What is the name for a plant's orientation response to light?

Phototropism is the name given to a plant's orientation response to light. In this process, plants grow towards a light source, which maximizes their ability to capture sunlight for photosynthesis. This growth response is driven by the hormone auxin, which promotes cell elongation on the side of the plant that is farthest from the light, causing the plant to bend toward the light source. This adaptation is crucial for a plant's survival, as it enhances its ability to produce energy.

Geotropism refers to a plant's response to gravity, while thigmotropism is the response to touch, such as how climbing plants wrap around supports. Hydrotropism involves a plant's growth response to moisture levels in the soil. Each of these responses serves a different adaptive purpose in the plant's overall growth and survival strategy, but phototropism specifically pertains to how plants respond to light.