Biology 420 Lecture 18

External Factors, Plant Growth and Defenses

Text References: Pages 665-680 (External factors and plant growth)
Text References: pages 57, 30-35, 685, 610, 554-555, 497 (plant defenses)

External Factors and plant Growth

Circadian rhythms follow an approximately 24 hour cycle; these cycles will

general continue even when environmental conditions are kept constant
Among the plant responses that follow a circadian rhythm:
Photosynthetic activity
Seed germination
Enzyme and auxin production
Stomatal opening
Flower opening
Cell division and elongation
Characteristics of circadian rhythms:
Endogenous internal to the cell, a built in oscillator generates
Circadian clock
Circadian clocks are free-running synchronized by the environment
Entrainment
Photoperiodism
Short-day plants
Long-day plants
Day-neutral plants
Phytochrome red (Pr )

Phytochrome far-red ( Pfr)

Floral Stimulus
Florigen
Vernalization

Dormancy

Stratification
Scarification
Acclimation
Nastic movements
Nyctinastic
Pulvinus
Thigmosnastic
Mimosa (Sensitive plant)
Dionaea (Venus flytrap)
Thigmomorphogenesis
Heliotropism solar tracking

Plant Defenses

Primary metabolites
Secondary metabolites many have defensive functions

Phytoalexins
Alkaloids
Morphine (opium poppy)
Cocaine (coca shrub)
Caffeine (coffee, tea, and cocoa)
Allelopathy
Nicotine (tobacco)
Atropine (henbane)
Terpenoids (terpenes)
Isoprene
Essential oils

Taxol (Pacific and European Yew)

Rubber (latex)
Cardiac glycosides
Foxglove (Digitalis) digitoxin and digoxin
Monarch butterfly milkweed
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) cannabis sativa (marijuana) p.498
Phenols
Flavonoids
Anthocyanins
Tannins
Lignins
Salicylic acid
Systemic acquired resistance
Others
Mescaline peyote cactus p. 498
Quinine Cinchona tree p. 498
Catechol Poison Ivy
Essential Elements and Defense
Sulfur mustard family
Silicon Equisetum (horsetails)
Defenses at the Cell Level (page 58)

Cell wall

Cellulose
Pectin
Callose
Extensins

Lignin
Cutin
Suberin
Wax
Defenses at the Tissue and Organ Level

Thorns

Spines

Trichomes p. 555

Cork

Bark
Cinnamon

Many spices such as rosemary, sage, spearmint, peppermint, and pepper

function as insect toxins