topic 9.3 Flashcards
what is auxin
- auxin is a plant hormone that plays a role in the cell elongation, promotion of root growth and suppression of lateral buds to promote apical dominance
what effect do auxins have on cell walls
- they affect the ability of cell walls to stretch
where are auxins synthesized and how do they travel down a plant
- synthesised in the meristems
- diffuse down the plant
cell elongation
- auxin binds to receptors on cell membrane
- hydrogen ion pump is activated so pH decreases
- enzyme breaks bonds between cellulose microfibrils
- water enters by osmosis and cell elongates
how does elongation stop
- eventually enzymes destroy the auxin’s - stopping elongation
root growth
- auxin’s actively transported down the plant towards the roots
- the more the auxin’s are transported down the stem, the more the root growth
what are tropisms
- they are directional growth responses to specific environmental cues
what are the two type of tropisms
- phototropism
- gravitropism
phototropism
- plant shoots grow toward light unilaterally
- positive phototropism
- plant roots grow away from light
- negative phototropism
when light hits the shoots of the plant, auxin’s move to shaded side and promote elongation towards the light
gravitropism
- plant shoots grow against gravity
- negative gravitropism
- plant roots grow in the direction of gravity
- positive gravitropism
auxin’s move down the plant and promote elongation
what are cytokinins
- cytokinins promote cell division in apical meristems and cambium, promote lateral bud development and work with ethene in abscission of leaves
high levels of cytokinin?
- keeps the leave healthy and alive
low levels of cytokinin
- leaf dies and falls
gibberellins
- stimulate elongation of cells, growth of fruit and breaking dormancy in seeds
how do gibberellins germinate
- the embryo secretes gibberellins that diffuse into the aleurone layer
- aleurone layer produces amylase to digest the carbohydrate stores of endosperm
- products from endosperm are used to make new cells and germinate
synergy
- when two hormones work together complimenting each other and giving greater response together
antagonism
- when two hormones have opposite effects and the balance between then determines response
apical dominance
- this is when one lead shoot grows bigger and faster than the others
auxin - apical dominance
- high auxin levels from dominant shoot inhibits lateral bud growth
- when the shoot grows further away, the inhibition of auxin is reduced (cytokinin dominant)
- as level of auxin reduces down the stem, lateral buds start to develop
- if main shoot is removed, source of auxin is removed so cytokinin is dominant → lateral buds can grow
cytokinin and auxin work…
antagonistacally
what is phytochrome
- a plant pigment that reacts differently with different type of light and affects the responses of plants
what are the two forms of phytochrome pigment
Pr and Pfr
what converts Pr to Pfr
red light
what converts Pfr to Pr
far red light
how is Pr converted to Pfr
- a seedling germinates and makes Pr
- it breaks through the surface of the soil and is exposed to red light
- this causes Pr to be converted Pfr
when do short day plants flower
autumn
short day plants
- short days and long nights
- not a lot of light
- high levels of Pfr inhibit flowering
- longer nights so most Pfr is converted to Pr
- Pfr levels fall
- hence flowering can occur
- short daytime = Pr →Pfr; Pfr inhibits flowering
- long nightime = Pfr
flower in spring and autumn
long day plants
- long days and short nights
- lots of light
- high levels of Pfr stimulate flowering
- short nights so little Pfr is converted back to Pr
- Pfr levels maintained are high
- hence flowering occurs
- long daytime = Pr → Pfr; Pfr stimulates flowering
- nightime = more Pr than Pfr
flower in summer
photomorphogenesis
- the process by which the form and development of a plant is controlled by the levels of and type of light
ehat are the two forms phytochrome converts between
- biologically inactive Pr which absorbs red light
- biologically active Pfr absorbs far red light
etiolated plant
- all phytochrome is in the Pr form
- these grow rapidly using food reserves in attempt to reach light
- tall and thin
- small yellow leaves
- little root growth
what does phytochrome control
- the changes that take place when a plant becomes etiolated
- the reverse when it reaches light when germinating seeds break through soil are controlled by phytochrome
germination - phytochrome
- phytochrome is synthesised as Pr
- when a seedling energes from a seed underground it only contains Pr as there is no light to produce Pfr
- seedling shows characteristics of etiolation
- stem lengthens quickly, doesn’t thicken, little root growth, no leaf growth, no chloropyll
- when shoot breaks through surface, stem elongation slows down, leaves open, chloropyll forms, seedling starts to photosynthesise
- changes are caused by Pfr
how does phytochrome act as a transcription factor
- involved in switching genes on and off in the nucleus of plant cells
phytochrome as a transcription factor
- Pr is converted to Pfr in the presence of light
- Pfr moves into the nucleus through pores in the nuclear membrane
- Pfr binds to protein phytochrome interacting factor, PIF3, in nucleus
- PIF3 activates gene transcription when it is bound to Pfr
- genes activated by PIF3 control different aspects of growth and development in plants
what is PIF3
- PIF3 is a transcription factor which only binds to Pfr