Movement in Plants

Overview

Movement in plants refers to the various ways in which plant organs respond to internal and external stimuli, despite being fixed in one location. These movements can be classified into two main types: autonomic movements, which are spontaneous and driven by internal factors, and paratonic movements, which occur in response to external stimuli. Common examples include phototropism, where plants grow towards light, and thigmotropism, where climbing plants wrap around supports. Plant movements are primarily regulated by hormones, such as auxins, which influence growth patterns and responses to environmental changes

Questions and Answers

  1. What are the two main types of movements in plants?

    The two main types of movements in plants are autonomic movements, which are spontaneous and driven by internal factors, and paratonic movements, which occur in response to external stimuli

  2. What is phototropism?

    Phototropism is the movement of a plant part in response to light, where the plant grows towards the light source due to differential growth

  3. What role do auxins play in plant movement?

    Auxins are hormones that regulate growth patterns in plants, influencing movements such as phototropism and gravitropism by causing unequal cell elongation

  4. What is thigmotropism?

    Thigmotropism is the movement of plants in response to touch, such as climbing plants wrapping around supports when they come into contact with them

  5. What are turgor movements?

    Turgor movements are rapid movements in plants caused by changes in turgor pressure within cells, such as the folding of leaflets in the "touch-me-not" plant

Multiple-Choice Questions

  1. What type of movement in plants is caused by internal factors?

    a) Paratonic movements
    b) Autonomic movements
    c) Tactic movements
    d) Turgor movements
    Answer: b) Autonomic movements

  2. Which hormone is primarily responsible for phototropism in plants?

    a) Gibberellins
    b) Cytokinins
    c) Auxins
    d) Abscisic acid
    Answer: c) Auxins

  3. What is the term for the movement of plants in response to touch?

    a) Phototropism
    b) Thigmotropism
    c) Chemotropism
    d) Gravitropism
    Answer: b) Thigmotropism

  4. Which of the following is an example of a turgor movement?

    a) Growth towards light
    b) Leaf folding in Mimosa
    c) Climbing of vines
    d) Roots growing downwards
    Answer: b) Leaf folding in Mimosa

  5. What type of movement occurs when a plant grows towards a light source?

    a) Gravitropism
    b) Phototropism
    c) Thigmotropism
    d) Nastic movement
    Answer: b) Phototropism