Chinese Bulletin of Botany ›› 2018, Vol. 53 ›› Issue (1): 139-148.DOI: 10.11983/CBB17014

• SPECIAL TOPICS • Previous Articles    

Phytohormone-mediated Plant Shade Responses

Haiwei Shuai, Yongjie Meng, Feng Chen, Wenguan Zhou, Xiaofeng Luo, Wenyu Yang*(), Kai Shu*()   

  1. Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in Southwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Ecological Agriculture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
  • Received:2017-01-19 Accepted:2017-06-22 Online:2018-01-01 Published:2018-08-10
  • Contact: Wenyu Yang, Kai Shu

Abstract: Plant survival and reproduction are closely related to light signal transduction. Both light intensity and light quality regulate plant growth and development. In natural or artificial ecosystems, the light received by an individual plant can be modified by its neighbors, and the photosynthetically active radiation and ratio of red light to far red light (R:FR) will significantly decrease, called shade. Shade stress has many effects during distinct stages of plant growth and development, including seed germination inhibition, seedling hypocotyl elongation and early flowering. Subsequently, shade decreases crop yield and quality; thus, it is unfavorable for agricultural production. Phytohormones are key endogenous factors in regulating plant growth and development. Numerous studies demonstrated that auxin, gibberellin and brassinosteroids are involved in the shade stress response. Under shade conditions, light signaling will be perceived and integrated by the plant, and the integrated signal can affect the biosynthesis and signal transduction of phytohormones. Different phytohormones have distinct pathways in response to shade stress. The crosstalk among phytohormone signaling pathways under shade stress are still unclear. In this review, we summarize the mechanisms of response of the main phytohormones (auxin, gibberellin, brassinosteroid) to shade stress, then the effects of shade on phytohormone synthesis and signal transduction, and the molecular mechanism of phytohormone regulation of growth of plants under shade stress. Finally, we propose future research directions.

Key words: phytohormones, shade, hypocotyl, auxin, gibberellin, brassinosteroid