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Phototropism

or Blue light reception

 

One shot illustration of blue light induced phototropism in plants.

 

Light is one of the most important environmental factors controlling plant development, and is achieved through photoreceptor proteins. Like photoreceptors associated with our vision, plant light sensors can detect the presence, intensity, direction and wavelength of light, and in turn, utilize this information to direct their growth. To date four different types of photoreceptors have been identified in plants. Among them is a small family of proteins known as the phototropins, which are activated specifically by blue wavelengths of light. The activation of these proteins stimulates a range of processes that ultimately optimize the photosynthetic efficiency of plants, including phototropism, a Greek term describing the process by which plants grow towards light, after which they were named.

 

 

 

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Uploaded on February 19, 2018
Taken on February 18, 2018