Shade tolerance: when growing tall is not an option

Trends Plant Sci. 2013 Feb;18(2):65-71. doi: 10.1016/j.tplants.2012.09.008. Epub 2012 Oct 17.

Abstract

Two different plant strategies exist to deal with shade: shade avoidance and shade tolerance. All shade-exposed plants optimize photosynthesis to adapt to the decrease in light quality and quantity. When shaded, most species in open habitats express the shade-avoidance syndrome, a growth response to escape shade. Shade-tolerant species from forest understories cannot outgrow surrounding trees and adopt a tolerance response. Unlike shade avoidance, virtually nothing is known about regulation of shade tolerance. In this opinion article, we discuss potential modes of molecular regulation to adopt a shade-tolerance rather than a shade-avoidance strategy. We argue that molecular approaches using model and non-model species should help identify the molecular pathways that underpin shade tolerance, thus providing knowledge for further crop improvement.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Physiological / radiation effects*
  • Environment
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / radiation effects
  • Gene Regulatory Networks / radiation effects
  • Light
  • Light Signal Transduction / radiation effects*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Plant Development / radiation effects
  • Plant Physiological Phenomena / radiation effects*
  • Plants / radiation effects*
  • Trees / growth & development*
  • Trees / radiation effects