Why Do Plants Move to the Sun?
Plants have adapted ways to make use of the light available to them to the greatest efficiency possible. Sometimes this requires a plant to turn toward a light source. This is best demonstrated by a houseplant that grows toward a window and needs to be turned frequently so it does not fall over. Does this Spark an idea?
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Photosynthesis
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Photosynthesis is the process that occurs in all green plants where water, carbon dioxide and nutrients are used to convert light energy into simple sugars. These simple sugars are "food" for a plant.
Light Exposure
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In order to manufacture the most food as possible, with the least amount of energy spent, plants need to have the cells that photosynthesize facing the light. These cells are usually distributed in the upper layers of the leaves.
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Phototropism
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Phototropism is defined as a directional movement in response to light. This is caused by hormones in the plant migrating to the dark side of the stem causing it to grow slightly faster, which bends it toward the light.
Negative Phototropism
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Negative phototropism is the plant's response to light by growing away from it where positive phototropism is growing towards it. Negative primarily occurs in root structures.
Blue Spectrum Light
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Blue spectrum light is the trigger for both positive and negative phototropism. Light in the red spectrum has no phototropic effect.
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