Light and Plant Responses

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Protection and Biotic Interactions".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 567

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry, Kaunas str. 30, Kaunas dist, LT-54333 Babtai, Lithuania
Interests: photophysiology; photosynthetic system; apple tree physiology; fruit quality
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Light plays a critical role in the growth and development of plants, serving as both an energy source and potential stressor. Plants respond to various characteristics of light, including its intensity, quality, duration, and direction, utilizing specialized photoreceptors for these responses. While light is essential for the process of photosynthesis, excessively high or variable light levels can result in photoinhibition and the accumulation of reactive oxygen species. In response to light stress, plants are evolving protective mechanisms, such as non-photochemical quenching, the movement of chloroplasts, and the production of anthocyanins.

Moreover, the light environment significantly affects plant responses to other abiotic and biotic stresses, with shaded conditions enhancing thermotolerance and drought resistance. Light also regulates crucial developmental processes, including flowering and dormancy, which are vital for maximizing plant yield. In addition to influencing plant physiology directly, light can impact plant pathogens, thereby aiding plants in their defense mechanisms.

A comprehensive understanding of these light-induced responses is essential for developing strategies that enhance crop stress tolerance and productivity. Consequently, this Special Issue invites scientists to engage in discussions on the various aspects of light and plant responses to it.

Dr. Kristina Laužikė
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • light
  • plants
  • LED
  • response

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

17 pages, 3358 KiB  
Article
Analysis of Targeted Supplemental-Waveband Lighting to Increase Yield and Quality of Lettuce Grown Indoors
by Nathan Kelly and Erik S. Runkle
Plants 2025, 14(7), 1141; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14071141 - 6 Apr 2025
Viewed by 425
Abstract
Lighting from light-emitting diodes (LEDs) is one of the largest capital and operational expenses for indoor farms. While broad-waveband white LEDs are relatively inexpensive, their efficacy is lower than most narrow-band LEDs. This study aimed to determine how supplementing warm-white light with additional [...] Read more.
Lighting from light-emitting diodes (LEDs) is one of the largest capital and operational expenses for indoor farms. While broad-waveband white LEDs are relatively inexpensive, their efficacy is lower than most narrow-band LEDs. This study aimed to determine how supplementing warm-white light with additional blue (400–499 nm), green (500–599 nm), red (600–699 nm), or far-red (700–750 nm) light influences lettuce (Lactuca sativa) growth and quality, and whether these effects are consistent across two photon flux densities (PFDs). We grew lettuce ‘Rouxai’ and ‘Rex’ under 90 or 180 µmol∙m−2∙s−1 of warm-white light supplemented with 40 or 80 µmol∙m−2∙s−1 of blue, green, red, far-red, or warm-white light. Supplemental far-red light increased biomass without reducing secondary metabolites. Supplemental red, far-red, and warm-white light maximized biomass, whereas additional blue light enhanced secondary metabolite concentrations and leaf coloration. Increasing the PFD increased biomass and phenolic content in ‘Rouxai’. Notably, spectral effects were consistent across PFD levels, suggesting that higher PFDs do not diminish spectral responses. These results demonstrate the potential of enriching white light to increase yield or quality in controlled-environment agriculture and provide insights for cost-effective commercial production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Light and Plant Responses)
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