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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 30, 2026

Investigating Migraine-Like Behavior Using Light Aversion in Mice

Investigating Migraine-Like Behavior Using Light Aversion in Mice

Published on: August 11, 2021

Green light induces shade avoidance symptoms.

Tingting Zhang¹, Stefanie A Maruhnich, Kevin M Folta

¹Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA.

Plant Physiology

|August 20, 2011

Summary

Green light addition to red and blue light induces shade avoidance symptoms in Arabidopsis plants. Cryptochrome photoreceptors are involved in sensing green light and regulating shade-associated gene expression.

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Area of Science:

Plant biology
Photomorphogenesis
Molecular genetics

Background:

Light quality influences plant adaptation and development.
Red, far-red, blue, and UV light effects on plants are well-documented.
The role of green light in plant responses remains less understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the effect of green light on Arabidopsis rosette architecture.
To explore the molecular mechanisms behind green light-induced plant responses.
To identify photoreceptors involved in green light perception.

Main Methods:

Utilized a narrow-bandwidth light-emitting diode (LED) lighting system.
Assessed Arabidopsis rosette architecture under varying light conditions.
Measured shade-induced transcript accumulation in wild-type and mutant plants.

Main Results:

Supplemental green light induced petiole elongation and upward leaf reorientation in Arabidopsis.
These green light-induced phenotypes were observed in phytochrome and cryptochrome mutants.
Green light addition altered the accumulation of shade-induced transcripts, with cryptochrome mutants showing altered patterns.

Conclusions:

Green light can induce shade avoidance symptoms in plants.
Cryptochrome photoreceptors play a role in mediating the plant's response to green light.
An unknown light sensor likely collaborates with cryptochromes in acclimation to green light environments.