A rubber band stretches and reverts to its original position. Bubble gum stretches, but it would not return to its original position.
Is there any difference between the two processes? Discuss it with respect to plant growth.
[Hint: Elasticity (reversible) plasticity (irreversible)]
Ans. Referring to an experiment with oat coleoptile, the auxin hormone induces the shoot tip tending in the direction of the light source. This process is irreversible and is known as plasticity. It is the plant's ability to adjust to the surrounding environmental conditions. While, if weight is attached to the coleoptile segment, the weight causes bending and thus stretches the plant. If the weight is removed, the shoot of the plant returns to the original position meaning that this change is reversible. This is known as elasticity.