Difference between Geotropism and Phototropism
Geotropism and Phototropism are two key processes that guide how plants grow and respond to their environment.
The main difference between Geotropism and Phototropism is that Geotropism is the growth of plants in response to gravity, while Phototropism is the growth of plants in response to light.
Before we move to the differences, let’s understand what are Geotropism and Phototropism:
- Geotropism: Geotropism is a natural process that guides the way plants grow in response to gravity. It’s why roots of a plant grow down into the soil and the stems grow up towards the sky.
- Phototropism: Phototropism is the process that makes plants grow towards the light. This is why you often see plants bending towards a window or a source of light. It helps them get the most sunlight, which they need to make food.
Now, let’s move to Geotropism vs Phototropism:
Major differences between Geotropism and Phototropism
| Geotropism | Phototropism |
|---|---|
| Geotropism is the movement or growth of plants in response to gravity, | Phototropism is the movement or growth of plants in response to light. |
| Roots of plants exhibit positive geotropism as they grow towards the gravity, | They exhibit negative phototropism as they grow away from the light. |
| Stems of plants show negative geotropism as they grow away from gravity, | They show positive phototropism as they grow towards the light. |
| Geotropism helps plants in anchoring themselves to the ground and in absorption of water and nutrients, | Phototropism helps plants in maximizing their exposure to sunlight for photosynthesis. |
| Geotropism is not affected by the direction of light, | Phototropism is greatly influenced by the direction of light. |
That’s it.
Note that sometimes, the question might also be asked as “distinguish between Geotropism and Phototropism”.
Also see:
- Difference between Geotropism and Hydrotropism
- Difference between Geostationary Orbit and Geosynchronous Orbit
- Difference between Geostationary and Geosynchronous
Final words
By understanding these concepts, you can better appreciate the remarkable ways in which plants adapt to their surroundings.
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