Growth and Movement in Plants

📚 Key Concepts

🔹 How Plants Move and Grow

Plants show movement in response to stimuli:

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1. Response to Light

  • Shoots grow towards light (phototropism)
  • Helps plants get maximum sunlight for food production
  • Even if plant is placed sideways, shoot will bend towards light

2. Response to Gravity

  • Roots always grow downward (gravitropism)
  • Shoots always grow upward
  • Even inverted plants will bend to grow in correct directions

3. Types of Plant Movements

  • Growth movements: Permanent changes in direction
  • Touch responses: Temporary movements (touch-me-not plant)
  • Daily rhythms: Flowers opening and closing

🔹 Experiment Observations

When plants are placed in different positions:

  • Upright plant: Root grows down, shoot grows up
  • Inverted plant: Root bends and grows down, shoot bends and grows up
  • Light from one side: Shoot bends towards light, root still grows down

Conclusion: Plants have an amazing ability to sense their environment and grow in the right directions for survival.