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Photoreceptors Regulate Plant Developmental Plasticity through Auxin.

Jesse J Küpers¹, Lisa Oskam¹, Ronald Pierik¹

¹Plant Ecophysiology, Dept. Biology, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

|July 30, 2020

Summary

Plant photoreceptors and auxin signaling intricately regulate development. Light and temperature cues inactivate photoreceptors, promoting auxin synthesis and plant growth responses like shade avoidance.

Keywords:

auxin auxin signalling cryptochrome developmental plasticity phototropin phototropism phytochrome polar auxin transport shade avoidance

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Area of Science:

Plant biology
Photomorphogenesis
Plant hormone signaling

Background:

Plants perceive light quality (blue, red, far-red) and temperature to modulate growth.
Photoreceptors (phytochromes, cryptochromes, UVR8) and auxin are key regulators of plant development.
Light absorption within vegetation alters spectral composition, impacting plant responses.

Purpose of the Study:

To elucidate the complex interplay between plant photoreceptor signaling and auxin pathways.
To explain how light and temperature perception influences developmental plasticity via auxin.
To discuss the mechanisms and consequences of photoreceptor-auxin interactions.

Main Methods:

Review of existing literature on photoreceptor and auxin signaling pathways.
Analysis of molecular mechanisms linking photoreceptor inactivation to auxin synthesis and signaling.
Discussion of developmental outcomes resulting from these interconnected pathways.

Main Results:

Photoreceptor inactivation under shade/heat releases repression of Phytochrome Interacting Factors (PIFs).
Active PIFs stimulate auxin synthesis and reinforce auxin signaling, mediated by Auxin Response Factors (ARFs).
Auxin transport is crucial for shade-induced hypocotyl elongation and petiole hyponasty, and phototropic bending.

Conclusions:

Plant development is highly plastic, responding to environmental cues through integrated photoreceptor and auxin signaling networks.
Direct interactions between photoreceptors and auxin pathway components (AUX/IAAs, ARFs) fine-tune developmental responses.
Understanding these interconnected pathways is vital for comprehending plant adaptation to light and temperature variations.