Dictionary > Thigmonasty

Thigmonasty

Definition
noun
A form of nastic movement (of a plant or a fungus) as a response to touch or vibration
Supplement
Nastic movements pertain to the plant movements in response to a stimulus. There are many forms of nastic movements and one of them is called thigmonasty. Thigmonasty is a form of nastic movement by a plant or a fungus in response to touch or vibration.1
Thigmonasty is different from thigmotropism. Both of them are a response to the touch stimulus. However, thigmotropism is a directional movement response whereas thigmonasty is not. Furthermore, thigmotropism is one that involves the growth response of the plant rather than its movement. An example of thigmotropism is the coiling of tendrils or twiners upon contact to objects for support. In thigmonasty, an example is the shutting of a venus fly trap.
The drooping of leaflets of Mimosa pudica when touched is also a thigmonastic movement. It is because the response of this plant is not influenced by the direction of stimulus, which is a characteristic of thigmotrophic movements.
Another example is the shrinking and rebounding of the anthers when a pollinator lands on the flower of thistles. The insect is subsequently loaded with pollen.
Synonym(s):

  • seismonasty
  • haptonasty

Compare:

  • thigmotropism
  • See also:

    Reference(s):

    1 Stiles, W. (1994). Principles of Plant Physiology. Discovery Publishing House. pp. 520–


    You will also like...

    Early Earth
    The Origins of Life

    This tutorial digs into the past to investigate the origins of life. The section is split into geological periods in the..

    genes controlling growth and development
    Control of Growth & Development

    Control of Growth & Development tutorials look at how the genetic makeup determines the biological processes on a da..

    Chromosome Mutations
    Chromosome Mutations

    Mutations can also influence the phenotype of an organism. This tutorial looks at the effects of chromosomal mutations, ..

    New Zealand Fauna
    New Zealand’s Unique Fauna

    Meet some of New Zealand's unique fauna, including endemic insects, frogs, reptiles, birds, and mammals, and investigate..

    The Human Physiology
    The Human Physiology

    Physiology is the study of how living organisms function. Thus, human physiology deals specifically with the physiologic..

    Peppered moth ("Biston betularia") melanic and light form
    Examples of Natural Selection

    Darwin's Finches are an example of natural selection in action. They are an excellent example of the way species' gene p..

    Related Articles...

    No related articles found

    See all Related Topics