Biology
Define the following terms:
(a) Phytohormones
(b) Tropism
(c) Clinostat
(d) Apical dominance
(e) Parthenocarpy
(f) Abscission
(g) Heliotropism
Answer
(a) Phytohormones — Phytohormones or plant hormones are naturally occurring small organic molecules.
(b) Tropism — Response or orientation of a plant to certain stimulus that acts with greater intensity from one direction to another is called tropism.
(c) Clinostat — Clinostat is a mechanical device that rotates at a slow speed to demonstrate geotropism.
(d) Apical dominance — The phenomenon of the suppression of growth of lateral buds by apical buds is called apical dominance.
(e) Parthenocarpy — Development of fruits without fertilisation is called parthenocarpy.
(f) Abscission — Abscission is the shedding of various parts of a plant such as leaves, buds, flowers and fruits.
(g) Heliotropism — The phenomenon in which the young flower heads follow the sun across the sky as it moves from east to west direction is called heliotropism.