phototropism

Phototropism is the growth response of a plant toward or away from light. When a plant detects light, hormones called auxins redistribute within the stem, accumulating on the shaded side. This causes the cells on that side to elongate more than those on the illuminated side, resulting in the plant bending toward the light source. This adaptation helps plants maximize light absorption for photosynthesis, essential for their growth and energy production. Phototropism is a key example of how plants sense and respond to their environment through biological signaling.