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Glite Dictionary
photomorphogenesis

photomorphogenesis

9.9
How plants grow and change when they get light
  • noun
  • /ˌfoʊtoʊmɔːrfəˈdʒɛnɪsɪs/
  • Specialized
: fotomorfogénesis
  • Evidence suggests that phytochrome could mediate the production of AS transcripts of SPA3 in response to some light conditions, thus promoting plant photomorphogenesis (Shikata et al. 2014).

Examples

  • Through photomorphogenesis, seedlings stretch towards the light as they grow, ensuring they capture enough sunlight for photosynthesis.

  • The study of photomorphogenesis reveals how different light wavelengths affect plant health and development.

  • Photomorphogenesis helps plants adapt to their environment by responding to the amount and quality of light they receive.

Surface Forms

photomorphogenesis singular
photomorphogeneses plural

Morphology

photomorphogenesis = morphogenesis (semi-transparent) = photo + morpho + gen + esis

The word is formed by adding 'photo-' to the compositional base 'morphogenesis', but the biological sense remains specialized.

Etymology

Photomorphogenesis breaks into photo- ('light'), morpho- ('form' or 'shape') and -genesis ('creation'). So it literally means 'light creating form', which helps you remember that it is the process by which plants change their form and grow in response to light.