Plant behaviour

Plant BEHAVIOUR?!

Plants are also influenced by external

factors/stimuli.
Behaviour = reaction to stimulus

Tropisms

The growth of a plant in response to a

stimulus

Light
Water
Gravity
Touch

Light tropism

Also called PHOTOTROPISM

Plants will face the light, usually
sunlight
If plant FACES light, it is a POSITIVE
phototropism. If it turns away from
the light, it is a NEGATIVE
phototropism

Phototropism experiments

Tips of growing grass were covered

Tips no longer bent toward light
Therefore, region of receiving light
messages must be in the tip
We now know that AUXIN, a plant
hormone, is produced in the plant tip,
and creates new cells for growth of
the tip

Auxin moves away from light

If the plant is bathed in even light,

there is an even amount of auxin
throughout the entire tip.
If the light is concentrated on one
side, the auxin moves to the dark
side, and produces greater growth
on that side, elongating one side of
the tip, creating a bend.

The action of auxin

Gravity tropism

Geotropism
Roots head down into the ground,
while the tip of the plant grows
upwards
Again auxin is the culprit!

Why have a geotropism?

Gain sunlight through green parts

Gain water through root system from

ground water

Climbing plants

Thigmotropism change in growth in

response to contact with another
object
Twisting comes from elongation of
cells that are not touching the object
Where do you think auxin is
concentrated?

Rhythmic behaviours in plants

Rhythmic behaviours: behaviours that

happen daily, seasonally, yearly

Time stimulus
Solar tracking

Time as stimulus for rhythmic

behaviour

Plants have a biological clock

Leaves horizontal in day, sleep at
night (why?)
24 hour cycle circadian rhythm
Opening and closing of flowers is also
circadian

Solar tracking

Heliotropism
Leaves and flowers move throughout
the day so they are facing sun
Eg. Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus)
have the ability to face the sun all
day. What is the benefit of this?

Timing of flowering

Photoperiodism response of plants to

different periods of light (relative length of
day and night)
Some plants (eg. Chrysanthemum) only
flower when day is shorter than night
short-day plants.
Some (eg. Carnations) only flower when day
is longer than night long-day plants
If they flower regardless of day/night length
(eg. Dandelions), they are day-neutral
plants

Short and long day plants

If the dark period

is interrupted:

Short-day: no
flowering
Long-day: will flower

Short and long day plants

During light hours, hormones are

produced
These influence flower growth
The right amount of hormone must
be produced for the specific plant

Activities
Glossary: tropism, phototropism, auxin,
geotropism, thigmotropism, biological
clock, circadian rhythm, heliotropism,
photoperiodism, short-day plant, long-day
plant, day-neutral plant
Quick Check Questions: pg 367
Biochallenge pg 368, Chapter Review Q 2, 3,
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.