. This water
shows that hydrotropic response is
stronger than geotropic response.
18.6 What are the substances for controlling
growth movements in plants?
18.6 What are the substances for controlling
growth movements in plants?

coleoptile

first leaf
a protective sheath
surrounding the young
shoot of the embryo in
plants of the grass family

grass seed
used in the experiments
for finding out the factors
controlling the growth
movements in plants
 18.6 What are the substances for controlling
growth movements in plants?

Charles
Charles Darwin
Darwin (1880)
(1880)
Experiment Result Conclusion /
Explanation
light
The coleoptile
coleoptile grew towards
the light.
 18.6 What are the substances for controlling
growth movements in plants?

Charles
Charles Darwin
Darwin (1880)
(1880)
Conclusion /
Experiment Result
Explanation
light

decapitated The shoot tip

coleoptile was
sensitive to
light.
18.6 What are the substances for controlling
growth movements in plants?

Charles
Charles Darwin
Darwin (1880)
(1880)
Conclusion /
Experiment Result
Explanation
light
opaque

cap
This further
confirmed that
the tip was
sensitive to
light.
18.6 What are the substances for controlling
growth movements in plants?

Boysen-Jensen
Boysen-Jensen (1913)
(1913)
Experiment Conclusion /
Result
Explanation
light
A substance
gelatin
allows produced at
substances
to diffuse
the tip diffused
down through the
light gelatin down
the shaded
side.
18.6 What are the substances for controlling
growth movements in plants?

Boysen-Jensen
Boysen-Jensen (1913)
(1913)
Experiment Result Conclusion /
Explanation
light
mica
plate Substance
it does not
causing the
allow bending
substances
to diffuse light movement
down moved down
the shaded
side of the
shoot.
18.6 What are the substances for controlling
growth movements in plants?
Paal
Paal (1919)
(1919)
Experiment Result Conclusion /
Explanation

A substance
had diffused
from the tip &
stimulated
growth.
18.6 What are the substances for controlling
growth movements in plants?

Fritz
Fritz Went
Went (1928)
(1928)
Conclusion /
Experiment Result
Explanation
The substance
passed from the
coleoptile tip into
the agar block
and then down
into the stump.
The
agar stump stump bent away
block from the side with
a source of that
substance.
18.6 What are the substances for controlling
growth movements in plants?

Fritz
Fritz Went
Went (1928)
(1928)
Experiment Result
Result

Went named
this substance
auxin

agar stump
block
18.7 More about auxins
18.7 More about auxins
organic
plant substances
hormone
auxin
can regulate
auxin growth & other
physiological
auxin
processes
auxin
auxin act on parts of the
plant other than the
part that produces
them
18.7 More about auxins
Site
Site of
of production
production
shoot tip
produces auxins

auxins are roots tip also

transported produces a
downwards small amount
to the root of auxins
18.7 More about auxins
Site
Site of
of production
production
1 auxin exert
shoot tip 2 their effect at
1 produces 3
auxins region of
2 4
3
elongation
mark at
2 mm 4 5
5 6
intervals
6 7
7 8
8
 18.7 More about auxins
Effect
Effectof
ofauxins
auxinson
on different
different parts
partsof
of aa plant
plant Stimulate
Stimulate
shoot
shoot
Stimulate
Stimulate No
Noeffect
effecton
on Higher
Higher growth
growth
root
rootgrowth
growth shoot
shootgrowth
growth conc.
conc.
Inhibit
Inhibit root
root
Lower
Lower growth
growth
conc.
conc.
shoot
root
ht wor g %
it s
i bi hni noi t al u m
or g %

Auxin concentration / parts per million (p.p.m.)

18.8 The role of auxins in phototropic & geotropic
responses

Phototropic
Geotropic
18.8 The role of auxins in phototropic & geotropic
responses
Phototropic
Phototropic
response
response of
of shoots
shoots
auxins
unilateral
light

1 Unilateral
Unilateral light
lightcauses
causes
auxins
auxins to
to accumulate
accumulate
on
on the
theshaded
shadedside
sideof
of
the
the shoot
shoot
18.8 The role of auxins in phototropic & geotropic
responses

2 Higher
Higher concentration
concentrationof
stimulates
ofauxins
auxins
stimulatesshoot
shoot growth
growth

The
Theshaded
shaded
3
unilateral side
sidegrows
grows
light faster
faster than
thanthe
the
illuminated
illuminated
side
side

4 The
Theshoot
shootgrows
grows
&&bends
bendstowards
towards
the
the light
light
18.8 The role of auxins in phototropic & geotropic
responses
Geotropic
Geotropicresponses
responses
of
of shoots
shoots and
and roots
roots

gravity

Auxins
Auxins diffuse
diffuse down
down toto the
the lower
lower
side
side due
due to
to gravity
gravity
18.8 The role of auxins in phototropic & geotropic
responses
high
high concentration
concentrationof of high
highconcentration
concentrationof
of auxins
auxins
auxins
auxinsinhibits
inhibitsroot
root growth
growth stimulates
stimulatesshoot
shoot growth
growth

lower
lowerside
sideof
of the
theroot
root lower
lowerside
side ofof the
theshoot
shoot grows
grows
grows
growsmore
more slowly
slowly faster
faster than
than the
the upper
upper side
side

the
theroot
root bends
bends the
theshoot
shoot bends
bends
downwards
downwards upwards
upwards
 is caused by
Tropism Mind Map
growth movement
includes
phototropism geotropism hydrotropism
unilateral auxins nature of nature of
nature of
stimulus which stimulus stimulus stimulus
are light water
pull of gravity
produced plant illuminated
result
on shoots
by hormones unilaterally and roots positive
on shoots response
shoot tips auxins diffuse
and root tips auxins down to lower by roots
move to side importance
stimulate shaded side
growth at so the so the roots can absorb
so the
shoots roots more water and
region of
shoots bending bending mineral salts
elongation in bending
shoots and roots toward upward downward roots can
light source result result penetrate into
leaves gain soil for
maximum result
import- anchorage and
amount of positive negative positive import- to absorb more
ance
light for response response response ance
water and
photosynthesis by shoots by shoots by roots
mineral salts