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Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Plant Responses to Light (Second Edition)

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A Special Issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067) belonging to the section "Molecular Plant Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 December 2025) | Viewed by 14286

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Prof. Dr. Qichang Yang

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Institute of Urban Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (IUA-CAAS), Chengdu 600001, China
Interests: vertical farming; plant factory; LED lighting; greenhouse horticulture; energy use efficiency; environmental control
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Prof. Dr. Byoung Ryong Jeong

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Department of Horticulture, Division of Applied Life Science, Graduate School, Gyeongsang National University (GNU), Jinju 52828, Republic of Korea
Interests: floriculture; transplants (micropropagated and plug); silicon in horticulture; plant factory; protected horticulture; hydroponics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Dear Colleagues,

The absorption of light energy by plants is the basis of photosynthesis, growth, and development. However, different photoreceptors in plants specifically recognize different wavelengths of light signals to regulate growth and development. Hence, light can be manipulated to control many aspects of plants, including flowering and photomorphogenesis. In addition to natural light, the significant development and wide applications of artificial lighting systems, such as fluorescent, high-pressure sodium and metal halide lamps, and even light-emitting diodes, are used as supplemental or sole light sources for varied purposes. As opposed to natural sunlight, which provides a whole spectrum of light, artificial lights contain a limited spectrum and therefore, the composition of the spectrum can be added to accomplish the desired efficacy. Lights can now be used in plant tissue culture, the promotion of the growth and development of nursery plants, photoperiodic control of flowering, and enhancing horticultural productivity in greenhouses and plant factories. As researchers have worked to reveal the roles of light in relation to plants for a long period of time, more and more underlying mechanisms at cellular and molecular levels have been revealed, making this subject one of the most interesting research topics in plant science.

Being led by Prof. Dr. Qichang Yang and Prof. Dr. Byoung Ryong Jeong, and assisted by our Topical Advisory Panel Member Dr. Jiangtao Hu (Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences), this Special Issue invites authors to publish original research papers and critical reviews on ‘Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Plant Responses to Light 2.0’. Although it is not exclusive, the focus will be on the expression of genes, biosynthesis of metabolites and antioxidants, resistance to stresses, photomorphogenesis, photoperiodic responses, and nutrient uptake of plants in response to light.

Prof. Dr. Qichang Yang
Prof. Dr. Byoung Ryong Jeong
Guest Editors

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Keywords

celluar mechanism
light
molecular mechanism
plant growth
plant development
gene expression
primary and secondary metabolites
photomorphogenesis
photoperiod response
stress resistance
nutrient uptake

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research

5 pages, 4360 KB

Open AccessEditorial

Special Issue “Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Plant Responses to Light, 2nd Edition”

by Jiangtao Hu, Byoung Ryong Jeong and Qichang Yang

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(15), 6617; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27156617 - 24 Jul 2026

Viewed by 235

Abstract

Light is not only the energy source that fuels photosynthesis, but also a highly informative environmental signal that shapes plant development [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Plant Responses to Light (Second Edition))

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Research

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20 pages, 2344 KB

Open AccessArticle

Far-Red Light Regulates the Circadian Rhythm Pathway to Accelerate Rice Flowering

by Zonggeng Li, Chengbo Zhou, Jiangtao Hu, Junhua Xie, Quan Yuan, Fang Wang, Sen Wang and Qichang Yang

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(4), 1683; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27041683 - 9 Feb 2026

Viewed by 1022

Abstract

Early flowering is a key element of the rice speed-breeding protocol that enables improved genetic gain and accelerates the cultivation of new varieties. Although far-red light (FR) is commonly used to modulate plant developmental processes, the mechanisms by which it influences flowering and growth in rice are poorly understood. In this study, the control treatment (CK) consisted of red-blue-green composite light at 300 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹, while two additional treatments were applied: one with the photon flux density (PFD) increased to 350 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ (HI—high intensity) under the same light spectrum as CK, and the other supplemented with 50 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ of FR based on CK. The results demonstrated that both elevated PFD and supplemental FR significantly enhanced vegetative growth, as evidenced by increased plant height, tiller number, leaf area, and biomass accumulation, along with improved photosynthetic capacity and chlorophyll fluorescence. Under the FR treatment, flowering occurred 53 days after transplanting, which was 12 days and 9 days earlier than in the CK and HI treatments, respectively. Physiological profiling revealed that FR enrichment significantly increased leaf soluble sugar and starch levels, while simultaneously decreasing chlorophyll and carotenoid concentrations. FR also reshaped the endogenous hormonal profile, which was marked by elevated levels of gibberellin (GA3) and abscisic acid (ABA), and reduced auxin (IAA) content. Transcriptomic profiling revealed that FR enrichment activated the circadian rhythm pathway and upregulated genes associated with photoperiodic flowering and inflorescence development. In summary, FR promotes rice growth and early flowering through the integrated regulation of leaf area expansion, enhanced photosynthetic efficiency, hormonal rebalancing, and activation of flowering gene expression. This study provides a theoretical foundation and technical support for optimizing light environments and improving the economic viability of crop speed breeding systems in controlled environmental facilities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Plant Responses to Light (Second Edition))

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19 pages, 6012 KB

Open AccessArticle

Donor- and Acceptor-Side Protection Against Photosystem I Photoinhibition in Arabidopsis thaliana

by Marina Kozuleva

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(1), 9; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27010009 - 19 Dec 2025

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1260

Abstract

Photosystem I (PSI) photoinhibition (PI(I)) is gaining traction as a potentially more significant threat to plant performance than photoinhibition of photosystem II (PSII). The increased focus is facilitated by the implementation of specific protocols that induce PI(I), such as artificial fluctuating light (FL) and repetitive short saturating pulses (rSPs). rSPs were long considered a specific sub-case of FL. However, recent evidence suggests that PI(I) proceeds via at least two distinct, treatment-dependent mechanisms, leading to damage at the donor or acceptor side of PSI. This discovery suggests that rSPs and FL represent distinct photoinhibitory stresses and that different mechanisms protect PSI against FL and rSPs. This study comparatively analyzed the effects of FL and rSPs on PSI activity in Arabidopsis thaliana wild-type plants and a selection of mutants (pgr5, pgrl1, stn7, tap38/pph1, and pgr1), previously noted or hypothesized to have altered PI(I) sensitivity relative to the wild type. The results of this work, particularly the contrasting sensitivity of tap38/pph1 compared to the wild type under FL and rSP conditions, strongly suggest that pulsed illumination and fluctuating light are distinct photoinhibitory treatments, and different mechanisms protect PSI against them. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Plant Responses to Light (Second Edition))

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26 pages, 20476 KB

Open AccessArticle

Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Insights into Plant Hormone Modulation and Secondary Metabolite Accumulation in Basil Under Far-Red and Ultraviolet-A Light

by Dandan Li, Haibin Shen, Lishu Yu, Kaili Zhu, Yongxue Zhang, Shaofang Wu, Liying Chang, Xiaotao Ding and Yuping Jiang

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(8), 3758; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26083758 - 16 Apr 2025

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1791

Abstract

In this study, red–blue light (7R3B) was used as the control (CK), while far-red (FR) and ultraviolet-A (UVA) light were supplemented to evaluate their effects on basil growth. The results showed that the FR treatment promoted plant height, stem diameter, and biomass, but reduced chlorophyll and carotenoid content, while the UVA treatment increased stem diameter and chlorophyll b content. Meanwhile, transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses were employed to examine changes in gene expression and metabolite accumulation in basil. The FR treatment reduced the levels of differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) in the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway, potentially contributing to the observed decrease in chlorophyll. The FR treatment upregulated the levels of five DAMs (gibberellin, cytokinin, brassinosteroid, jasmonic acid, and salicylic acid) and altered the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) such as gibberellin receptor (GID1) and jasmonate ZIM domain-containing protein (JAZ) in the plant hormone signal transduction pathway, thereby promoting plant growth and shade avoidance responses. The UVA treatment upregulated the 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase (NCED) expression in the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway, possibly indirectly promoting flavonoid synthesis. In the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway, the UVA treatment also promoted flavonoid accumulation by upregulating DEGs including flavonol synthase (FLS), anthocyanidin synthase (ANS), 5-O-(4-coumaroyl)-D-quinate 3′-monooxygenase (CYP98A), and flavanone 7-O-glucoside 2″-O-beta-L-rhamnosyltransferase (C12RT1), as well as increasing the levels of DAMs such as kaempferol, luteolin, apigenin, and leucopelargonidin. The accumulation of flavonoids improved antioxidant capacity and nutritional value in basil. Through a Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis, this study provided valuable insights into the molecular and metabolic mechanisms of the FR and UVA regulation of basil growth, providing guidance for optimizing supplementary lighting strategies in plant factories. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Plant Responses to Light (Second Edition))

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15 pages, 3258 KB

Open AccessArticle

Light Quality Plays a Crucial Role in Regulating Germination, Photosynthetic Efficiency, Plant Development, Reactive Oxygen Species Production, Antioxidant Enzyme Activity, and Nutrient Acquisition in Alfalfa

by Md Atikur Rahman, Sang-Hoon Lee, Hyung Soo Park, Chang-Woo Min, Jae Hoon Woo, Bo Ram Choi, Md. Mezanur Rahman and Ki-Won Lee

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(1), 360; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26010360 - 3 Jan 2025

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 4711

Abstract

Light is a vital regulator of photosynthesis, energy production, plant growth, and morphogenesis. Although these key physiological processes are well understood, the effects of light quality on the pigment content, oxidative stress, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, antioxidant defense systems, and biomass yield of plants remain largely unexplored. In this study, we applied different light-emitting diode (LED) treatments, including white light, red light, blue light, and a red+blue (1:1) light combination, to evaluate the traits mentioned above in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Fluorescence staining showed that red light significantly triggered the oxidative stress indicators compared to blue and white light, while the combined red and blue light treatment significantly reduced the ROS (O₂^•−, H₂O₂) intensity in alfalfa seedlings. Interestingly, the combined light treatment significantly boosted the seed germination rate (%), maximum photochemical quantum yield of PSII (Fv/Fm), leaf greenness (SPAD score), photosynthetic pigment levels (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoids), and plant biomass yield in alfalfa seedlings. The red and/or combined (red+blue) light treatments significantly regulated antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, APX, and GR) and the expression of genes related to the ascorbate–glutathione (AsA-GSH) pathway, including monodehydroascorbate reductase (MsMDHAR), dehydroascorbate reductase (MsDHAR), ascorbate peroxidase (MsAPX), and glutathione reductase (MsGR). These results indicate that light quality is crucial for regulating the morphological, physiological, and molecular traits linked to alfalfa improvement. These findings suggest a new approach to enhancing the adaptation, as well as the morphological and agronomic yield, of alfalfa and forage legumes through light-quality-mediated improvement. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Plant Responses to Light (Second Edition))

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17 pages, 5212 KB

Open AccessArticle

Overexpression of LAR1 Suppresses Anthocyanin Biosynthesis by Enhancing Catechin Competition Leading to Promotion of Proanthocyanidin Pathway in Spine Grape (Vitis davidii) Cells

by Junxuan Lin, Gongti Lai, Aolin Guo, Liyuan He, Fangxue Yang, Yuji Huang, Jianmei Che and Chengchun Lai

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(22), 12087; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252212087 - 11 Nov 2024

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1960

Abstract

Proanthocyanidins (PAs) are a class of polyphenolic compounds recognized for their potent antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and cardioprotective properties. However, the production of PAs from natural sources is often limited by high costs, resource wastage, and environmental damage. In this study, we investigated the overexpression of VdLAR1, along with phenotypic observation, metabolite determination, light quality treatment, and RT-qPCR analysis, in spine grape cells. The results demonstrated a significant increase in the contents of proanthocyanidins and flavonoids in pVdLAR1-overexpressing transgenic cell lines, while anthocyanin levels showed a decreasing trend. Furthermore, the treatment with white and blue light on the T5 cell line resulted in enhanced accumulation of proanthocyanidins, catechins, and flavonoids, whereas anthocyanins and epicatechins exhibited a declining pattern. Thus, short-wavelength light promoted the accumulation of metabolites, with the proanthocyanidin content in the T5 transformed cell line reaching 2512.0 μg/g (FW) during blue light incubation. RT-qPCR analysis revealed that the key genes involved in the biosynthesis of proanthocyanidin and anthocyanin were upregulated in the transgenic spine grape cell lines, with VdLAR1 expression increasing by several hundredfold, far surpassing the expression levels of LDOX and ANR. The VdLAR1 overexpression markedly improved substrate competitiveness within the metabolic pathway, promoting catechin biosynthesis while inhibiting the production of epicatechins and anthocyanins. This finding provides compelling evidence that LAR1 is a crucial gene for catechin biosynthesis. This research establishes both theoretical and practical foundations for the regulation and development of natural proanthocyanidins, addressing issues related to high costs, safety concerns, resource wastage, and environmental damage associated with their production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Plant Responses to Light (Second Edition))

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18 pages, 3640 KB

Open AccessArticle

Participation of miR165a in the Phytochrome Signal Transduction in Maize (Zea mays L.) Leaves under Changing Light Conditions

by Dmitry N. Fedorin, Alexander T. Eprintsev, Victoria O. Chuykova and Abir U. Igamberdiev

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(11), 5733; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25115733 - 24 May 2024

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1924

Abstract

The involvement of the microRNA miR165a in the light-dependent mechanisms of regulation of target genes in maize (Zea mays) has been studied. The light-induced change in the content of free miR165a was associated with its binding by the AGO10 protein and not with a change in the rate of its synthesis from the precursor. The use of knockout Arabidopsis plants for the phytochrome A and B genes demonstrated that the presence of an active form of phytochrome B causes an increase in the level of the RNA-induced silencing miR165a complex, which triggers the degradation of target mRNAs. The two fractions of vesicles from maize leaves, P40 and P100 that bind miR165a, were isolated by ultracentrifugation. The P40 fraction consisted of larger vesicles of the size >0.170 µm, while the P100 fraction vesicles were <0.147 µm. Based on the quantitative PCR data, the predominant location of miR165a on the surface of extracellular vesicles of both fractions was established. The formation of the active form of phytochrome upon the irradiation of maize plants with red light led to a redistribution of miR165a, resulting in an increase in its proportion inside P40 vesicles and a decrease in P100 vesicles. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Plant Responses to Light (Second Edition))

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