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Ch. 37 - Plant Sensory Systems, Signals, and Responses
Chapter 36, Problem 4

What evidence suggests that ABA from roots can signal guard cells to close? a. If roots are given sufficient water, guard cells close anyway. b. If roots are dry, guard cells begin to close—even though leaves may not be experiencing water stress. c. Applying ABA on guard cells directly causes them to close. d. If roots are dry, the ABA concentration in leaf cells drops dramatically.

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1. The first step is to understand the role of ABA (Abscisic Acid) in plants. ABA is a plant hormone that plays a crucial role in stress responses, including drought. It is produced in response to water deficiency and signals the closure of stomata (the pores on the leaf surface controlled by guard cells) to reduce water loss through transpiration.
2. Option a suggests that guard cells close when roots are given sufficient water. This is not necessarily evidence for ABA signaling from roots to guard cells, as the closure of guard cells could be due to other factors such as light intensity or carbon dioxide concentration.
3. Option b suggests that guard cells begin to close when roots are dry, even if leaves are not experiencing water stress. This could be evidence for ABA signaling from roots to guard cells, as it indicates that the guard cells are responding to a signal from the roots (possibly ABA) rather than to local conditions in the leaves.
4. Option c states that applying ABA directly on guard cells causes them to close. This is evidence that ABA can cause guard cells to close, but it does not necessarily indicate that ABA from roots signals this response.
5. Option d suggests that when roots are dry, the ABA concentration in leaf cells drops dramatically. This seems counterintuitive, as we would expect ABA levels to increase in response to drought. Therefore, this option does not provide evidence that ABA from roots signals guard cells to close.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Abscisic Acid (ABA)

Abscisic Acid (ABA) is a plant hormone that plays a crucial role in regulating plant responses to stress, particularly drought. It is synthesized in the roots and transported to other parts of the plant, including leaves, where it influences various physiological processes, such as stomatal closure. This hormone helps plants conserve water by signaling guard cells to close, thereby reducing transpiration.
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Guard Cells

Guard cells are specialized cells located on the epidermis of plant leaves that control the opening and closing of stomata. These cells respond to environmental signals, such as water availability and ABA concentration, to regulate gas exchange and water loss. When ABA levels increase, guard cells lose turgor pressure, leading to stomatal closure, which is vital for maintaining water balance during drought conditions.
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Water Stress Response

Water stress response refers to the physiological and biochemical changes that occur in plants when they experience insufficient water availability. This response includes the production of ABA, which signals guard cells to close stomata, thereby reducing water loss. Understanding this response is essential for comprehending how plants adapt to varying water conditions and the role of root signals in regulating leaf functions.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

Evaluate the following assertions about phototropism. Select True or False for each statement. T/F Cells on the illuminated side of a stem elongate more than cells on the shaded side. T/F Phototropism is triggered by blue light. T/F Phototropins play a significant role in phototropism. T/F The bending of the plant is due to cell elongation in response to auxin.

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Textbook Question

Which of the following statements about phytochrome is not correct? a. It is photoreversible. b. Its function was understood long before the protein itself was isolated. c. The Pfr form activates the responses to red light. d. It is involved in guard-cell opening.

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Textbook Question

Which of the following statements about hormones is correct? a. They tend to be large molecules. b. They exert their effects only on the same cells that produce them. c. They can exert strong effects only when they are present in high concentrations. d. They trigger a response by binding to target-cell receptors.

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Textbook Question

Why was it logical to predict that amyloplasts function as statoliths? a. They are dense and settle to the bottom of gravity-sensing cells. b. They are present only in gravity-sensing cells. c. They make a direct physical connection with membrane proteins that have been shown to be gravity-receptor molecules. d. Their density changes in response to gravity.

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Textbook Question

Phytochromes can be considered 'shade detectors,' while phototropins such as PHOT1 can be considered 'sunlight detectors.' Explain why these characterizations are valid.

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Textbook Question

To explore how hormones function, researchers have begun to transform plants with particular genes. In one experiment, a gene involved in cytokinin synthesis was introduced into tobacco plants. Which one of the following results would be expected? a. Individuals produced more lateral branches. b. Stems grew extremely tall and slender. c. Roots were incapable of responding to gravity. d. Stomata were closed most of the time.

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