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Related Concept Videos

Photoreceptors and Plant Responses to Light

Photoreceptors and Plant Responses to Light

Light plays a significant role in regulating the growth and development of plants. In addition to providing energy for photosynthesis, light provides other important cues to regulate a range of developmental and physiological responses in plants.

Regulation of Transpiration by Stomata

Regulation of Transpiration by Stomata

During photosynthesis, plants acquire the necessary carbon dioxide and release the produced oxygen back into the atmosphere. Openings in the epidermis of plant leaves is the site of this exchange of gasses. A single opening is called a stoma—derived from the Greek word for “mouth.” Stomata open and close in response to a variety of environmental cues.

Biological Clocks and Seasonal Responses

Biological Clocks and Seasonal Responses

The circadian—or biological—clock is an intrinsic, timekeeping, molecular mechanism that allows plants to coordinate physiological activities over 24-hour cycles called circadian rhythms. Photoperiodism is a collective term for the biological responses of plants to variations in the relative lengths of dark and light periods. The period of light-exposure is called the photoperiod.

Cell Signaling in Plants

Cell Signaling in Plants

Plant cells communicate to coordinate their cycle of growth, flowering and fruiting, and activities in roots, shoots, and leaves in response to the changing environmental conditions. Plant signaling is distinct from animal signaling. Plants primarily utilize enzyme-linked receptors, whereas the largest class of cell-surface receptors in animals are G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). Unlike animals, receptor tyrosine kinases are rare in plants. Instead, plants have a diverse class of...

Light Acquisition

Light Acquisition

In order to produce glucose, plants need to capture sufficient light energy. Many modern plants have evolved leaves specialized for light acquisition. Leaves can be only millimeters in width or tens of meters wide, depending on the environment. Due to competition for sunlight, evolution has driven the evolution of increasingly larger leaves and taller plants, to avoid shading by their neighbors with contaminant elaboration of root architecture and mechanisms to transport water and nutrients.

Short-distance Transport of Resources

Short-distance Transport of Resources

Short-distance transport refers to transport that occurs over a distance of just 2-3 cells, crossing the plasma membrane in the process. Small uncharged molecules, such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water, can diffuse across the plasma membrane on their own. In contrast, ions and larger molecules require the assistance of transport proteins due to their charge or size. Transport across membranes also occurs within individual cells, playing a variety of essential roles for the plant as a whole.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Investigating Tissue- and Organ-specific Phytochrome Responses using FACS-assisted Cell-type Specific Expression Profiling in Arabidopsis thaliana

Investigating Tissue- and Organ-specific Phytochrome Responses using FACS-assisted Cell-type Specific Expression Profiling in Arabidopsis thaliana

Published on: May 29, 2010

phytochrome B and PIF4 regulate stomatal development in response to light quantity.

Stuart A Casson¹, Keara A Franklin, Julie E Gray

¹School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Woodland Road, Bristol, UK.

Current Biology : CB

|February 3, 2009

Summary

Plants adjust leaf stomatal development in response to light. Higher light levels increase stomatal index, mediated by phytochrome B and PIF4, revealing a mechanism for environmental adaptation.

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Last Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Investigating Tissue- and Organ-specific Phytochrome Responses using FACS-assisted Cell-type Specific Expression Profiling in Arabidopsis thaliana

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Identification of the Genes Involved in Stomatal Development via Epidermal Phenotype Scoring

Identification of the Genes Involved in Stomatal Development via Epidermal Phenotype Scoring

Published on: January 20, 2023

Area of Science:

Plant Biology
Environmental Science
Genetics

Background:

Stomata regulate plant gas exchange, adapting via pore aperture or developmental changes.
Environmental signals, particularly light, influence stomatal development, but mechanisms are poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate how light quantity influences stomatal development in Arabidopsis.
To identify the photoreceptors and signaling pathways involved in light-mediated stomatal development.

Main Methods:

Arabidopsis thaliana were grown under varying photon irradiances.
Quantitative analysis of stomatal index (S.I.) was performed.
Genetic analysis using mutants for photoreceptors and transcription factors was employed.

Main Results:

Higher photon irradiances significantly increased stomatal index in mature Arabidopsis leaves.
The light-quantity-mediated increase in S.I. was observed in red light, implicating phytochrome photoreceptors.
Phytochrome B was identified as the dominant photoreceptor, with PHYTOCHROME-INTERACTING FACTOR 4 (PIF4) playing a key role.

Conclusions:

Light quantity is a critical environmental signal modulating stomatal development.
Phytochrome B and PIF4 are key components of the signaling pathway linking light perception to stomatal development.
This study provides a framework for further research into environmental control of plant development.