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Green light: a signal to slow down or stop
Kevin M Folta1, Stefanie A Maruhnich
1Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA. kfolta@ifas.ufl.edu
Journal of Experimental Botany
|July 17, 2007
Summary
Green light, often overlooked, plays a crucial role in plant development by influencing various physiological processes. This review highlights green light
Area of Science:
- Plant Biology
- Photobiology
- Plant Physiology
Background:
- Light quality profoundly impacts plant growth and development.
- Red and blue light are primary drivers of photosynthesis and autotrophic growth.
- Other light qualities, like far-red and green light, provide environmental cues influencing plant responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the literature on the physiological and developmental effects of green light in plants.
- To explore the mechanisms, both known and unknown, by which plants sense and respond to green light.
- To synthesize 50 years of research on green light's role in plant biology.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of plant photobiological research over the past 50 years.
- Analysis of studies implicating green light in various plant physiological and developmental outcomes.
- Examination of data related to green light's effects on gene expression, plant architecture, and growth.
Main Results:
- Green light affects plant processes through cryptochrome-dependent and -independent pathways.
- The effects of green light often oppose those of red and blue light.
- Green light influences vegetative development, flowering, stomatal opening, stem growth, chloroplast gene expression, and plant stature.
Conclusions:
- Green light sensory systems are integral to plant development and growth regulation.
- These systems work in coordination with red and blue light sensors.
- Green light provides distinct environmental information that modulates plant responses beyond photosynthesis.
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