part 3 Flashcards
(198 cards)
What effect does stomatal opening have on heat stress on a plant?
It cools the plant/reduces the temperature. Water leaves the stomata and evaporates, reducing the temperature of the plant.
What effect does ABA have on the stomata?
ABA (from leaf and root cells) causes stomatal closing by activating changes in ionic concentration of guard cells, reducing water potential and turgor of cells and closing stomata.
State three chemical defences against herbivory (attack by insects).
Tannins, alkaloids, Terpenoids.
State three physical defences against herbivory.
Thorns, barbs, spikes, spiny leaves, fibrous and inedible tissue, hairy leaves, stings.
How do tannins prevent herbivory?
Bitter taste to deter animals and toxic to insects (inactivate digestive enzymes in insect saliva).
How do alkaloids prevent herbivory?
Bitter tasting and sometimes poisonous.
What is the name for a chemical made by an organism which affects the behaviour of other members of the same species?
Pheromones.
Plants do not have pheromones, what do they have instead?
Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs) produced by plants, which act between themselves and other organisms.
Give an example of a plant that produces a VOC and describe its action.
Cabbages, under attack from cabbage white butterfly caterpillars, produce VOCs to attract the wasp Cotesia glomerata. The wasp lays eggs in caterpillar eggs, killing them. The VOCs deter the female cabbage white butterfly from laying more eggs on the plant.
How does the plant, mimosa pudica, protect itself against herbivory?
Contains alkaloids and the stem has sharp prickles, but if leaves are touched, they fold down and collapse, dislodging insects and scaring off larger animals. Caused by movement of potassium ions and changes in water potential of the cells.
Describe the functions of positive phototropism and positive geotropism.
Positive phototropism - plant shoots grow towards light which enables them to carry out the light dependent reaction of photosynthesis. Positive geotropism - roots grow downwards into the soil, giving them anchorage and enabling them to obtain water and mineral ions.
What will happen if a shoot is grown in light, shining from one side?
It will grow towards the light/positive phototropism.
If a shoot is exposed to light from one side, where will auxin be found within the shoot?
There will be less auxin on the light side and a greater concentration of auxin on the shady side. Auxin migrates laterally away from the light.
What effect does auxin have on the cells in a shoot?
It causes cell elongation and growth on the dark side so the shoot bends away from the shaded side and towards the light.
What is etiolation?
When plants are grown in the dark or partial darkness, producing rapid growth upwards. Plants are tall, thin and pale.
Which hormones cause longer internodes in plants grown in the dark?
Gibberellins.
What slow-rotating piece of equipment can be used to demonstrate geotropism in the lab?
Clinostat.
What would you expect to observe if germinating beans are grown on a clinostat over a few days?
The roots will curl as they try to grow ‘downwards’.
What would you expect to observe if a potted plant shoot is grown on a clinostat over a few days?
The shoot will grow horizontally outwards from the pot.
Which plant hormone is involved in fruit ripening?
Ethene.
Which plant hormone is involved in encouraging root growth?
Auxins.
Which plant hormone(s) is/are involved in delaying senescence?
In leaves - cytokinins; in citrus fruits - gibberellins.
Which plant hormone is involved in preventing the ageing of ripened fruit?
Cytokinins.
What hormone is used in rooting powder?
Auxin.