Question

What is phytochrome and why is it important?

Answer 1

As autotrophs, part of plants absorb sunlight through photosynthesis to convert water and carbon dioxide to oxygen and other carbohydrates. There are many types of photoreceptors in plants.

Complete answer:
It is a photoreceptor that has been found in plants, bacteria and fungi. It is a blue protein pigment responsible for the perception of light in photo- physiological processes.
It controls many aspects of plant development. They regulate the germination of seeds , the synthesis of chlorophyll, the elongation of seedlings, the size, shape number and movement of leaves and timing of flowering in adult plants.
It also controls the biochemical pathway in yeast, as it has a role in gene transcription.
Plant phytochrome signal transduction regulates molecular and cellular processes. It induces all autonomous responses and interogan communication. It regulates light induced developmental transition as well as adaptation to growth under dense canopy.
It acts as a molecular switch in response to red and far red light. It occurs in two reversible conformations that absorb red and far red light. These light wavelengths are most effective in photoperiodism.
It is found in flowering plants as it is a blue green pigment.
It is also called antenna pigment and plays the role of collecting light from the sun and transferring it to the reaction center.

Note:
It was discovered by Sterling Hendricks and Harry Borthwick. It was identified using a spectrophotometer in 1959 by Warren Butler and Harold Siegelman.