Tropic movements:
The movement of plant part in the direction of the stimulus is known as tropism or tropical
movements.
Phototropism:
The movement of plant parts in the direction of the light source is
phototropism.
When a plant gets unidirectional light, it responds by bending towards the
source of light. Because of which it is also called curvature movement.
*If the plant part moves in the direction of light, it is called positive phototropic.
* If the plant part moves opposite or against the direction of light, it is called
negative phototropic.
Thus, shoots are called positively phototropic and roots are called negatively
phototropic.
Auxins play an important role in phototropism.
Geotropism:
It is the movement of the plant parts in response to the gravitational force.
* The plant part which grows towards the gravity are positively geotropic
(eg: root tip).
* The plant part which grows opposite or against the gravity are negatively
geotropic (eg: shoot tip).
Geotropism can be demonstrated in the laboratory with the help of an
instrument called Clinostat.
Hydrotropism:
When the plants show movement in response to water, it is called
hydrotropism.
*When a plant part grows towards the source of moisture (eg: roots),it is said to
be positively hydrotropic.
*When a plant part grows away from the source of moisture (eg:shoot),it is said
to be negatively hydrotropic.
Thigmotropism:
This is the movement produced in response to touch with an object .It is seen in
tendrils that help the weak stems to climb.
Plant such as sweet peas, Cuscuta and vines have tendrils which coil around
other plants in response to one sided contact or touch.
Chemotropism:
The movements in plants in response to the chemical stimuli are known as
chemotropism.
For example, the pollen tube moves through the style and reaches the ovules in
the ovary under the influence of chemicals(sugar)secreted by them.
The movement of fungi growing towards the areas richer in food is also
chemotropism.
The movement of tentacles in Drosera towards the source of nutrition is
another chemotropic phenomenon.
Thermotropism:
It is a movement that occurs in the plants in response to changes in
temperature.
Heliotropism:
Heliotropism,is when a plant follows the movement of the sun during the day.
Sunflowers exhibit heliotropism a fascinating phenomenon of young flower heads following
the sun across the sky as it moves from east to west direction.This is because the sunflowers
contains auxins which is sensitive to sunlight.
Nastic movements:
Nastic movements refer to the non-directional movements of plants
that occur due to turgor changes. Plant growth is not associated with
these movements. Nastic movements in plants can occur due to
changes in light intensity, temperature and response to touch.
OR
Nastic movements, also known as nastic responses, refer to the
reversible, non-directional movements of plants in response to
external stimuli, such as light, temperature, touch, or gravity. Nastic
movements occur due to changes in turgor pressure within plant cells.
The stimuli trigger the redistribution of water within cells, causing
changes in cell shape and resulting in the movement of plant parts.
These movements are not oriented towards or away from the stimulus
but are instead independent of its direction.
Type of nastic movements in plants:
1. Photonasty Movement:
Photonasty is a nastic movement in response to light. The movement can be
independent of the direction of light, and it is usually regulated by the intensity
of light. Examples of photonastic movements include the opening and closing of
flowers in response to light or the movement of leaves in response to changes in
light intensity. Examples are: Dandelion flower, Moonflower,
flower of Cestrum Nocturnum etc.
2. Thermonastic movement:
Thermonasty is a nastic movement in response to temperature. It occurs in
some flowers and plants, where the movement is triggered by changes in
temperature. An example of thermonasty is the opening and closing of petals in
certain flowers in response to temperature changes.Example: crocus and
tulip species.
3. Nyctinastic movement:
Nyctinasty is a nastic movement in response to diurnal changes or the daily
light-dark cycle. It involves the rhythmic opening and closing of flowers or
movement of leaves in response to day-night transitions. The movements are
often controlled by an internal biological clock and are independent of the
direction of light.Example: Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis), Four O'Clock
(Mirabilis jalapa), etc.
4. Seismonastic Movement:
Seismonasty is a nastic movement in response to mechanical stimulation or
touch. Plants exhibit this type of movement as a response to touch or vibration,
which can be triggered by wind, raindrops, or animal contact.Example:
Mimosa Pudica plant, Biophytum sensitivum, Neptunia etc.
5. Thigmonasty movement:
Thigmonasty is a nastic movement in response to touch or mechanical stimuli,
similar to seismonasty. However, in thigmonasty, the response is slower and
more prolonged. An example of thigmonastic movement is the closing of the
Venus flytrap's trap when triggered by the touch of an insect.
