InterviewSolution
Saved Bookmarks
| 1. |
How does auxin promote phototropism? |
| Answer» Auxin is a plant hormone, so it is a chemical substance involved in regulating the action of certain cells within an organism.\xa0Phototropism is the process by which plant grow in response to light. Tropisms are responses to directional external stimuli and here\xa0Photo-\xa0indicates it is a response to light. Auxin increases the flexibility of plant cell walls which are the main factor limiting plant cell growth. As a consequence, plant cells tend to grow faster in the presence of auxin. When a plant senses a directional light stimulus it\xa0redistributes\xa0its auxin molecules to the side that is further\xa0away\xa0from the light. As a consequence, the plant cells that are further away from the light experience a greater auxin concentration and grow faster, causing the shoot to bend\xa0towards\xa0the light. This mechanism allows plants to optimize the amount of light they receive in order to increase photosynthesis rates.\xa0 | |