Name ___________________________________________________________ Period _______

7th Grade Science

Tropisms Lab Unit 8

Introduction
A tropism is a growth or turning movement of a plant, in response to an environmental stimulus. Tropisms
are usually named for the stimulus involved for example, a phototropism and geotropism. Phototropism is
a reaction to light where the plant grows toward the light. Geotropism is a reaction of the plant growth
to gravity. In geotropism, the force of gravity pulls the roots downward and in response the plant grows
upward.

Objectives
• Complete a scientific experiment testing a single variable.
• Understand how plants respond to different environmental conditions.
• Identify how geotropism affects plants.

Materials
One Zip-Loc sandwich bag
Four soaked mustard seeds
One piece of paper towel
Water
Tape
Scissors and stapler (If Necessary)

Procedure
1. Write your group member names on one side of the Zip-Loc bag using a Sharpie.
2. Obtain a piece of paper towel from the dispenser. Fold the piece of paper towel so that it will fit
inside of the Zip-Loc bag. You may need to cut the paper towel down a bit.
3. Soak the paper towel with water. Remove excess water by squeezing the paper towel. The paper
towel should be damp, but not dripping.
4. Lay you damp paper towel flat on your table. Place seeds on the paper towel with the seeds’
pointed ends facing inward. Think of them as “hands on a clock” at 12, 3, 6, and 9
5. Carefully slide the paper towel with the seeds on top into the Zip-Loc bag. Be sure not to move
the seeds as you insert the paper towel into the bag.
6. While pushing down on the bag to remove the excess air in the bag, seal the bag closed.
7. You should be able to see the seeds and they should remain in the same position as you lift the
bag to a vertical position. (If you are unable to keep the seeds in position when the bag is raised
to a vertical position, ask your teacher to help you staple a pocket around the seeds to help keep
them in place.)
8. Tape the bag containing seeds to the inside door of the cabinet so that the seeds are visible.
9. Close the cupboard door so that no light is exposed to the seeds for the next few days. The bags
are kept in a dark cabinet so that the only variable being tested is the seeds’ response to gravity.
Their response to light is not being tested.
10. After students have finished setting up and storing their seeds, have each student predict the
results of the experiment by drawing how they think the roots will grow from each of the four
seeds.
Data / Observations

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4

Observations

Sketch

Conclusion Questions
1. How does the response of roots to gravity help a plant?

2. Observe flowers growing in your neighborhood. Do they change the way they grow depending on
where the light is? If so, how does this help the plant survive?

3. What do you think would happen if you place a light source below the plant? How would the stem
grow?

4. Which do you think has a stronger influence on a plant—geotropism or phototropism? How could
you design an experiment to test this?
Tropism Video Analysis Questions
Now you will watch a series of short video clips that will illustrate the various types of tropisms. Watch
each clip and the answer the following questions.

Geotropism/Gravitropism:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=8SkKuwbmR5Y

1. In which direction was the plant pointing at the beginning of the video?

2. What direction was the plant growing at the end of the video?

3. Why is geotropism beneficial to plants?

4. What was the force that caused the roots to grow downward?

Phototropism: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ze8NV7cvW8k

1. In which direction were the leaves growing at the beginning of the video?

2. What direction were the leaves growing at the end of the video?

3. How long do you think it took for these plants to move from the beginning of the video to the
end?

4. Why is phototropism beneficial to plants?

Thigmotropism: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTljaIVseTc&NR=1

1. How did the plant react when it came in contact with the wooden rod?

2. Why is thigmotropism beneficial to plants?

Emergence: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d26AhcKeEbE&feature=related

1. A plant begins as a seed beneath the surface. How does the plant know which direction to grow
so that is may “emerge” from the soil and begin the photosynthetic process?