Question

How do plants respond to stimuli?

Answer 1

Plants respond to stimuli through various mechanisms such as:

1. Tropisms - directional growth responses to external stimuli like light (phototropism), gravity (gravitropism), and touch (thigmotropism).
2. Nastic movements - reversible, non-directional responses to stimuli, like the closing of leaves in response to touch (thigmonastic movement).
3. Hormonal responses - plants produce and respond to hormones like auxin, gibberellins, and ethylene that regulate growth and development in response to stimuli.
4. Defense mechanisms - plants can also respond to stimuli by activating defense mechanisms against herbivores, pathogens, or environmental stressors. Overall, plants have evolved sophisticated mechanisms to respond to a variety of stimuli in their environment to ensure survival and optimize growth.