Growth Responses and Regulation of Growth Chapter 11 LEARNING OBJECTIVES 1 Discuss genetic and environmental factors that affect plant growth and development . • 2 Describe phototropism, gravitropism, and thigmotropism . • 3 List several ways in which each of the following hormones affects plant growth and development: auxin, gibberellin, cytokinin, ethylene, abscisic acid. • 4 Relate which hormone or hormones is/ are involved in each of the following biological processes: leaf abscission, seed germination, apical dominance. • 5 Explain how varying amounts of light and darkness induce flowering, and describe the role of phytochrome. • 6 Explain how temperature affects flower induction in certain plants. • 7 Define circadian rhythm, and give an example. • 8 Give an example of a turgor movement, and distinguish between turgor movements and tropisms. • LEARNING OBJECTIVE 1 • Discuss genetic and environmental factors that affect plant growth and development Internal Genetic Factors • The location of a cell in the young plant body affects gene expression during development • Causes some genes in that cell to be turned off and others to be turned on External Environmental Factors • Factors in the physical environment determine gene expression, affect plant growth and development • • • changing day length variation in precipitation temperature Spring Flowers LEARNING OBJECTIVE 2 • Describe phototropism, gravitropism, and thigmotropism Tropisms • Are directional growth responses • Are permanent KEY TERMS • PHOTOTROPISM • • GRAVITROPISM • • Directional growth of a plant caused by light Plant growth in response to direction of gravity THIGMOTROPISM • Growth in response to contact with a solid object Phototropism Gravitropism Fig. 11-3a, p. 223 On day 3, turned on its side One hour later Fig. 11-3a, p. 223 Fig. 11-3b, p. 223 Darwins’ Experiments Fig. 11-4a, p. 224 Fig. 11-4b, p. 224 (a) (b) (c) (d) Light rays Fig. 11-4b, p. 224 Auxin in Coleoptiles Coleoptile tip (a) Agar block (b) (c) Fig. 11-5, p. 225 LEARNING OBJECTIVE 3 • List several ways in which each of the following hormones affects plant growth and development: auxin, gibberellin, cytokinin, ethylene, abscisic acid KEY TERMS • HORMONE • An organic chemical messenger that regulates growth and development in plants and other multicellular organisms Communication Molecules • Five major classes of plant hormones • • auxin, gibberellin, cytokinin, ethylene, abscisic acid A variety of signaling molecules KEY TERMS • AUXIN • Plant hormone involved in growth and development, including stem elongation, apical dominance, and root formation on cuttings Animation: Phototropism CLICK TO PLAY Auxin and Phototropism Shaded side of coleoptile Light rays Illuminated side of coleoptile Fig. 11-6, p. 226 Auxin and Root Development Animation: Auxin’s Effects CLICK TO PLAY KEY TERMS • GIBBERELLIN • Plant hormone involved in growth and development, including stem elongation, flowering, and seed germination Effects of Gibberelin KEY TERMS • CYTOKININ • Plant hormone involved in growth and development, including cell division and delay of senescence Hormones and Tissue Culture Cell division without differentiation (a) Initial explant b) Callus Cell division with differentiation (c) Roots d) Shoots Fig. 11-10, p. 229 Cytokinin and Senescence KEY TERMS • ETHYLENE • A gaseous plant hormone involved in growth and development, including leaf abscission and fruit ripening Ethylene and Fruit Ripening KEY TERMS • ABSCISIC ACID • A plant hormone involved in growth and development, including dormancy and responses to stress Other Signaling Molecules Graft Long-day induction Day-neutral plant grafted to long-day plant Both plants flower Fig. 11-14, p. 232 Plant cell responses to infection by fungi, bacteria, or viruses. As a result of an initial infection and a subsequent signal-transduction pathway, plants produce a variety of antimicrobial molecules Signal Transduction 2 Ubiquitin is attached to proteins that inhibit certain genes. Plasma membrane Ubiquitin Cell wall 4 Inhibited genes are turned on. Nucleus Receptor Auxin 1 Auxin binds to receptor. DNA (contains genes) Protein 3 Proteins are destroyed. Cytoplasm Nuclear envelope Fig. 11-15, p. 233 2 Ubiquitin is tagged to proteins that inhibit certain genes. Plasma membrane Cell wall Ubiquitin 4 Previously repressed genes Nucleus are activated and expressed. Transcription Receptor Auxin 1 Auxin binds to TIR1 receptor. Protein 3 Proteins are targeted for destruction. Cytoplasm DNA Nuclear envelope Stepped Art Fig. 11-15, p. 233 LEARNING OBJECTIVE 4 • Relate which hormone or hormones is/are involved in each of the following biological processes: leaf abscission, seed germination, apical dominance Leaf Abscission • Ethylene and auxin • As a leaf ages, auxin level in the leaf decreases, and ethylene level increases Seed Germination • Gibberellins involved in seed germination • • • in certain plants (cereals, grasses) substitutes for low-temperature or light requirements in some seeds (lettuce, oats, tobacco) Ethylene and abscisic acid • Ethylene promotes seed germination; abscisic acid inhibits seed germination Abscisic Acid and Germination Apical Dominance 1 • Inhibition of axillary bud growth by the apical meristem • Auxin • • Produced in shoot apical meristem Inhibits axillary buds near apical meristem from developing into actively growing shoots Apical Dominance 2 • Cytokinins and ethylene • Cytokinins promote growth of axillary buds; ethylene inhibits axillary bud development Auxin and Axillary Bud Development LEARNING OBJECTIVE 5 • Explain how varying amounts of light and darkness induce flowering • Describe the role of phytochrome KEY TERMS • PHOTOPERIODISM • Physiological response (such as flowering) of plants to variations in length of daylight and darkness Photoperiodism • Some plants are short-day plants, some are long-day plants, others are intermediate-day plants • • Plant measures length of dark period In day-neutral plants, photoperiod does not affect flowering Short-Day Plants Photoperiodic Responses Day Night (a) Short days (b) Long days (c) Short days and long nights and short nights and long nights (interrupted with a brief period of light) (d) Long days (interrupted with a brief period of dark) and short nights 1 Chrysanthemum (short-day/ long-night plant) 2 Black-eyed Susan (long-day/short-night plant) Fig. 11-17, p. 234 KEY TERMS • PHYTOCHROME • A blue-green proteinaceous pigment involved in many plant responses to light, independent of photosynthesis Phytochrome • There are about five different phytochrome proteins • Each exists in two forms and readily converts from one form to the other after absorption of light of specific wavelengths Phytochrome Forms • Pr strongly absorbs red light with a relatively short wavelength (660 nm) • • Changes to the second form (Pfr) Pfr absorbs red light with a relatively long wavelength (730 nm) • The active form, triggers or inhibits responses such as flowering Phytochrome Conversion Red light (660 nm) Inactive form Pr Short-lived intermediate forms Short-lived intermediate forms Far-red light (730 nm) Active form Pfr Physiological response (such as flowering) Fig. 11-18, p. 235 Animation: Phytochrome Conversions CLICK TO PLAY LEARNING OBJECTIVE 6 • Explain how temperature affects flower induction in certain plants Temperature Requirements • Certain plants have temperature requirements that must be met in order for them to flower KEY TERMS • VERNALIZATION • The low-temperature requirement for flowering in some plant species Temperature Requirements LEARNING OBJECTIVE 7 • Define circadian rhythm • Give an example KEY TERMS • CIRCADIAN RHYTHM • A biological activity with an internal rhythm that approximates the 24-hour day Circadian Rhythms • Reset by the rising and setting of the sun • Circadian rhythms in plants affect • • • gene expression rate of photosynthesis opening and closing of stomata Sleep Movements LEARNING OBJECTIVE 8 • Give an example of a turgor movement, and distinguish between turgor movements and tropisms KEY TERMS • TURGOR MOVEMENT • • Temporary plant movement that results from changes in internal water pressure in a plant part Examples: Leaves of the sensitive plant and Venus flytrap Sensitive Plant Fig. 11-21a, p. 237 Fig. 11-21b, p. 237 Fig. 11-21c, p. 237 Leaflet open Leaflet Pulvinus Vascular tissue Decrease of turgor in parenchyma cells Leaflet folded Parenchyma cells retaining turgor Cross-sectional views (c) How the folding and drooping occurs. Pulvini occur in three areas: the base of each leaflet, the base of each cluster of leaflets, and the base of each leaf. Only changes in the pulvini at the bases of leaflets are shown. (Top right) A section through two leaflets, showing their pulvini when the leaf is undisturbed. (Bottom right) A section through the two leaflets, showing how a loss of turgor produces the folding of the leaves. Fig. 11-21c, p. 237 Turgor and Tropisms • Turgor movements are temporary plant movements • Tropisms are permanent growth responses