CHAPTER 5

Responses In Plants
By Kaisyah Rizqiin
 Introduction
Plants need to respond to external stimuli. This is important to:

•Avoid predation

•Maximize photosynthesis

•Obtain more light, water and minerals

•Ensure germination in suitable conditions

 5.1 Types Of Responses

1. Tropism Responses

2. Nastic Responses
 Tropism Responses
➢ A response of plant in which the direction of response is determined by external stimulus

➢ Responses of certain parts such as roots and shoots

➢Types of tropism: Thigmotropism, Geotropism, Hydrotropism, Phototropism & Chemotropism

➢Characteristics: - Permanent and influenced by plant hormones

- Slow and not apparent
- Direction of response depend on the direction of stimulus
- Positive & Negative direction of response
 Thigmotropism

➢ Plant response to touch

➢ Response towards shoot tip

➢ Coiling or wrapping of a plant around object

• Wooden stake for support

➢ Eg: Tendrils on cucumber, melon and passion flower plants

 Geotropism

➢ Plant response to force of gravity

➢ Types of Geotropism: - Upward growth of plant shoots is negative

geotropism

- Downward growth of roots is positive

geotropism
 Hydrotropism

➢ Plant response to water

➢ Growth of plant roots towards or away from moisture

➢ Response towards roots

 Phototropism

➢ Plant response to light

➢ Plants bend in the direction of light

➢ Response towards shoot

 Chemotropism

➢ Plant response to chemical substances

➢ Chemical gradient that influence the growth of plant

➢ Positive Chemotropism: Grow towards substance

➢ Negative Chemotropism: Grow away from substance

➢ Eg: Fertilizer
 Nastic Responses

➢ Movements in which the direction of the stimulus is not important

➢ Not dependent on the direction of the stimulus

➢ Types of nastic responses: Photonasty, Seismonasty, Nyctinasty, Thermonasty & Thigmonasty

➢Characteristics: - Not all nastic responses are growth responses

- Quicker and more apparent
- Some nastic responses are intended for survival
 Photonasty

➢ Plant Response towards light

➢ Petal of flowers response towards light intensity

• At day, petals are opened

• At night, petals are closed

 Seismonasty

➢ Plant response towars shock, touch, wind and raindrop

➢ Response can be seen on leaves stigma and stamens

➢ Ex: Mimosa leaves

 Nyctinasty

➢ Circadian rhythmic movement of plants

➢ Respone towards oneset of darkness

➢ Ex: Legume plants

• Close leaves at night
• Open leaves at day
 Thermonasty

➢ Plants response toward surrounding temperature

➢ Ex: Tulip flowers

• Open at high temperature

• Close at low temperature

Thermonasty
 Thigmonasty

➢ Plants response toward touch or vibration

➢ Ex: Venus Fly Trap

5.2 Phytohormones
 Phytohormones
Chemical substances that stimulate and coordinate responses in plants
towards stimuli at low concentrations

Types Of Phytohormone:

• Auxin
• Gibberellin
• Cytokinin
• Abscisic Acid
• Ethylene
 Auxin

• Stimulates cell division and elongation

• Promotes flowering

• Help to bend towards light (Phototropism)

• Prevents abscission of fruits and leaves

• Stimulates apical dominance development in shoots and roots

 Gibberellin

• Promotes stem elongation

• Stimulates seed germination and seedling growth

• Stimulates leaves, flower and fruit development

 Cytokinin
• Stimulates cell division and cell elongation

➢ In root and stem cells in the presence of auxin

• Stimulates seed germination

• Inhibits apical dominance development

• Stimulates growth of lateral buds

• Prevents aging of plants

 Ethylene

• In form of gas

• Stimulates ripening in fruits

• Stimulates senescence process in plants

• Stimulates abscission of leaves and fruits

 Abscisic Acid

• Involved in leaf and fruit abscission (fall)

• Inhibits growth of plants

• Signals dehydration

▪ Stomatal closure to prevent water loss

Auxin in Growth Responses
Conclusion from Experiment

● Auxin stimulates cell elongation

● Auxin determine the direction of growth

● Auxin is sensitive to light and will diffuse away from light

Auxin in Growth
Responses
Role of Auxin in Phototropism

Positive Phototropism:

Shoot bends to light

Negative Phototropism:

Roots move away from light

Role of Auxin in Geotropism

Positive Geotropism:

Roots move downwards

Negative Geotropism:

Shoots move upwards

 Application of Phytohormones
5.3 in Agriculture
AUXIN GIBBERELLIN

• Stimulates formation of seedless • Speeds up seed germination

fruits, ‘parthenocarpy’.

• Rooting Powder: Stimulate growth • Stimulates increase in fruit size of

of adventitious roots grapes

• Synthetic auxin is used as herbicide

to kill eudicot weeds • Rapid elongation of flower stems

• Natural and synthetic auxin is used

to delay fruits drop
Adventitious
Roots
CYTOKININ Ethylene

• Stimulates production of shoot and root in • Speeds up seed germination

tissue culture in the presence of auxin

• Stimulates increase in fruit size of

• Stimulates growth of branches grapes

• Prolong storage period of leafy vegetables • Rapid elongation of flower stems

ABSCISIC ACID: Inhibits germination and growth

THANK YOU!