7.

2 TROPIC RESPONSES

TROPISMS = growth movements related to

directional stimuli, eg ; a shoot will grow
towards a source of light but away from the
direction of gravity

Plants have the ability to detect stimulus

and then respond to the stimulus by either
bending or growing in its direction or away
from it.

1.
2.

We call these Tropic Responses. There are

two types of tropism:
Geotropism
Phototropism.

Geotropism: This is the response where a plant grows either toward or

away from gravity.
Phototropism: The response where a plant grows towards or away
from the direction from which light is coming at.
Tropisms can either be Positive or Negative.
A tropism that is positive is in the direction of the stimulus, while a
negative tropism is one where the direction is away from the stimulus.

Negative geotropism. The plant has been left on its side for 24 hours

GEOTROPISM

The roots represent positive geotropism and the stem of the same plant
demonstrates negative geotropism.

QuickTime and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.

PHOTOTROPISM

The roots represent negative phototropism and the stem of the same plant
demonstrates positive phototropism

AUXIN
Auxin is a type of chemical which control the tropism.
To be more specific, Auxin is a plant hormone.
Auxin is produced by cells at the tip of the roots and
shoots of plants.
At the top 0f the cell, there is a section where cells are
being produced by dividing so the shoot grows.
The growth of the cells are controlled by auxin.
Auxin is what allows a plant to go, so if you cut off the
auxin, the plant will not grow.

AUXIN IN PHOTOTROPISM

1. If sun shines on the right side of plants shoot, auxins will

accumulate on the dark opposite left.
2. Auxin accumulating on the dark side will obviously grow at a
faster rate than the right side of the plant.
3. When the left side of the plant is growing faster than the
right side, the plant starts to bend towards the right side
towards sunlight.

QuickTime and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.

AUXIN IN GEOTROPISM

less

 Auxin

like to settle at the bottom of the root.

This does not make the tip of the root grow taller.
Auxin prevents the cells at the bottom tip of the root from
growing, allowing the cells in the middle to grow faster.
When the cells in the middle of the root start to grow
faster, what this does it that it pushes the root deeper into
the soil and the root gets longer.
Additionally, the root grows in the direction of gravitational
pull.

Whats good about Phototropism?

1. Flowers can be seen by insects for pollination
2. Plants grow taller, which is better for seed
dispersal
3. Leaves are exposed to more sunlight and
more photosynthesis is available

Whats good about Geotropism?

1. More water can reach the roots
2. Roots have larger surface area for more
diffusion and osmosis
3. By growing very deep into the soil, the roots
are able to be held very firmly.