What term describes a plant growth response in which the plant grows towards or away from light?

Build your vocabulary for the IGCSE Coordinated Science Exam. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Prepare for success!

Multiple Choice

What term describes a plant growth response in which the plant grows towards or away from light?

Explanation:
Phototropism is the directional growth response to light. In shoots, light on one side causes auxin to accumulate on the shaded side, promoting more rapid cell elongation there and bending the stem toward the light. This is positive phototropism. If growth happens away from light, it’s still phototropic behavior but in the opposite direction. The other terms describe responses to gravity (geotropism), water (hydrotropism), and touch (thigmotropism), not light.

Phototropism is the directional growth response to light. In shoots, light on one side causes auxin to accumulate on the shaded side, promoting more rapid cell elongation there and bending the stem toward the light. This is positive phototropism. If growth happens away from light, it’s still phototropic behavior but in the opposite direction. The other terms describe responses to gravity (geotropism), water (hydrotropism), and touch (thigmotropism), not light.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy