A botanist discovers a plant that lacks the ability to form starch grains in root cells, yet the roots still grow downward. This evidence refutes the long-standing hypothesis that
A) falling statoliths trigger gravitropism.
B) starch accumulation triggers the negative phototropic response of roots.
C) starch grains block the acid growth response in roots.
D) starch is converted to auxin, which causes the downward bending in roots.
E) starch and downward movement are necessary for thigmotropism.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The discovery that a plant can grow its roots downward without forming starch grains refutes the hypothesis that falling statoliths (which are dense, starch-containing plastids) trigger gravitropism, as it shows that root growth direction can be determined without the presence of starch grains.

A Botanist Discovers a Plant That Lacks the Ability to Form