The cell wall around a
plant cell limits the cell's
ability to divide and
expand.
Growth only happens in
particular places in the
plant where there are
groups of cells cable of
dividing (meristems)
Apical Meristems -
located at the tips or
apices of roots and
shoots and are
responsible for them
getting longer
Lateral Bud
Meristems - found in
the buds. These
could give rise to
side shoots
Lateral Meristems -
are found in a cylinder
near the outside of
roots and shoots and
are responsible for
them getting wider.
What causes phototropisms?
In a phototropic response, a
shoot bends towards a light
source
This happens because the
shaded side elongates
faster than the illuminated
side which pushes the end
of the shoot towards the
light
How the light causes redistribution
of auxin is still uncertain.
Two enzymes have been
identified as phototropin 1
and phototropin 2.
Their activity is promoted
by blue light hence there
is a lot of phototropin 1
activity on the light side.
The gradient is thought to cause the
redistribution of auxins
Shedding Leaves
Cytokinins stop the leaves of
deciduous trees senescing by
making sure the leaf acts as a
sink for phloem transport.
This means the leaf is
guaranteed a good supply
of nutrients.
If cytokinin productions drops
senescence begins
Causes auxin production
at the top of the leaf to drop
Makes cells in the abscission zone
more sensitive to ethene.
Causes an increase in ethene production
Increases production of the enzyme cellulose
which digests the walls of the cells in the
abscission zone, eventually separating the
petiole from the stem