Plants respond to environmental stimuli through various morphological, physiological and developmental processes. Plants use receptors to detect stimuli like light, gravity and environmental stresses. They respond through processes like phototropism, mediated by plant hormones like auxin. Photoperiodism allows plants to detect seasons and trigger responses like flowering. Circadian rhythms generate daily oscillations in processes. Plants also defend against herbivores and pathogens through physical and chemical defenses.
8. Fig. 39-5b
RESULTS
Light
Tip
removed
Darwin and Darwin: phototropic response
only when tip is illuminated
Tip covered
by opaque
cap
Tip
covered
by trans-
parent
cap
Site of
curvature
covered by
opaque
shield
45. Fig. 39-28
Recruitment of
parasitoid wasps
that lay their eggs
within caterpillars
Synthesis and
release of
volatile attractants
Chemical
in saliva
Wounding
Signal transduction
pathway
1 1
2
3
4
A maize leaf “recruiting”
a parasitoid wasp as a
defensive response to
an armyworm
caterpillar, an herbivore