13+ Gravitropism Plant Example: Detailed Explanations,Images

Gravitropism is a concept or a phenomenon in which a plant uses the gravitational force.

Here are the list of Gravitropism Plants Example

Gravitropism is the growth response of a plant in which the shoot system grows against the gravitational force and the root system grows towards the gravitational force.

We know about gravity or gravitation ia a natural concept in which every object or living being with mass or energy is attracted to each other. It is simply said as the universal force of attraction.

Gravitropism is also called Geotropism

This article completely explains the gravitropism plant example, types and what are all the different plant, trees seen in the various parts of earth with images.

General Gravitropism in Plants- Positive Gravitropism plant Example :

  • We know that in a plant there are two systems involved.
  • The root system, The shoot system are the two systems in a plant.
  • When a seed is sown in the fertile rich soil, the seed after nourishment, the germination process takes place, the root system emerges.
  • The root emerges downwards that is towards the gravitational pull (further below the soil).
  • This is called Positive geotropism or Positive gravitropism.
  • Have a look at the image below for the positive gravitropism example. (Roots growing towards the gravity)
Gravitropism plant Example
Positive Gravitropism
Image Credits- Wikimedia

General Gravitropism in Plants- Negative Gravitropism plant Example:

  • We know that in a plant there are two systems involved.
  • The root system, The shoot system are the two systems in a plant.
  • When a seed is sown in the fertile rich soil, the seed after nourishment, the germination process takes place, the root system emerges.
  • After sometime, the shoot system that is the stem, leaves, branches, flowers emerges.
  • But the shoot system protrudes the top layer of the soil and emerges out.
  • Here when we notice, the shoot system grows upwards that is against the gravitation or gravity.
  • This is why it is called negative geotropism or negative gravitropism.
  • Have a look at the image below for the negative gravitropism example. (Shoots- branches, leaves growing against the gravity)
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Negative Gravitropism
Image credits- Wikimedia

Gravitropism in plant organ- Roots:

  • Root in a plant is like the organ heart for living organisms.
  • The major portion in which the root shows gravitropism or geotropism  is the root tip.
Root tip
Root Tip
Image Credits- Wikimedia

Gravitropism in plant organ-Hypocotyls:

  • Hypocotyls are the portion of the embryo from which the tip emerges.
  • The embryo elongates and a small curve emerges.
  • The region below the cotyledons and above the seedlings is called the hypocotyls.
  • The gravitropism or geotropism in the Hypocotyls  is very well discussed in a review article  Plant Gravitropism- LAZY Gene Family.

Gravitropism in plant organ- Inflorescence stems of dicot:

  • Inflorescence is the arrangement of the flower body in a plant.
  • The Inflorescence stems of dicot shows negative gravitropism or negative geotropism as they grow upwards or against gravity.
  • The gravitropism in the Inflorescence stems of dicot is very well discussed in a review article  Plant Gravitropism- LAZY Gene Family.

Gravitropism in plant organ- Coleoptiles:

  • Coleoptiles is a sharp protective sheath that emerges from the embryo
  • Coleoptiles  show negative geotropism or negative gravitropism as the Coleoptiles grow upwards that is against gravity.
  • The gravitropism in the Coleoptiles  is very well discussed in a review article Plant Gravitropism- LAZY Gene Family.

Gravitropism in plant organ- Pulvini of monocots:

  • Pulvinus is a region in the plant at the base of the leaves stalk, which is an enlarged region specially for the rigidity.
  • Pulvini of monocots show negative geotropism or negative gravitropism as the Pulvini of monocots grows upwards that is against gravity.
  • The gravitropism or geotropism  in the Pulvini of monocots is very well discussed in a review article Plant GravitropismLAZY Gene Family.

Gravitropism in plant organ- Rhizoids 

  • Rhizoid are the thin filament that is present near the roots and possess the same function of the roots
  • They aid in the nutrients assimilation and absorption all over the body.
  • Rhizoids show negative geotropism or negative gravitropism as the Rhizoids grow upwards that is against gravity.
  • The gravitropism in the Rhizoids  is very well discussed in a review article Plant Gravitropism- LAZY Gene Family.

Gravitropism in plant organ-Protonema of algae and moss

  • Protonema of Algae and moss is a filament-like structure that will eventually form the gametes in future; basically they are the young body of gametophytes.
  • Protonema of Algae and moss show negative geotropism or negative gravitropism as the Protonema of Algae and moss grow upwards that is against gravity.
  • The gravitropism in the Protonema of Algae and moss  is very well discussed in a review article  Plant Gravitropism- LAZY Gene Family.

Now, from here the example is based on the images from the different parts of the world.

Gravitropism in a tree in Central Minnesota:

  • From the image below, we can see in Central Minnesota, there is a hill and the tree shows negative gravitropism.
  • The arched growth is observed in the image. The tree has fallen down due to the storm and grows horizontally.
1200px Example of gravitropism found in a tree from Central Minnesota
Gravitropism in a tree in Central Minnesota
Image credits- Wikimedia

Gravitropism in a tree on a hilly area:

The tree shows gravitropism or geotropism  in the hill, the image depicts a straightened shaft with a strong curvature at the base.

675px Gravitropism tree
Gravitropism in a tree on a hilly area
Image credits- Wikimedia

Gravitropism in papaya tree:

The papaya tree shows negative gravitropism as the tree grows horizontally.

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Gravitropism in papaya tree
Image Credits- Flickr

Gravitropism in fig tree:

The fig tree shows a perfect example of gravitropism as the tree grows upside down based on the gravity.

675px Upsidedown tree
Gravitropism in fig tree
Image credits- Wikimedia

Gravitropism in a tree in a park:

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Crooked Forest in Poland
Image Credits- Wikimedia

The image shows Crooked Forest in Poland that shows gravitropism or geotropism – curved trees or crooked trees.

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