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 Will it happen

YES!

Plants Response
18.2 What are tropisms?
18.2 What are tropisms?

growth
Tropism
Response
directional growth
movement
made by a plant

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

towards stimulus away from stimuli

positive tropism negative 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

shoot

root
18.3 The growth response of shoots to light

Phototropism

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

Clinostat
18.3 The growth response of shoots to light

Clinostat

cancel out the effects of

unilateral light & gravity direction of
by rotating the disc rotation

set up as a control
for investigation of
growth responses
of roots & shoots to
unilateral light & 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
unilateral
complete darkness. light
Both 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:

grow deep
Negative Positive into soil to get
Importance: Geotropism Geotropism a firm
anchorage
leaves can
receive roots can
maximal shoot root absorb
sunlight for ground
maximum
photosynthesis amount of
water and
Gravity mineral 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

Wet Dry
18.5 The growth response of roots to water

Hydrotropis
m
No
Importance: response
get maximum water
as a raw material for
photosynthesis
Positive
get maximum mineral Hydrotropism
salts to maintain
normal 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 Darwin (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 Darwin (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 Darwin (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 (1913)

Experiment Result Conclusion /

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 (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 (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 Went (1928)

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

Fritz Went (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 of 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 of 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 of auxins on different parts of a plant
Stimulate
shoot
Stimulate No effect on Higher
growth
root growth shoot growth conc.
Inhibit root
Lower growth
stimulation
% growth

conc.
shoot
root
% growth
inhibition

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
response of shoots

auxins

1 Unilateral light causes

auxins to accumulate
on the shaded side of
the shoot
18.8 The role of auxins in phototropic & geotropic
responses
Higher concentration of auxins
2 stimulates shoot growth

The shaded
3
side grows
faster than the
illuminated
side

4 The shoot grows

& bends towards
the light
18.8 The role of auxins in phototropic & geotropic
responses
Geotropic responses
of shoots and roots

gravity

Auxins diffuse down to the lower

side due to gravity
18.8 The role of auxins in phototropic & geotropic
responses
high concentration of high concentration of auxins
auxins inhibits root growth stimulates shoot growth

lower side of the root lower side of the shoot grows

grows more slowly faster than the upper side

the root bends the shoot bends

downwards 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
and root tips auxins diffuse down by roots
move to to lower 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 response response
light for response ance
water and
photosynthesis by shoots by shoots by roots
mineral salts