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Chapter-15
PLANT GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
POINTS TO REMEMBER

Abscission : Shedding of plant organs like leaves, flowers and fruits etc.
from the mature plant.
Apical dominance : Suppression of the growth of lateral buds in presence
of apical bud.
Dormancy : A period of suspended activity and growth usually associated
with low metabolic rate.
Photoperiodism : Response of plant to the relative length of day and night
period to induce flowering.
Phytochrome : A pigment, which control the light dependent developmen-
tal process.
Phytohormone : Chemicals secreted by plants in minute quantities which
influence the physiological activities.
Senescene : The last phase of growth when metabolic activities decrease.
Vernalisation : A method of promoting flowering by exposing the young
plant to low temperature.
Growth : An irreversible permanent increase in size of an organ or its parts
or even of an individual.
Abbreviations
IAA Indole acetic acid
NAA Naphthalene acetic acid
ABA Abscissic acid
IBA Indole-3 butyric acid
2.4D 2.4 dichlorophenoxy acetic acid
PGR Plant growth regulator

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Measurement of growth : Plant growth can be measured by a variety of

parameters like increase in fresh weight, dry weight, length, area, volume and
cell number.
Phases of growth : The period of growth is generally divided into three
phases, namely, meristamatic, elongation and maturation.
(i) Meristematic zone : New cell produced by metotic division at root-tip
and shoot tip thereby show increase in size. Cells are rich in protoplasm and
nuclei.
(ii) Elongation zone : Zone of elongation lies just behind the meristematic
zone and concerned with enlargement of cells.
(iii) Maturation zone : The portion lies proximal to the phase of elonga-
tion. The cells of this zone attain their maximum size in terms of wall thickning
and protoplasmic modification.
Growth rate : The increased growth per unit time is termed as growth rate.
The growth rate shows an increase that may be arithmetic or geometrical.
Growth Mathematical expression Curve
In Arithematic growth : Only one daughter Lt = L0 + rt Linear curve
cell continues to divide mitotically while other Lt = Length at time t
differentiates and matures. L0 = Length at time zero
r = growth rate
In geometrical growth :The initial growth is W1 = W0ert Sigmoid or
slow (lag phase) and increase rapidly there- W1 = Final size S-curve
after at an exponential rate (log phase). W0 = Initial size
• Both the progeny cells divide mitotically r = growth rate
and continue to do so. However, with limited t = time of growth
nutrient supply, the growth slow down leading e = base of natural
to stationary phase. logarithms
Differentiation : A biochemical or morphological change in meristemic
cell (at root apex and shoot apex) to differentiate into permanent cell is called
differentiation.
Dedifferentiation : The phenomenon of regeneration of permanent tissue
to become meristematic is called dedifferentiation.

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Redifferentiation : Meristems/tissue are able to produces new cells that

once again lose the capacity to divide but mature to perform specific functions.
PHYTO HORMONE OR PLANT GROWTH-REGULATOR
Growth promoting hormones : These are involved in growth promoting
activities such as cell division, cell enlargement, flowering, fruiting and seed
formation. e.g., Auxin, gibberellins, cytokinins.
Growth inhibitor : Involved in growth inhibiting activities such as dor-
mancy and abscission. e.g., Abscisic acid and Ethylene.
Hormones Functions
Auxins Apical dominance, cell elongation, prevent
premature leaf and fruit falling, initiate rooting in
stem cutting, as weedicide, induce parthenocarpy.
Gibberellins Delay senescence, speed up malting process, in
crease in length of axis (grape stalk), increase
in length of stem (sugarcane), bolting in beet, cab
bages and many plants with rosette habit.
Cytokinins Promote cell division, induce cell enlargment, re
duce apical dominance, induce growth in auxilary
bud, chlorophyll preservation, lateral shoot
growth, adventitious root formation.
Ethylene Promotes senescence and abscission of
leaf and fruits, promotes ripening of fruits,
break seed and bud dormancy, initiate germina
tion in peanut, sprouting of potato tuber, promotes
root growth and root hair formation.
Abscisic acid Inhibit seed germination, stimulate clouser of
stomata, increase tolerance to various stress,
induce dormancy in seed and bud,
promotes ageing of leaf (senescence).

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QUESTIONS
Very Short Answer Questions (1 mark each)
1. Write the cause of 'Bakane' disease of rice.
2. Name the plant hormone which was first isolated from human urine.
3. Name the only gaseous plant hormone.
4. How does abscisic acid acts as stress hormone in drought condition ?
5. A farmer observed some broad-leaved weeds in a wheat crop farm. Which
plant hormone would you suggest remove them ?
6. Why do lateral buds start developing into branches when apical bud is
removed ?
7. Flowering in certain plant occur only when they are exposed to low
temperature for a few weeks. Name this phenomenon.
8. Name the hormone released from over-ripe apples that affects all other apples
in a small wooden box.
Short Answer Questions-II (2 marks each)
9. How will you induce lateral branching in a plant which normally does not
produce them ? Give reason.
10. What induces ethylene formation in plants ? Give any two different action
of ethylene on plants.
11. What is meant by abscission ? Name the phytohormone involved in it.
12. What is meant by apical dominance ? Which hormone control it ?
13. Differentiate between photoperiodism and vernalisation.
Short Answer Questions-I (3 marks each)
14. What would be expected to happen if :
(a) GA3 is applied to rice seedling.
(b) a rotten fruit get mixed with unripe fruits.
(c) you forget to add cytokinin to the culture medium.
15. Which growth hormone is responsible for the following :
(a) induce rooting in a twig
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(b) quick ripening of a fruit

(c) delay leaf senescence
(d) ‘bolt’ a rosette plant
(e) induce immediate stomatal closure in leaves (f) Induce growth in axil
lary buds
16. Define differentiation, dedifferentiation and redifferentiation.
17. Where are auxins generally produced in a plant ? Name any one naturally
occuring plant auxin and any one synthetic auxin.
18. Define growth rate. Name two types of growth. Give the shape of curve for
these growth.
19. Mention various parameter taken into consideration for measuring the growth.
Long Answer Questions (5 marks each)
20. Inlist the five categories of phytohormone. Write atleast two uses of each.
ANSWERS
Very Short Answers (1 mark)
1. Gibberalla fujikuroi.
2. Auxin
3. Ethylene
4. ABA causes rapid closure of stomata, preventing loss of water by transpira-
tion.
5. 2.4-D
6. Due to inhibit activity of Auxin lateral growth starts.
7. Vernalisation
8. Ethylene
Short Answers-II (2 marks)
9. When apical bud is removed, lateral branches are produced. Removal of
apical bud effect the auxin is destroyed inducing the lateral buds to grow
rapidly.
10. Refer NCERT Book Page no. 250.
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11. • Premature fall of leaf and fruit is called abscission.

• Abscisic acid
12. Refer NCERT Book Page no. 250.
13. Refer NCERT Book Page no. 252.
Short Answers-I (3 marks)
14. (a) Hyper elongation of internodes of rice seedlings will occur.
(b) Unripe fruits will lead to early ripening and ultimately it will result in
rottening.
(c) Short but formation will not occur.
15. Refer NCERT Book.
16. Refer NCERT Book Page no. 245.
17. Refer NCERT Book Page no. 248.
18. Refer NCERT Book Page no. 242 and 243.
19. Refer NCERT Book Page no. 241.
Long Answers (5 marks)
20. Refer NCERT Book Page no. 247-250.

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