Uy, Willard Karlheinz C.

BS Biology 3-B

Case Study on Acid Growth Hypothesis

Hypothesis #1: Cell walls are loosened by acid.

Question Set #1

1. What is a hypocotyl?

The Hypocotyl is a stem of a germinating seed, found

above the radicle or the roots, and below the cotyledon.

2. What does etiolated mean?

Etiolated means a body is weakened or drained. In plants,

it is the observed characteristic of plants to grow pale
because of lack of light source.

3. Suggest a reason why etiolated hypocotyls were used in this experiment.

Because it permits the entrance of outside substances, and also permits wall
components to pass each other for cell or body growth.

4. True or False: Hypocotyls elongate faster at pH 7 than at pH 5.

It is false because pH 7 is neutral. Therefore, no acidification occurs in the system.

5. True or False: Cell elongation is associated with acidic pH

It is true.

6. What do you conclude about the hypothesis?

I conclude that using acid or doing the acid growth hypothesis, the cell walls on a plant
body will weaken, allowing the passing of wall substances, and permitting cell growth and
elongation.
Question Set #2

1. Why does the agar become acidified near the tip of a vertically-mounted maize seedling?

Because this is where the hypocotyl, or the germinating seed, is located

2. Why is the acidified region of the vertically mounted seedling not at the very tip, but a
few millimeters behind the tip?

It is because the hypocotyl is located above the radicle or the root, and below the
cotyledons or shoot.

3. Why is the agar acidified only on the side of the sunflower seedling away from the light?

Since the sunflower seedling exhibit phototropism or bending towards light, the region
wherein the agar was acidified is where the cells elongate. Therefore, it must be acidified to
weaken the walls of the plant to allow bending of the body.

4. Why is the agar acidified only on the upper side of the root of the horizontally mounted
maize seedling?

Because the seedling was horizontally mounted, its response would be to allow the
seedling to somehow carry the entire seedling in a vertical manner. This is observed in other
types of seedling like the monggo seeds wherein the hypocotyl stretches to allow the body to
move in a vertical manner.

5. What do you conclude about the hypothesis?

I can conclude that the reactions of acid growth and cell elongation may vary on the
environmental condition the plant is exposed. This is a clear illustration that plants can adapt to
certain environmental conditions for their survival.
Hypothesis #2: Auxin, a plant growth hormone, is associated with cell elongation and
wall acidification.

Question Set #1

1. True or False: Acid stimulates cell elongation

It is true because acid weakens cell wall, enabling cell elongation.

2. True or False: The rate of elongation is slow but constant at pH 7.

It is true.

3. True or False: The response to auxin is rapid.

It is false. The response to auxin is not that rapid but not that slow.

4. True or False: Auxin stimulates the rate of elongation at pH 7.

It is true.

5. True or False: The rate of auxin-stimulated elongation is equal to that of acid-stimulated

elongation.

It is true. Auxin stimulation works similar to acid stimulation

6. What do you conclude about your hypothesis?

I can conclude that auxin-stimulated elongation reacts similar to acid-stimulated

elongation, and also performs similar functions to the plant body.
Hypothesis #3: Auxin stimulates cell elongation, in part, by stimulating protein synthesis.

Question Set #1

1. True or False: Auxin stimulates root disk growth

It is true because auxin stimulates protein synthesis.

2. True or False: The effect of auxin is abolished by a protein synthesis inhibitor

It is false because auxin is not TOTALLY removed. The effects were just somehow
weakened.

3. True or False: Protein synthesis is required for growth of root disks

It is true since acid may not take place within the root disks. It will cause damage to the
root bodies. Therefore, since root disks reacts with auxin, then it requires protein synthesis to
elongate.

Hypothesis #4: Auxin has two roles in cell elongation: (a) Auxin has a short-term effect
that involves activating a proton pump and (b) Auxin has a longer-term effect that is
involved with stimulating protein synthesis (transcription and translation).

Question Set #1

1. What is a coleoptile?

A coleoptile is a protective covering found mostly on emerging shoots of

monocotyledons like grasses.
2. Why are coleoptiles used in these types of experiments?

Since coleoptiles are emerging shoots, these are used in this experiment to determine
the effect of protein inhibition in growth of the plant.

3. Which of the following plants would produce a coleoptile? sunflower, oat, maize,
wheat, bean, barley, lettuce, RCBr, turnips.

The given plants that would produce a coleoptile would be oat, maize, wheat, beans,
and barley since they are classified as monocots.

4. What does cycloheximide do? Would cycloheximide be a good antibiotic to take if

we get an infection?

Cycloheximide is a type of protein synthesis inhibitor. It inhibits the reactions of proteins

in the body. No, it wont be a good antibiotic because studies show that cycloheximide is toxic to
humans.

5. Do you think antimycin could have been used in place of cycloheximide?

Yes. Antimycin could have been used instead of cycloheximide since their function is the
same.

6. True or False: Auxin causes coleoptile elongation by a mechanism that involves

acidification of the cell wall.

It is false because auxin stimulates growth by enabling synthesis of proteins.

7. True or False: Dilute acid mimics the initial, but not the longer-term, effect of auxin on
the coleoptile cells.

It is true for the reason that the longer term effect of auxin is to stimulate protein
synthesis in which acids cannot perform.

8. True or False: Auxin stimulates elongation by two different mechanisms, with an initial
acid- induced passive phase followed by a longer-term response that requires
protein synthesis.

It is true. The acid induced phase is where the membrane allows passage of materials,
like protons, while protein synthesis is need for transcription and the translation process, both
an important factor in cell growth.

9. True or False: The initial phase of auxin induced elongation can occur in the absence
of protein synthesis

It is true since some samples may not exhibit long term effect (the requirement of protein
synthesis)
10.True or False: Auxin-induced acidification of the cell wall does not require protein
synthesis.

It is false because auxin mainly permits protein synthesis. Therefore the acidification of
the cell wall with auxin require proteins.

11. What do you conclude about your hypothesis?

I can conclude that auxin has short term and long term effects which affects cell
elongation, and auxin is not affected by a protein synthesis inhibitor if it activates a proton pump.

12. Write a summary that explains the mechanism by which cell walls are loosened. Be
sure to include the impact of auxin, acid, proton pumps, protein synthesis, shortlived
and longer-term effects of auxin.

Cell walls are loosened by either acid or auxin presence. In acid, cell walls are weakened,
therefore allows the elongation of the cell and growth of the body. On the other hand, auxin
allows growth by stimulating protein synthesis. Auxin has 2 effects, a short term in which auxin
activates a proton pump, and a long term effect in which auxin allows protein synthesis for
transcription and translation process.