Growth 1

Growth
Plant growth responses

Learning objectives:
•Understand that plants respond to stimuli
•Describe the geotropic and phototrophic responses of roots and stems
•Understand the role of auxin in the phototropic response of stems
Task: What
happens next?
WHAT DO PLANTS NEED TO GROW?
This plant hasn’t been looked after very
well. What do plants need to grow
healthily?
 sunlight and an air supply
 water
 mineral nutrients.
If a plant cannot get these from its

environment, can it move to somewhere
else?
Plants are rooted to one place. However,

they can control their direction of
growth.
Plant responses
Plants are rarely thought of as
sensitive because their movements
are not easily noticed when compared
with animals.
Animals respond to stimuli through

nervous and chemical messages.
Plants respond to stimuli through chemical messages, many of

which are plant hormones. They play similar role to animal
hormones; they are produced in one area of the plant, are
transported around the body of the plant and have their affect
on cells elsewhere.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ze8NV7cvW8k
Tropism
Plants respond to a variety of

stimuli by producing plant
hormones which in turn affect the
plant growth. These growth
responses to environmental stimuli
are known as tropisms.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=pi3P3uJOsN4
(5 min)
Task: What is the difference
between positive and negative
tropism?
Tropism
Plants respond to a variety of

stimuli by producing plant
hormones which in turn affect the
plant growth. These growth
responses to environmental stimuli
are known as tropisms.
A growth response that is towards
the stimulus is called
a positive tropism.
A growth response that is away
from the stimulus is called
a negative tropism.
Tropism
• Phototropism
• Geotropism
Task: Describe what they are.

Tropism
• Phototropism
• Geotropism
Phototropism – growth in
response to the direction of
light.
Geotropism – growth in
response to the direction of
gravity.
Tropism Task: Complete the table
Tropism Task: Complete the table
DEFINING TROPISMS
Phototropism: auxins
Auxin is a plant hormone

responsible for
controlling the direction
of growth of stem tips in
response to light.
Phototropism: auxins
1. Auxin is made in the shoot tip

2. When light is unidirectional, the auxin moves through the plant
and accumulates on the shaded side
3. The auxin causes cells on the shaded side to elongate, resulting
in the shoot growing towards the light
5 min
Starter 1. 3. 4.
2.
Phototropism
Phototropism Thigmotropism
Thigmotropism Geotropism
Growth of an organism in Growth of an organism in Growth of an organism in
response to … response to… response to…
5 min Geotropism
Starter 1. 3. 4.
Phototropism
2. Thigmotropism
Phototropism
Phototropism Thigmotropism Geotropism

Growth of an organism in Growth of an organism in Growth of an organism in
response to … response to… response to…
Light Touch Gravity
YES, MOVE BY
HORMONES TROPISM/GROWTH
Rapid response in a plant
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
INVESTIGATING TROPISMS
EXPLAINING THE RESULTS
Experiment Explanation
Response to stimulus and why
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
EXPLAINING THE RESULTS
Experiment Explanation
Control – bending occurred in response to light- positive
1 phototropism
No bending – plant growth hormone that causes bending is in
2 tip of shoot
3 No bending – response to light stimulus- detected by tip
Bending in response to light – both light and tip (hormone)

4 required
5 Bending – light detected by tip. Hormone diffused down

shaded side causing cell elongation.
Bending – growth hormone able to diffuse to region where cell
6 elongation occurs
7 No bending – hormone is in tip and cannot diffuse in response

to light
Geotropism: auxins
Roots grow towards the stimulus of gravity (positive geotropism).
This is also controlled by auxin, but its action on roots is different to

that in the stem.
If a root is placed horizontally:

1.Auxin accumulates at the bottom of the root
2.It inhibits (slows down) the growth of this side
3.The upper side therefore grows faster (more elongation), causing
the root to grow downwards
Measuring growth
Learning objectives:
•Understand different ways to measure growth, including knowledge of
advantages and disadvantages
•Application of growth measurements, including methods and recording
HOW TO KNOW THERE’S BEEN
GROWTH??
Measuring Growth
Dimension – this includes height, length
or surface area, which is measured over
a known period of time.
Mass – this is often influenced by
variations of fluid content of the body. To
overcome this, dry weight is often
measured i.e. the sample is heated in an
oven until the weight does not change.
Unfortunately the organism is killed in the
process.
Measuring Growth
 Dimension – this includes height, length or

surface area, which is measured over a known
period of time.
 Mass – this is often influenced by variations of

fluid content of the body. To overcome this, dry
mass is often measured i.e. the sample is
dehydrated.
Growth measurement methods
Primary vs secondary growth
Plant growth curve
What does this growth curve show??
Internal seed structure
 Dicot is seed of note, monocot for comparison only
 Dicot is seed of note, monocot
for comparison only
1. How does a soaked seed differ to a dry seed??

2. Why would the seeds be soaked overnight??
3. What is the purpose of covering the seeds in the moist
cloth??
4. What does the cotyledon hold??
5. What is the significance of the seed coat??
6. What does the radicle part of the embryo turn in the future??
7. List some of the conditions that are required for the seed to
develop into a complete plant.
1. How does a soaked seed differ to a dry seed??
 In comparison with a soaked seed, a dry seed has a wrinkled
and a hard seed coat. The soaked seed has a softer seed coat
that can be peeled easily
2. Why would the seeds be soaked overnight??

 Seeds are soaked in order to assist the cotyledons for water
absorption so as to end the dormant state of the embryo
3. What is the purpose of covering the seeds in the moist cloth??

 It is for the growth of the baby plant.
4. What does the cotyledon hold?

 It provides nourishment for the growing plant.
5. What is the significance of the seed coat?

 During the dormant period, the seed coat shields the embryo
and the cotyledons
6. What does the radicle part of the embryo turn in the future?
 The radicle goes on to develop into the root system
7. List some of the conditions that are required for the seed to
develop into a complete plant.
 Following are the conditions required:
 Oxygen
 Water
 Suitable temperature
 Soil
Secondary growth

Growth 1

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Growth 1

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Growth 1

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Growth

Plant growth responses

 sunlight and an air supply

If a plant cannot get these from its

Plants are rooted to one place. However,

Animals respond to stimuli through

Plants respond to stimuli through chemical messages, many of

Plants respond to a variety of

Plants respond to a variety of

Task: Describe what they are.

Auxin is a plant hormone

1. Auxin is made in the shoot tip

Phototropism Thigmotropism Geotropism

3 No bending – response to light stimulus- detected by tip

Bending in response to light – both light and tip (hormone)

5 Bending – light detected by tip. Hormone diffused down

7 No bending – hormone is in tip and cannot diffuse in response

Roots grow towards the stimulus of gravity (positive geotropism).

This is also controlled by auxin, but its action on roots is different to

If a root is placed horizontally:

 Dimension – this includes height, length or

 Mass – this is often influenced by variations of

1. How does a soaked seed differ to a dry seed??

2. Why would the seeds be soaked overnight??

3. What is the purpose of covering the seeds in the moist cloth??

4. What does the cotyledon hold?

5. What is the significance of the seed coat?

You might also like