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Concept

Tropism

A young plant sprouts from soil, its leaves reaching towards a glowing orb in the background, symbolizing phototropism.

A directional growth response by a plant to an external stimulus. The direction of the stimulus determines the direction of growth: light (phototropism), gravity (gravitropism), touch (thigmotropism), water (hydrotropism), chemicals (chemotropism). Tropisms are slow, irreversible, and mediated by differential cell elongation, usually under hormonal control by auxin. Contrast with nastic movements, which are non-directional and often reversible.

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