Today, once again we were having quiz in the computer room. I was quite shocked because I haven’t revised anything although she had informed us earlier that we would be having a quiz. 

Okay, fine. I used my phone to access to putrablast since all the computers were fully occupied. We did two quizzes which were cell division cycle matching quiz and and quiz on plant sexual reproduction. Luckily I still managed to score the quizzes.

Later, we did our group activity by drawing the venn diagram on the similarities and differences between sexual reproduction and asexual reproduction of plants. After this, we did another venn diagram on the similarities and differences between self pollination and cross pollination. In the following lesson, the lecturer continued on topic 7 which is the regulation of developmental and differentiation hormones. We were introduced to 5 major types of hormones which are auxins, cytokinins, gibberellins, abscisic acid and ethylene. The lecturer explained the functions of each hormone in detail by giving examples and drawing of plants.

 

Also, the auxins and cytokinins show antagonistic pairs where auxins suppress the growth of lateral bud but cytokinins promote cell division and shoot formation in plants. Abscisic acid often serves as an antagonist to the action of gibberellins and auxin.  Gibberellins induce flowering and work with auxins to promote elongation and division of stem tissues while abscisic acid promotes dormancy and inhibits shoot growth. Ethylene which helps in fruit ripening is the only hormone that is in the form of gas at room temperature. What I feel amazing was that auxin promotes parthenocarpy, which is the development of unfertilized ovary into fruit. Hence, the fruits produced are seedless since sexual reproduction does not occur. How fantastic it would be to enjoy the seedless fruits!