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Review
. 2023 Oct;29(10):1485-1503.
doi: 10.1007/s12298-023-01364-y. Epub 2023 Sep 28.

Light signaling as cellular integrator of multiple environmental cues in plants

Abhishek Kanojia  1 , Diksha Bhola  1 , Yashwanti Mudgil  1
Affiliations
Review

Light signaling as cellular integrator of multiple environmental cues in plants

Abhishek Kanojia et al. Physiol Mol Biol Plants. 2023 Oct.

Abstract

Plants being sessile need to rapidly adapt to the constantly changing environment through modifications in their internal clock, metabolism, and gene expression. They have evolved an intricate system to perceive and transfer the signals from the primary environmental factors namely light, temperature and water to regulate their growth development and survival. Over past few decades rigorous research using molecular genetics approaches, especially in model plant Arabidopsis, has resulted in substantial progress in discovering various photoreceptor systems and light signaling components. In parallel several molecular pathways operating in response to other environmental cues have also been elucidated. Interestingly, the studies have shown that expression profiles of genes involved in photomorphogenesis can undergo modulation in response to other cues from the environment. Recently, the photoreceptor, PHYB, has been shown to function as a thermosensor. Downstream components of light signaling pathway like COP1 and PIF have also emerged as integrating hubs for various kinds of signals. All these findings indicate that light signaling components may act as central integrator of various environmental cues to regulate plant growth and development processes. In this review, we present a perspective on cross talk of signaling mechanisms induced in response to myriad array of signals and their integration with the light signaling components. By putting light signals on the central stage, we propose the possibilities of enhancing plant resilience to the changing environment by fine-tuning the genetic manipulation of its signaling components in the future.

Keywords: Abiotic stress; Biotic stress; Environment; Light; Photoreceptors; Plant growth and development; Signaling.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interestAuthors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Light signaling components as integrators of various environmental cues. Plants, growth and development is regulated by the integration of various environmental stimuli here we highlight the major role of light signaling components as integrator of all these cues for normal growth and stress adaptation. The major photoreceptors (PHYs, PHOT, CRYs, UVR8 and F Box proteins) initiate light-based responses based on the quantity and quality of light. Upon photo/thermo activation of photoreceptors, steady state levels of important central regulators (COP1, PIFs, PILs, SPA etc.) are also altered affecting downstream processing of light and environmental signals. Expression profiles of various genes (e.g. involved in circadian rhythm, photomorphogenesis, themomorphogenesis etc.) are affected, which ultimately affects the plant growth and development. Moreover, various hormonal signaling components like DELLA, BZR1 and ARF6 also play an important role in regulating light dependent signals and signals from various other environmental factors, which integrate for plant growth and development. During cold stress, photoreceptors are reported to regulate the expression of cold responsive genes which help in cold tolerance. PIFs play major role in regulation of cold tolerance by affecting DREB, CBF and COR genes. Under drought stress PIF1, PIF3, PIF8, PIL and PHYs affect the growth and development by directly or indirectly regulating the genes which provide drought tolerance. Likewise, salt also affect the regulation of photoreceptors and aid in salt responsive pathways in plants by modulating the expression of various hormones biosynthesis genes like for ABA, and various other stress responsive genes. Heat regulate the thermomorphogenesis and thermoinhibition response in plants. PIFs also play important role in heat generated signaling in plants. Photoreceptors are also found to modulates heat shock factors which in turn link to redox detoxification pathway. Moreover, heat generated responses also linked to ABA dependent signaling pathway. Under biotic stresses, photoreceptors like PHYs, CRY are reported to mediate defense responses via hormonal regulation and PR genes
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