Plants are sensitive to stimuli in their environment and can respond through tropic responses even though they lack nervous systems. The document discusses two main types of tropisms - phototropism where plant stems grow towards light, and gravitropism where stems grow against gravity but roots grow downward with gravity. It explains that these responses allow plants to absorb maximum light through photosynthesis and water/minerals through their roots.

1. 1
 To be able to explain a plant’s response to light and gravity and
explain the importance of tropic responses in plants.
I. Key Unit Competence
II. Cross-cutting Issues
 Environment and sustainability: Tropism helps us understand how
plants react to their surroundings. Th is helps farmers to choose the
correct land for their crops.
Senior One Biology by Tr. Safari
Unit 9: Tropic responses

2. 2
Senior One Biology by Tr. Safari
Plant Tropism - YouTube
Biology Lesson Idea: Plants, Tropisms and Hormones | Twig –
YouTube

3. 3
 One of the characteristics of living organisms is sensitivity.
Sensitivity: respond to the environment. Organisms are sensitive to a
stimulus (plural = stimuli).
 Light is an example of a stimulus. When we go into bright light, the
pupils of our eyes get smaller, to protect the eye.
 The response to a stimulus involves many different parts of an
organism, such as the sense organs and nervous system.
Senior One Biology by Tr. Safari
8.0. Introduction to Tropic responses
Unit 9: Tropic responses

4. 4
❖ Animal responses to stimuli are easy
to see, as they are quick. The
animal’s sense organs and nervous
system are involved. Plants do not
have sense organs or a nervous
system, but they still need to
respond to changes in their
environment. For example, they
need to grow towards light and
water.
Senior One Biology by Tr. Safari
8.0. Introduction to Tropic responses
Unit 9: Tropic responses
Fig: Tropic response in plants

5. 5
❖ Although plants cannot move
from one place to another, they
can move their stems, roots,
leaves and flowers towards or
away from a stimulus. This
movement takes place by
growth. For example, shoots
grow upwards towards light,
and roots grow downwards
towards water.
Senior One Biology by Tr. Safari
8.0. Introduction to Tropic responses
Unit 9: Tropic responses
Fig: Tropic response in plants

6. 6
❖ The word ‘tropism’ refers to plant
growth towards or away from a
stimulus. When part of a plant
grows towards a stimulus, this is
called a positive tropism. When a
plant part grows away from a
stimulus, this is called a negative
tropism. You will learn about two
types of tropisms: phototropism
and gravitropism.
Senior One Biology by Tr. Safari
8.0. Introduction to Tropic responses
Unit 9: Tropic responses
Figure 9.2 Plants
grow towards light.

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 Phototropism
 ‘Photo’ means light. Plants can respond to
the stimulus of light. This is called
phototropism.
 Their shoots grow towards the light. For
example, if you leave a plant near a
window, the stem will start to bend
towards the light. We say that the plant is
positively phototropic.
Senior One Biology by Tr. Safari
8.1. Phototropism
Unit 9: Tropic responses
Figure 9.2 Plants
grow towards light.

8. 8
 Gravitropism is the response of plants’ stems
and roots to the effect of gravity. Gravity is a
downward pull towards the centre of the
Earth. Plant stems grow upwards, against
gravity. They are negatively gravitropic.
 However, plant roots grow downwards, in the
same direction in which gravity acts. We say
that they are positively gravitropic.
Senior One Biology by Tr. Safari
Unit 9: Tropic responses
8.2. Gravitropism
Plant roots grow
downwards, in the
same
direction as
gravity.
❑ When seedling is planted on its side, the radicle, or first root, will
start to grow downwards and the shoot will grow upwards.

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 Plants need light for photosynthesis.
Photosynthesis is a process in plants
that is used to make food using light
energy, carbon dioxide and water. The
green pigment, chlorophyll, is also
needed. Near the tips of plant shoots,
there are special chemicals that are
sensitive to light. These chemicals cause
shoots to grow towards light.
Senior One Biology by Tr. Safari
Unit 9: Tropic responses
8.3. Why do plants respond to light and gravity?
Plant roots grow
downwards, in the
same direction as
gravity.

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 Plant roots grow downwards into the soil
to find water and minerals. There are
special cells near the tips of roots that
cause the root to grow in the direction of
gravity. Some plants respond to other
stimuli besides light and gravity. One of
these stimuli is touch. This is called
thigmotropism (see Figure 9.7 and 9.8). In
the next activity, you will research other
plant responses.
Senior One Biology by Tr. Safari
Unit 9: Tropic responses
8.3. Why do plants respond to light and gravity?
When touched, the
feathery leaves of the
shrub Mimosa pudica
curl inwards.
Nyiramabumba

11. 11
Senior One Biology by Tr. Safari
Mimosa Pudica - The Sensitive Plant – YouTube
The Makahiya (Shy) Plant – YouTube
Types of Tropisms in Plants - YouTube

12. 12
❖ All organisms respond to changes in their environment; sensitivity is
a characteristic of life.
❖ Plants respond to stimuli by growing towards or away from the
stimulus; this is called a tropic response.
❖ Plants’ response to light is called phototropism, and their response to
gravity is called gravitropism.
❖ Plant stems grow towards light; they are positively phototropic.
❖ Plant roots grow downwards in the same direction as the force of
gravity; they are positively gravitropic.
Senior One Biology by Tr. Safari
Unit 9: Tropic responses
8.4. Checklist of learning

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❖ Plant shoots grow towards light so that they can receive more light
for photosynthesis.
❖ Plant roots grow into the soil so that they can absorb water and
mineral salts.
❖ Other examples of tropisms include hydrotropism (the response to
water), chemotropism (the response to chemicals) and thigmotropism
(the response to touch).
Senior One Biology by Tr. Safari
Unit 9: Tropic responses
8.4. Checklist of learning

14. 14
(1) Do plants and animals respond to changes in their environment in
the same way? If you answer no, then explain how their responses
differ.
R/ No. An animal responds quickly; a plant responds slowly.
Animals respond to a greater number of stimuli than plants do. A
response in an animal often involves its whole body; a response in
a plant involves only part of the plant.
(2) Complete the sentences below using these words: towards,
phototropism, roots, stimulus, negatively. a) The growth of a stem
towards or away from a light stimulus is called phototropism. (b)
Plant stems are negatively gravitropic. c) Plant roots are positively
gravitropic.
Senior One Biology by Tr. Safari
Unit 9: Tropic responses
8.5. Self-assessment

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(3) Explain why plants respond to light.
(4) Draw a diagram to show what will happen if a pot plant is left to
grow on its side for a while.
(5) Explain how you would demonstrate that roots are positively
gravitropic. Use the following headings: Materials; Method; Results
(what you expect to happen); Conclusion (what you found out).
Senior One Biology by Tr. Safari
Unit 9: Tropic responses
8.5. Self-assessment

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(3) Explain why plants respond to light.
R/ To absorb maximum light for photosynthesis.
(4) Draw a diagram to show what will happen if a pot plant is left
grow on its side for a while.
R/ Learners should show the plant shoot bending upwards.
Senior One Biology by Tr. Safari
Unit 9: Tropic responses
8.5. Self-assessment

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(5) Explain how you would demonstrate that roots are positively
gravitropic. Use the following headings: Materials; Method; Results
(what you expect to happen); Conclusion (what you found out).
 R/5. Learners should write an experimental report as follows:
 Materials: germinating bean seeds; clinostat; pins
 Method: (1) Place four seedlings onto the clinostat (on its side) and
start it rotating.
(2) Place another four seedlings on to a stationary clinostat (on its side).
(3) Leave the seedlings for two days.
 Results: On the rotating clinostat, the seedlings’ roots grew straight.
On the stationary clinostat, they grew downwards.
 Conclusion: Seedlings’ roots respond positively to the downward
force of gravity; they are positively gravitropic.
Senior One Biology by Tr. Safari
Unit 9: Tropic responses
8.5. Self-assessment

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(1.) Give the meaning of each of the following terms:
(a) tropism
(b) Stimulus
(2. (a) Name two types of tropisms.
R2. (a)/ Phototropism and gravitropism
Senior One Biology by Tr. Safari
Unit 9: Tropic responses
8.6. Remedial
R/ A factor that brings about a change in an organism
or a response The response of a plant to a stimulus
R/ The response of a plant to a stimulus

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2. (b) For each type, write down the stimulus and response in the stems
and roots.
R/ (b) Phototropism – the stimulus is light; stems grow towards
light; roots grow away from light.
 Gravitropism – the stimulus is gravity; stems grow against
gravity; roots grow with gravity.
(3) Explain why roots grow downwards.
R3/ Roots grow downwards into the soil to find water and
minerals.
Senior One Biology by Tr. Safari
Unit 9: Tropic responses
8.6. Remedial

20. 20
 1.Give the meaning of each the following words:
(a) tropism
(b) stimulus
(c) response
(d) phototropism.
Senior One Biology by Tr. Safari
Unit 9: Tropic responses
8.7. Consolidation
R/ The response of a plant to a stimulus
R/A factor that brings about a change in an organism
or a response
R/ A change that occurs as a result of a stimulus
R/ The response of plants to light

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(2) Give one reason why plant shoots respond to:
(a) light
(b) gravity.
Senior One Biology by Tr. Safari
Unit 9: Tropic responses
8.7. Consolidation
b) Roots grow downwards into the soil in response to
the downward force of gravity, to find water and
minerals.
(a) Plant shoots respond to light because they need it for
photosynthesis.

22. 22
(1) Write a paragraph to compare how animals and plants respond to stimuli.
R/Animals respond quickly; plants respond slowly. Animals respond to a
greater number of stimuli than plants do. A response in an animal often
involves its whole body; in plants it involves only part of the plant.
(2) Find out about taxic responses in animals.
R/ A taxic response is an animal’s response to a unidirectional stimulus,
for example, light, temperature, gravity or chemicals.
Senior One Biology by Tr. Safari
Unit 9: Tropic responses
8.8. Extension