What is Photoperiodism?
Photoperiodism is a biological response to light levels which occurs in many organisms around the world. Both plants and animals demonstrate this trait to varying degrees, and knowledge of how organisms respond to changes in light levels can be used to manipulate those organisms to produce particular desired outcomes. Researchers are also interested in photoperiodism and its potential applications. Among plants, photoperiodism can alert a plant to the change of the seasons, which may trigger a variety of responses. For example, when the days are getting longer, the tree might start to produce buds and blooms, since it would sense that spring is on the way. As days shorten, the plant would start to become dormant, producing seeds for next year and taking steps to ensure that it would be ready for winter. Photoperiodism can also play a role in the setting of fruit and the movement of plants which adjust their position to take advantage of available light. Knowledge of photoperiodism in p
