Question

define circadian rhythm in  plants and explain what happens when an organism is artificially maintained in a constant environment

Answer 1

Answer:

Circadian rhythms are an organism's endogenous rhythm that includes behavioral, mental, and physical changes in a 24-hour cycle. It usually comes about as a result of a response to light and darkness in the environment. In humans, the circadian rhythm is responsible for daily sleep patterns.

Circadian rhythms in plants enable them to release biochemicals that regulate photosynthesis, the opening, and closing of the stomata, movement of leaves, flowering, growth, and seed germination. It is also depended on light and darkness and environmental changes. These changes continue to persist even when moved from that environment. For example, a bean sprout will continue its leaf movement even if it was placed in a dark room.

When an organism is artificially maintained in a constant environment, the 24-hour circadian rhythms deviate and become 'free-running periods'. Free-running periods are endogenous rhythms that repeat in the absence of light and darkness or environmental changes. When an organism is in its free-running period, it might desynchronize from the outside world and the time period may vary from 24 hours when kept in darkness. However, the time still remains relatively close to the 24-hour cycle, it will just be desynchronized.