Effect of Short-wavelength Light on Plant Physiology

Light is one of the most important environmental factors, acting on plants not only as the sole source of energy, but also as the source of external information, affecting their growth and development. Plants are empowered with an array of photoreceptors controlling diverse responses to light parameters, such as spectrum, intensity, direction, duration etc. These photoreceptors include the red and far-red-absorbing phytochromes, the blue and UV-A light absorbing cryptochromes, phototropins, and other implied photoreceptors, absorbing in UV-A and green regions. Spectral changes of illumination evoke different morphogenetic and photosynthetic responses, which can vary among different plant species.