ScienceSeptember 2, 2026
photoperiod
FO-tuh-peer-ee-ud
Definition
The duration of daily exposure to light, which serves as a developmental or environmental signal for plants.
Etymology
Derived from the Greek 'phōs' (light) and the Greek 'periodos' (a circuit or cycle). It entered scientific usage in the early 20th century to describe the physiological response of organisms to day length.
In the news
The article uses the term to describe the length of time tomatoes are exposed to light, noting that wild tomatoes can tolerate continuous light while conventional varieties typically require a 16-hour photoperiod to avoid stress.
A single gene on chromosome 7 of a wild tomato lets modern hybrids grow under 24-hour light and yield up to 20% more fruit
Read the full article ↗ScienceBlog.com