Name: .

Sensitivity & Movement in Plants Activity

Background Information: Hormones & Plant Growth
Groups of plant hormones called auxins control the growth of shoots (stems) and roots.

Background questions:
Instructions: Use your notes to answer the below questions
1. Define hormone:

2. Auxin is a hormone in plants. Explain what it controls.

STEMS (shoots)
3. Define phototropism:

4. Identify where inside the stem (shoots) of plants auxin is produced.

5. If auxin is dispersed/ diffused evenly throughout a plant stem (shoot), what direction does the stem grow?

6. If a plant auxin is more concentrated/ abundant on the LEFT side of a plant, what direction does the plant grow?

7. On which side of a plant stem (shoot) would you find LESS auxin, on the side facing the sun or the side facing the
shade?

8. Explain how auxin elongates cells.

Name: .

Procedure:
1. Take a piece of play-doh, and roll it into a cylinder-shape. This cylinder shaped play-doh represents a stem of a plant.
2. With a pen or pencil, carve two rectangles on each side of the play-doh stem. These rectangles represent cells in the
stem (shoot).
3. Measure the length of the two cells in centimeters, and record in table 1.
4. Bend your play-doh stem slightly towards one cell, then re-measure the two cells, and record in table 1.
5. Calculate the change in cell length by subtracting the initial length of your cell (before you bent it) from the final length
(after you bent it). NOTE: One of your changes in cell value will be negative, because it shank.

Presentation of Data:
Data table 1:
Initial Length (cm) Final Length (cm) Change in length (cm)
Before you bent the play-doh stem After you bent the play-doh stem Final length – Initial Length
Cell 1 Cell 2 Cell 1 Cell 2 Cell 1 Cell 2

IB TEST Question;
1. Explain the role of auxin in phototropism. (8)