16 Plant responses

OCR Biology A Exam-style mark scheme

Question
Answer Marks Guidance
number
1a Positive phototropism B1
1b Negative geotropism B1 ACCEPT negative gravi(to)tropism
1c Abscisic acid/ABA B1
1d Pulvinus B1
1e Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) B1
2 Active transport/diffusion B7

Mass

Phloem

Dominance

Decrease/reduce/lower

Division/mitosis/elongation

Elongation/division/mitosis
3a To cope with changing conditions/AW B2

Avoid abiotic stress

To maximise photosynthesis

OR

To obtain more, light/water/minerals ORA

Avoid, herbivory/grazing

To ensure, germination in suitable

conditions/pollination/seed set/seed dispersal
3bi Four from: B4

In water/in A/with no abscisic acid, germination

increases as conc. GA increases

When abscisic acid present/in B, no germination

Maximum germination 90% with 5 mol dm3 GA,

in water/without abscisic acid

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 16 Plant responses
OCR Biology A Exam-style mark scheme

Question
Answer Marks Guidance
number
Two comparative figures (x and y refs. plus units)

GA concentration increases, logarithmically/by a

factor of 10, on x-axis

Ten times more GA gives, three (conc 0.05 to

0.5) / 0.5 (conc 0.5 to 5), times more germination
3 b ii Two from: B2

So temperature doesn’t affect results/so only

desired variable(s) changed/to show just the
effect of plant hormones

Since temperature affects enzyme activity

Suitable/optimum, temperature for (lettuce)

germination
3 b iii Three from: B3

Volumes of liquid(s)

ABA concentration

Oxygen availability

Age of seeds

Previous storage of seeds/viability idea

Genotype/variety, of seeds

Size/type of, Petri dish/filter paper

Length of time experiment left for (before

recording results)

Space between seeds

3c Two from: B2

Seedless, fruits/grapes

Weedkillers

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 16 Plant responses
OCR Biology A Exam-style mark scheme

Question
Answer Marks Guidance
number

Rooting powder/to grow cuttings/used in tissue

culture ACCEPT faster or slower in context

Control fruit ripening

Controls fruit drop

Restrict hedge growth

Preserve, cut flowers/green vegetables

For example, longer stalks on
grapes/longer apples
Specific example of improved fruit quality

Producing malt/in brewing

3d Serial dilution B1
M1
One part/cm3, starting solution to nine parts/cm3,
water (to get 0.5 mol dm3)

Repeat with 0.5 mol dm3 solution to get

0.05 mol dm3
4a Two from: B2

Auxin/IAA

(Positive) phototropism

Plants/shoots, bend towards light

Etiolation/plants grow taller

4b Two from: B2

Less auxin/auxin production stopped

Apical dominance, stopped/removed

Side shoots grow/lateral buds develop/ORA

Hedge becomes more bushy

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 16 Plant responses
OCR Biology A Exam-style mark scheme

Question
Answer Marks Guidance
number
4c Two from: B2

Auxin/IAA

Not destroyed by light/more present in dark

Moves down from shoot tip

Cell elongation/asparagus grows taller

Chloroplasts don’t develop/asparagus is paler

5 Level 3 (5–6 marks)
Logical design of at least two experiments with
all key variables identified and the rationale of
the experiments explained, plus the
interpretation of the results to identify P and Q.
There is a well-developed line of reasoning which is
clear and logically structured. The information
presented is relevant.
Level 2 (3–4 marks)
Logical design of at least one experiment with
most key variables identified and the rationale of
the experiment and possible outcome and
conclusion explained.
There is a line of reasoning presented with some
structure. The information presented is in the most-
part relevant.
Level 1 (1–2 marks)
Outline of an experiment without reference to
key variables and interpretation of results of
experiments not adequately explained.
The information is basic and communicated in an
unstructured way.
0 marks
No response or no response worthy of credit.
B6 Indicative scientific points may
include:
 apply solutions separately
 to cut stem tips
 to agar block placed on one
half of cut stem tip
 to stem tip in presence of
unidirectional light
 run control experiments under
same conditions but with no
chemical applied
 treat large number of seedlings
or coleoptiles (minimum 10 per
treatment)
 independent variables are P and
Q (and no treatment)
 dependent variable is
measurement of, plant
height/number of side-
shoots/curvature of stem
 control variables in plant
material listed for example,
same age/height/mass/genotype
 control variables in environment
listed for example, same soil
type /fertiliser/watering
regime/light intensity/light
direction/light wavelength
 auxin causes curving of,
stem/coleoptiles, towards light in
unidirectional light
 auxin causes curving of,
stem/coleoptile, when applied to
one side of stem only
 auxin causes fewer lateral buds
to develop (than control)

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 16 Plant responses
OCR Biology A Exam-style mark scheme

Question
Answer Marks Guidance
number
 gibberellin causes straight
growth of, stem/coleoptile
 gibberellin causes greater
growth in, height/length, of,
stem/coleoptiles (than control or
auxin)
 gibberellin causes lateral buds
to develop as in control

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