Cahilog, Ma. Reza Garcia, Bea Clarise B. Tueres, Alyssa Nicole Plant Movements I.

Introduction Thigmonasty refers to the non-directional response of a plant to : touch flexure vibration blowing slight heat chemical stimulus electrical stimulus lack of water which results to the rapid loss of water from its turgid motor cells. This loss of turgidity then causes the leaf to temporarily droop downwards. Makahiya is a good example of a plant which exhibits thigmonasty.

Pulvini are responsible for the thigmonastic response of makahiya. They are enlargements located at the end of each pinnule, pinna and petiole, named as tertiary, secondary, and main pulvinus respectively.

Figure 3. Tertiary, secondary and main pulvinus of makahiya.

Each pulvinus has extensor cells located at the upper portion and flexor cells at the lower portion. Extensor cells contain sugar molecules while flexor cells contain potassium ions and water. The turgidity of flexor cells and flaccidity of extensor cells maintain the erect position of pinnule, pinna or petiole before a stimulus.

Figure 4. Pulvinus before a stimulus. Figure 1. Makahiya leaves before (left) and after (right) stimulation of leaves. Makahiya (Mimosa pudica Linn.) is a commonly known weed having compound leaves and pink inflorescences. Here are the parts of the makahiya exhibiting thigmonastic response. Upon application of a stimulus, the flexor cells release the potassium ions causing the water to flow out through osmosis. The water then also flow towards the extensor cells through osmosis, due to the high sucrose content.

Figure 5. Pulvinus upon stimulation. The turgidity of the extensor cells and the flaccidity of the flexor cells now cause the pinnule, pinna or petiole to droop.

Figure 2. Parts of makahiya.

seconds, some of which are located at the other leaves. In another selected recording of a trial in the apical stimulus, six pinna had drooped for 36 seconds, some of which are also located at the other leaves. Thus for both parts, there was a generalized response. However, comparing the rest of the trials, there were not as much significant difference in the number of pinna which had drooped. This could be attributed to the unequal application of heat stimulus and the wind which caused the heat to be dispersed. But the expected result is that the lower stimulus should be more responsive than the apical stimulus. Since the lower parts of makahiya are more mature than the shoot parts, they should also have bigger pulvini, thus creating more drastic spread of the response. For the comparison of the effect of touch stimulus, the results showed a more drastic response upon stimulation of the lowermost pinnule than the uppermost pinnule due to the difference of distances of the origin of response from the secondary pulvinus. In the lowermost pinnule, the stimulus was passed on to the secondary pulvinus faster before it diminished, thus triggering a more drastic response by drooping of the entire leaf. In the uppermost pinnule, the stimulus diminished before it had reached the secondary pulvinus, thus triggering a faint response by drooping of some of the pinnules.

Figure 6. Pulvinus after a stimulus. Meanwhile, the release of potassium ions triggers the neighboring pulvini to release their potassium ions as well. This is comparable to the process of propagation of action potential in an axon of a nerve cell.

Figure 7. Propagation of action potential in an axon of a nerve cell. Thus the stimulus causes the spread of the thigmonastic response by the sequential drooping of the pinnules, pinna and petioles. II. Experimental Detail The effect of heat stimulus on the apical and lower parts of the plants was compared. A flame was placed underneath the end of a pinna, causing a domino effect on the drooping of pinnules, pinna and petioles. Several trials for different plants were done for the apical and lower stimulus. The effect of touch stimulus on the uppermost and lowermost pinnule was also compared. A pencil was placed underneath the pinna and an equal amount of pressure was triggered for both locations in different makahiya plants. III. Results and Discussion For the comparison of the effect of heat stimulus, a selected recording of a trial in the lower stimulus showed seven pinna which had drooped for 34

Figure 8. A pinnae after a touch stimulation of the uppermost pinnule.

Figure 9. A pinnae after a touch stimulation of the lowermost pinnule IV. Conclusion The lower leaves and the lowermost pinnule of makahiya showed a more drastic thigmonastic response. The possible adaptations of thigmonasty are as follows: protection less appetizing to herbivores less transpiration in hot conditions removal of harmful insects V. References Hughes, W. (2008, June 14). Niches. Sparkleberry Springs. Retrieved February 20, 2012 from http://sparkleberrysprings.com/vweb/b2/index.php?p=1236 Introduction. (n.d.). Kanzawa Laboratory. Retrieved February 20, 2012 from http://www.mls.sophia.ac.jp/~kanzawa/researche.html Mimosa. (n.d.). Inriodulce. Retrieved February 20, 2012 from http://www.inriodulce.com/links/Mimosa.html Mimosa Pudica. (n.d.). Mimosa Pudica. Retrieved from February 20, 2012 from http://mimosapudica.net/ Nastic Movements (n.d.). Plants in Action. Retrieved February 20, 2012 from http://sciwikibook.bacs.uq.edu.au/?q=content/8-2-5-nasticmovements Ombrello, T. (n.d.). The Sensitive Plant. UCC Biology Department. Retrieved February 20, 2012 from http://faculty.ucc.edu/biologyombrello/pow/sensitive_plant.htm Propagation of the action potential. (n.d.). American International School. Retrieved February 20, 2012 from http://www.wbais.org/~usalant/Gallery/Anatomy_ph ysiology/Nervous_system_show/nervous122.html