What is the role of auxin in plants?a)It promotes the growth of fruits...
Role of Auxin in Plants
Auxin is a vital plant hormone that plays a crucial role in various growth and developmental processes. Among its many functions, one of the most significant is its involvement in the bending of plants toward light, a phenomenon known as phototropism.
Phototropism: Bending Towards Light
- Auxin accumulates on the shaded side of a plant stem when light is coming from one direction.
- This uneven distribution of auxin causes the cells on the shaded side to elongate more than those on the light-exposed side.
- As a result, the plant bends toward the light source, allowing it to maximize photosynthesis by accessing more light.
Other Functions of Auxin
While option 'C' is correct, it's essential to understand that auxin has other vital roles:
- Fruit Development: Auxin promotes the growth and development of fruits, but this is not its primary role in bending towards light.
- Water Movement: Auxin does not directly help in the upward movement of water; this is primarily the function of other mechanisms like transpiration and root pressure.
- Gravitropism: Auxin also plays a role in how plants respond to gravity (gravitropism), but this is different from its role in light response.
Conclusion
In summary, auxin is primarily responsible for the bending of plants toward light by regulating cell elongation. This adaptation enhances a plant's ability to absorb sunlight, which is crucial for its growth and survival. Understanding auxin's functions is essential in botany, as it highlights how plants interact with their environment.
What is the role of auxin in plants?a)It promotes the growth of fruits...
Auxin is a plant hormone that promotes cell elongation on the side of the plant away from the light, causing the plant to bend towards the light (phototropism).