A potted plant placed near the window bends outwardly due to

Options

A. Greater oxygen availability to the tip
B. More auxin content on the shaded side
C. Greater light availabilty to tip
D. Availability of necessary warmth to the tip

Answer

To solve the question about why a potted plant placed near the window bends outwardly, we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Understand the phenomenon of phototropism
Phototropism is the growth response of a plant to light direction. Plants tend to grow towards light, which is known as positive phototropism. However, in this case, we are observing a plant bending outward, which indicates a negative phototropic response.

**Hint:** Consider how plants respond to light and the role of hormones in that response.

### Step 2: Identify the role of auxin
Auxin is a plant hormone that plays a crucial role in regulating plant growth. It is produced in the tips of the plant and is responsible for elongating cells on the side of the plant that is away from the light.

**Hint:** Recall how auxin distribution changes in response to light and how it affects plant growth.

### Step 3: Analyze the light direction
When a potted plant is placed near a window, one side of the plant receives more light than the other. The side that is shaded (the side away from the window) will have a higher concentration of auxin because auxin moves away from light.

**Hint:** Think about how light affects the distribution of auxin in the plant.

### Step 4: Understand the effect of auxin on growth
The increased concentration of auxin on the shaded side causes those cells to elongate more than the cells on the light-exposed side. As a result, the plant bends outward, away from the light source.

**Hint:** Consider how the differential growth on either side of the plant leads to bending.

### Step 5: Conclude the reason for bending
Thus, the bending of the potted plant outwardly is due to the higher concentration of auxin on the shaded side, which causes that side to grow more than the side exposed to light.

**Final Answer:** A potted plant placed near the window bends outwardly due to more auxin content on the shaded side.

### Summary of Steps:
1. Understand phototropism.
2. Identify auxin's role in plant growth.
3. Analyze the light direction and its effect on auxin distribution.
4. Understand how auxin affects growth rates on different sides of the plant.
5. Conclude that the bending is due to more auxin on the shaded side.