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Plant hormones control some aspects of the growth of plants such as cell division, cell
enlargement and cell differentiation.
Phytohormones Description
1. Auxins Promote growth of plants
Secreted by the cells present in the tips of stems and roots
Synthetic auxins are used in horticulture
2. Gibberellins Promote cell differentiation in the presence of auxins
Break seed dormancy
Stimulate elongation of shoots
3. Cytokinins Promote cell division in plants
Delay ageing of leaves
Promote opening of stomata
Promote fruit growth
4. Abscisic Acid Acts as a growth inhibitor
Promotes dormancy in seeds and buds
Promotes closing of stomata
Promotes wilting and falling of leaves
Detachment of flowers and fruits from the plants is due to
abscisic acid
1. Phototropism Movement of plant parts towards or away from light is termed phototropism.
Because shoots of most plants grow towards the source of light, it is termed
positive phototropism.
Roots grow away from light and hence are negatively phototropic.
2. Geotropism Movement of plant organs in response to gravity is termed geotropism.
Roots are positively geotropic because they grow in the direction of gravity.
The shoot grows upwards, i.e. against gravity, and hence is negatively
geotropic.
3. Thigmotropism Movement of plant organs in response to stimuli caused by physical contact
with solid objects is termed thigmotropism.
Weak-stemmed plants use twining stems and tendrils to climb on other
plants/objects which provide them support. Hence, twining stems and tendrils
are positively thigmotropic.
4. Hydrotropism Movement of plant organs in response to water is termed hydrotropism.
Roots grow towards the source of moisture and hence are positively
hydrotropic.
5. Chemotropism Movement of plant organs in response to a chemical stimulus is called
chemotropism.
When plant organs grow away from the chemical response, it is called
negative chemotropism.
When plant parts grow towards the chemical response, it is called positive
chemotropism. For example, pollen tubes grow towards the sugary substance
secreted by the stigma of the flower.
6. Heliotropism Diurnal motion or seasonal motion of plant parts in response to the direction of
the Sun is termed heliotropism.
Sunflowers contain auxins which are sensitive to sunlight.
They stimulate the growth of the cells in the shaded region of the stem so that
the flowers end up bending in the opposite direction, i.e. towards the Sun.