Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
This video explains how plant roots bends towards gravity. The plant root tip cells have special structures called statoliths. As the statoliths are heavy, they settle at the bottom of the cell. This settling causes pin proteins in the cell membrane, to accumulate towards bottom. These pin proteins will transport auxin, and will result in high concentration of auxin towards the lower end of the root. The presence of auxin will inhibit cell elongation. However the upper end of the root has low concentration of auxin. This results in cell elongation and it appears that the root is moving downwards.
This video explains how plant roots bends towards gravity. The plant root tip cells have special structures called statoliths. As the statoliths are heavy, they settle at the bottom of the cell. This settling causes pin proteins in the cell membrane, to accumulate towards bottom. These pin proteins will transport auxin, and will result in high concentration of auxin towards the lower end of the root. The presence of auxin will inhibit cell elongation. However the upper end of the root has low concentration of auxin. This results in cell elongation and it appears that the root is moving downwards.
