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11.12: Introduction to Plant Sensory Systems and Responses

  • Page ID
    43942
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    Identify common sensory systems and responses in plants

    Animals can respond to environmental factors by moving to a new location. Plants, however, are rooted in place and must respond to the surrounding environmental factors. Plants have sophisticated systems to detect and respond to light, gravity, temperature, and physical touch. Receptors sense environmental factors and relay the information to effector systems—often through intermediate chemical messengers—to bring about plant responses.

    What You’ll Learn to Do

    • Describe how red and blue light affect plant growth and metabolic activities
    • Discuss gravitropism
    • Describe thigmotropism, thigmonastism, and thigmogenesis
    • Explain how plants defend themselves from predators and respond to wounds

    Learning Activities

    The learning activities for this section include the following:

    • Plant Responses to Light
    • Plant Responses to Gravity
    • Plant Responses to Wind and Touch
    • Defense Responses against Herbivores and Pathogens
    • Self Check: Plant Sensory Systems and Responses

    Contributors and Attributions

    CC licensed content, Original
    • Introduction to Plant Sensory Systems and Responses. Authored by: Shelli Carter and Lumen Learning. Provided by: Lumen Learning. License: CC BY: Attribution
    CC licensed content, Shared previously

    11.12: Introduction to Plant Sensory Systems and Responses is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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