What is the Difference Between Thigmotropism and Thigmonasty?

Thigmotropism and thigmonasty are both plant responses to touch stimuli, but they differ in their directionality and the nature of the response.

Thigmotropism:

• Directional movement of plant parts in response to touch.
• Involves the growth response of the plant.
• Examples include the coiling of tendrils or twiners upon contact with objects and the winding movement of the tendril of a climbing plant.

Thigmonasty:

• Non-directional movement of plant parts in response to touch.
• Not influenced by the direction of the stimulus.
• Examples include the shutting of a Venus flytrap, the drooping of leaflets of Mimosa pudica when touched, and the shrinking and rebounding of the anthers when a pollinator lands on the flower.

In summary, the key difference between thigmotropism and thigmonasty is that thigmotropism involves directional movement of plants in response to touch, while thigmonasty involves non-directional movement in response to touch.

Comparative Table: Thigmotropism vs Thigmonasty

Thigmotropism and thigmonasty are two different types of plant movements in response to the stimulus of touch. Here is a table highlighting the differences between them:

In summary, thigmotropism is a directional response to touch stimuli, while thigmonasty is a non-directional response. Examples of plants exhibiting these behaviors include the bitter gourd and Mimosa pudica, respectively.