TROPISM

Tropisms
Tropism - directional growth of a
plant, or part of a plant, in
response to an external stimulus

Plant hormones
Hormone: chemical
signals that coordinate
parts of an organism;
produced in one part of
the body and then
transported to other
parts of the body

Auxin
Hormone used in tropism
IAA (indoleacetic acid)
Location: seed embryo; meristems of
apical buds and young leaves
Function: stem elongation; root growth,
differentiation, branching; fruit
development; apical dominance; tropisms

What are we talking

about?
Stimulus an action or condition
that causes a response
Response an action or condition
that is a reaction to a stimulus
Negative response when the growth
of a plant is away from the stimulus
Positive response when the growth
of the plant is towards the stimulus

Types of Tropism
We are going to be studying 4
Tropisms:
Thig
motr
op

Hydrotropism
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p
o
r
t
i
Grav
m
s
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p
o
r
t
or Geo

is m
p
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Ph

is m

Hydrotropism
Stimulus: Water
Response: A plants roots grow
towards the source of water
Is this a positive or negative
response?

Gravitropism / Geotropism
Stimulus: Gravity
Reaction:
Positive the roots
grow downward, with
gravity
Negative the stalk
grows upward,
against gravity

Thigmotropism
Stimulus: Touch
Response the
leaves (or part of
the plant that is
touched) move or
coil away from
the touch, or
trigger some
other action

Phototropism

Stimulus: Light
Response the plant grows in the
direction of a unidirectional light (it
only comes from one direction)