photomorphogenesis
Sign in to saveIn developmental biology, photomorphogenesis is light-mediated development, where plant growth patterns respond to the light spectrum. This is a completely separate process from photosynthesis where light is used as a source of energy. Phytochromes, cryptochromes, and phototropins are photochromic sensory receptors that restrict the photomorphogenic effect of light to the UV-A, UV-B, blue, and red portions of the electromagnetic spectrum.
~11 min read
Encyclopedic overview
11 sectionsContents
- History
- Developmental stages affected
- Seed germination
- Seedling development
- Photoperiodism
- Light receptors for photomorphogenesis
- Red/far-red light
- Blue light
- UV light
- References
- External links
In developmental biology, photomorphogenesis is light-mediated development, where plant growth patterns respond to the light spectrum. This is a completely separate process from photosynthesis where light is used as a source of energy. Phytochromes, cryptochromes, and phototropins are photochromic sensory receptors that restrict the photomorphogenic effect of light to the UV-A, UV-B, blue, and red portions of the electromagnetic spectrum.
The photomorphogenesis of plants is often studied by using tightly frequency-controlled light sources to grow the plants. There are at least three stages of plant development where photomorphogenesis occurs: seed germination, seedling development, and the switch from the vegetative to the flowering stage (photoperiodism).
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “photomorphogenesis” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.