Question Details

Pigment phytochrome is involved in

Options

A

Geotropism

B

Photoperiodism

C

Phototropism

D

Photorespiration

Correct Answer :

Photoperiodism

Solution :

The correct option is Photoperiodism.

Understanding Phytochrome:
Phytochrome is a photoreceptor pigment found in plants, bacteria, and fungi. It is sensitive to light in the red and far-red regions of the visible spectrum. Phytochrome exists in two interconvertible forms:
1. Pr: The inactive form, which absorbs red light (wavelength around 660 nm) and is converted into the active form.
2. Pfr: The active form, which absorbs far-red light (wavelength around 730 nm) and is converted back to the inactive form.

Role in Photoperiodism:
Photoperiodism refers to the physiological reaction of organisms (especially plants) to the length of day or night. It influences critical developmental processes such as flowering, vegetative growth, and bud dormancy.
The interconversion between the Pr and Pfr forms acts as a biological clock, allowing the plant to detect the photoperiod (the relative lengths of day and night) and trigger corresponding physiological responses like flowering.

Why the Other Options are Incorrect:
Geotropism (or gravitropism) is the growth of a plant in response to gravity, primarily regulated by auxins and starch-filled organelles called amyloplasts, not phytochrome.
Phototropism is the bending of plants toward a light source, which is mediated by blue-light photoreceptors called phototropins, rather than red-light absorbing phytochromes.
Photorespiration is a metabolic process in plants that occurs during photosynthesis when rubisco binds to oxygen instead of carbon dioxide, which is a biochemical pathway not regulated by phytochrome.

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