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Photomorphogenesis of leaves: shade-avoidance and differentiation of sun and shade leaves

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Abstract

Leaf shape is an important factor in optimal plant growth, because leaves are the main photosynthetic organs. Plants exhibit plasticity in leaf shape and structure, allowing them to optimize photosynthetic efficiency. In Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh., several types of leaves develop differentially, according to light intensity and quality. When shaded, the expansion of leaf lamina is inhibited, while the petiole elongation is enhanced. This phenomenon is part of the so-called shade-avoidance syndrome. Under low light, A. thaliana develops shade leaves with only one layer of palisade tissue, whereas under high light, it develops sun leaves that have nearly two complete layers of palisade tissue. Although the molecular mechanisms of these photomorphogenic phenomena in leaves are not well understood, recent studies of A. thaliana have provided some insight. For example, some cytochrome P450s may be involved in the specific control of the petiole length during photomorphogenesis. On the other hand, switching between sun and shade leaves is regulated by long-distance signaling from mature leaves in Chenopodium album. Here we provide an overview of the mechanisms of photomorphogenesis in leaves based on recent findings.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Plant Biotechnology, Dong-A University, Pusan, 604-714, Korea

    Gyung-Tae Kim

  2. Environmental Biotechnology Research Center, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, 660-701, Korea

    Gyung-Tae Kim

  3. Okazaki Institute for Integrative Bioscience/National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8585, Japan

    Satoshi Yano & Hirokazu Tsukaya

  4. Graduate University for Advanced Studies, Hayama, Kanagawa, 240-0193, Japan

    Toshiaki Kozuka & Hirokazu Tsukaya

  5. Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan

    Hirokazu Tsukaya

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  1. Gyung-Tae Kim
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ICP Korea Presented at the 14th International Congress on Photobiology, at Jungmoon, Jeju Island, South Korea, 10th-15th June 2004.

Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Colour versions of Figs. 1 and 2. See http://www.rsc.org/suppdata/pp/b4/b418440h/

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Kim, GT., Yano, S., Kozuka, T. et al. Photomorphogenesis of leaves: shade-avoidance and differentiation of sun and shade leaves. Photochem Photobiol Sci 4, 770–774 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1039/b418440h

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