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Plants
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Effect of Light on Plant Growth and Development
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Effect of Light on Plant Growth and Development

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Crop Physiology and Crop Production".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2026 | Viewed by 1590

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Youxin Yang

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Guest Editor
Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory for Postharvest Storage and Preservation of Fruits & Vegetables, College of Agronomy, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China
Interests: light; defense resistance; biotic stress
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Feng Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Horticulture, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China
Interests: vegetable; abiotic stress; biotic stress; genetic improvement
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Yong Zhou

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China
Interests: vegetable; plant molecular biology; abiotic stress; biotic stress; genetic improvement
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Light is a crucial environmental factor for plant growth and development. It not only provides energy for photosynthesis but also serves as a signaling cue to regulate various physiological processes in plants. Plants perceive changes in the external light environment through photoreceptors such as phytochromes, cryptochromes, and phototropins, subsequently modulating their growth and development via corresponding signal transduction pathways. These photoreceptors detect light signals and interact with downstream signaling components, thereby controlling gene expression in response to environmental signals. More and more studies have shown that light intensity, light quality, and photoperiod have significant impacts on various processes like photosynthesis, morphogenesis, carbohydrate metabolism, and plant defense resistance in plants. Light intensity significantly affects photosynthesis, while photoperiod is involved in regulating seed germination, flowering, and fruit maturation in plants. In addition, light plays a pivotal role in modulating hormone biosynthesis and metabolism, thereby regulating the stress response of plants.

This Special Issue welcomes original research articles and comprehensive reviews that investigate the multifaceted roles of light in plant growth and development and light-induced plant defense resistance. We particularly encourage submissions exploring the regulatory mechanisms of light in plant defense responses against biotic and abiotic stresses, with a focus on signal transduction pathways and ​physiological adaptations under varying light conditions.

Dr. Youxin Yang
Prof. Dr. Feng Wang
Dr. Yong Zhou
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Plants is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • light plant growth and development
  • light signal
  • photoreceptors
  • plant defense
  • biotic and abiotic stress
  • plant hormone signaling

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

25 pages, 1784 KB  
Article
The Nutritional Value, Biochemical Traits, and Growth of Brassica oleracea Grown Under Red, Blue, and Combined Red–Blue LED Lighting
by Maryam Haghighi, Mohammad Reza Moradian, Maryam Mozafarian and András Geösel
Plants 2025, 14(23), 3700; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14233700 - 4 Dec 2025
Viewed by 199
Abstract
Brassica vegetables are in high demand because they are an essential nutrient source for humans. Glucosinolates (GSLs), a major bioactive compound found in Brassicaceae, are amino acid derivatives that contribute to the health benefits of these crops. Light quality plays a significant role [...] Read more.
Brassica vegetables are in high demand because they are an essential nutrient source for humans. Glucosinolates (GSLs), a major bioactive compound found in Brassicaceae, are amino acid derivatives that contribute to the health benefits of these crops. Light quality plays a significant role in plant growth and metabolite synthesis, and light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as artificial light sources offer many benefits. This study examined three cultivars of leafy cabbage B. oleracea. var. acephala (Kale), B. oleracea var. viridis (collard), and B. oleracea var. capitata (cabbage) grown under different LED conditions (red, blue, and blue–red) in the growing chamber. The primary objective of this study was to identify the most effective LED light spectrum for promoting GSLs accumulation and enhancing the overall plant quality. The findings of this study demonstrate that LED lights can have varying impacts on the cultivars of leafy cabbage. The different light spectra had varying impacts on the parameters examined in this study. GSLs compounds, particularly glucobrassicin, showed the most significant increase under the blue light treatment, with a 61% increase compared to the control. The R&B (red and blue) light treatment was the most effective in improving the growth traits of the shoot and root in the Kale cultivar. For the collard cultivar, the R&B light increased the leaf length and width, whereas for the cabbage cultivar, it led to an increase in the number of leaves and chlorophyll index. These findings demonstrate that the specific light quality can have different effects on the phytochemical composition and morphological characteristics of the different leafy cabbage cultivars. The blue light spectrum was particularly effective in enhancing GSLs accumulation, while the combination of red and blue light provided the most beneficial effects on overall plant growth and development across the three cultivars studied. These results suggest that the metabolism and phytochemical properties of leafy cabbage cultivars depend on exposure to multiple factors, such as cultivar type and light quality. Therefore, R&B light was the most effective light for most traits and can be suggested for performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Light on Plant Growth and Development)
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13 pages, 3391 KB  
Article
CaPHOT1 Negatively Regulates the Pepper Resistance to Phytophthora capsici Infection
by Ying Luo, Hongyan Liu, Huiling Zhu, Feng Yang, Yanli Tu, Ting Yu, Yong Zhou and Youxin Yang
Plants 2025, 14(21), 3400; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14213400 - 6 Nov 2025
Viewed by 406
Abstract
Phototropins (PHOTs) are plant blue-light receptors that mediate crucial physiological processes such as phototropism, chloroplast movement, stomatal opening, and flowering. However, the PHOT family genes remain poorly characterized in pepper. Here, we identified and molecularly cloned two PHOT genes (CaPHOT1 and CaPHOT2 [...] Read more.
Phototropins (PHOTs) are plant blue-light receptors that mediate crucial physiological processes such as phototropism, chloroplast movement, stomatal opening, and flowering. However, the PHOT family genes remain poorly characterized in pepper. Here, we identified and molecularly cloned two PHOT genes (CaPHOT1 and CaPHOT2) in pepper, which were phylogenetically classified into distinct groups with their homologs from rice, maize, tomato, and Arabidopsis. These genes exhibit conserved gene structures, implying functional conservation during evolution. Subcellular localization analysis confirmed that both CaPHOT1 and CaPHOT2 are localized to the plasma membrane. Expression profiling revealed that both CaPHOT1 and CaPHOT2 were expressed in all tissues, with the highest transcripts in leaves and the lowest in roots. Notably, RNA-seq data revealed that the expression of CaPHOT1 was up-regulated by JA and SA, whereas CaPHOT2 showed no significant changes. Furthermore, CaPHOT1 and CaPHOT2 displayed divergent expression patterns upon Phytophthora capsici infection (PCI). Furthermore, transient overexpression of CaPHOT1 in pepper enhanced susceptibility to PCI, indicating its negative role in disease resistance. Our findings identified the CaPHOT gene family in pepper and functionally demonstrated that CaPHOT1 negatively regulates resistance to PCI, thereby providing insights for future research on PHOTs in other plant species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Light on Plant Growth and Development)
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18 pages, 2402 KB  
Article
Silicon Addition Alleviates Light Stress on Seedlings: Evidence from Plantation of Liquidambar formosana
by Siying Cai, Minqian Zheng, Tingting Li, Youlu Hong, Yifei Chen, Zhihui Li, Junyi Lin, Xiaoli Liao, Shaofei Jin and Dexiang Zheng
Plants 2025, 14(21), 3346; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14213346 - 31 Oct 2025
Viewed by 382
Abstract
Excessive light intensity, often resulting from anthropogenic disturbances, poses a threat to light-sensitive Liquidambar formosana seedlings. This study examined the effects of five light intensity levels and three silicon (Si) application rates on photosynthetic performance, oxidative stress responses, and seedling growth. Results indicated [...] Read more.
Excessive light intensity, often resulting from anthropogenic disturbances, poses a threat to light-sensitive Liquidambar formosana seedlings. This study examined the effects of five light intensity levels and three silicon (Si) application rates on photosynthetic performance, oxidative stress responses, and seedling growth. Results indicated that full sunlight significantly reduced ground diameter, chlorophyll content, specific leaf area, and stomatal conductance. Meanwhile, it increased the activities of superoxide dismutase and peroxidase, and led to higher accumulation of malondialdehyde (MDA). Application of Si enhanced seedling height, biomass accumulation, and antioxidant enzyme activity under high-light conditions, while reducing MDA content, stomatal CO2 conductance, and transpiration rate, and maintaining a stable net photosynthetic rate. However, excessive Si (3000 mg·kg−1) led to decreased catalase activity, chlorophyll content, and leaf area under intense light. These findings suggest that L. formosana seedlings perform best under moderate shade (11,000–46,000 lx) and moderate Si application (1000–2000 mg·kg−1), which together mitigate photoinhibition damage. Optimal physiological responses thus require balanced Si concentrations. Further investigation is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the interactive effects of shading and Si application for improved seedling resilience. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Light on Plant Growth and Development)
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