Spotlight on the trophic response of crop plants under shade temporal fluctuation

The emergence of complex cropping systems involving dual land use raises new questions regarding plant growth under intermittent shade conditions. Recent meta-analyses have investigated the dose-response relationships of several plant traits to light availability, highlighting the strong interest in understanding plant responses to light temporal variation. However, these studies also reveal significant gaps in our knowledge, particularly concerning plant responses to low-light conditions and the determinants of crop yield under shade. In this context, physiological mechanisms related to photosynthesis, growth, reproduction and, more broadly, carbon allocation appear to play a central role. This article emphasizes the major implications of carbon allocation, storage and use under prolonged and fluctuating shaded conditions for crop production.