apogeotropism

[ap-uh-jee-o-truh-piz-uhm]

noun

Biology.

1. growth or orientation away from the earth; negative geotropism.

apogeotropism

/ ˌæpəˌdʒɪəˈtrɒpɪk, ˌæpədʒɪˈɒtrəˌpɪzəm /

noun

1. negative geotropism, as shown by plant stems

Other Word Forms

• apogeotropic adjective
• apogeotropically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of apogeotropism¹

First recorded in 1875–80; apo- + geotropism

Word History and Origins

Origin of apogeotropism¹

C19: from Greek apogaios away from the earth + tropos a turn

Example Sentences

As a check, the seedlings in both pots were then placed in complete darkness for two hours, in order that apogeotropism should act on them; and those in the one pot which were little curved became in this time almost completely upright, whilst the more curved ones in the other pot still remained plainly curved.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

But the reversal of the first half of the curvature will have been aided by apogeotropism.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

By the following morning these short bowed portions had straightened themselves through apogeotropism.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

These movements indicate apogeotropism; but when organs have been long kept in the dark, the amount of water and of mineral matter which they contain is so much altered, and their regular growth is so much disturbed, that it is perhaps rash to infer from their movements what would occur under normal conditions.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

Nevertheless, they did not rise nearly so much at night, as when subjected to apogeotropism.

Read more on Project Gutenberg