Cambridge O Level Biology · Syllabus 5090 · Coordination and Response in Plants
Negative Gravitropism
What is Negative Gravitropism?
The growth of a plant organ away from gravity. In a shoot laid horizontally, auxin becomes more concentrated on the lower side; auxin stimulates cell elongation, so the lower side elongates more, becomes longer than the upper side, and the shoot curves upward.
This definition is part of the Coordination and Response in Plants chapter in Cambridge O Level Biology.
Questions students ask about Negative Gravitropism
Does positive mean the response is good for the plant?
No. Positive means the organ grows toward the stimulus and negative means it grows away from it. Both kinds of response are useful: a shoot's negative gravitropism is what lifts it out of the soil.
Last reviewed Syllabus 2026-2028