Title:Modulation of Phototropin Signalosome with Artificial Illumination Holds Great Potential in the Development of Climate-Smart Crops
Volume: 22
Issue: 3
Author(s): Sunita Sharma, Sibaji K. Sanyal, Kumari Sushmita, Manisha Chauhan, Amit Sharma, Gireesh Anirudhan , Sindhu K. Veetil and Suneel Kateriya*
Affiliation:
- Lab of Optobiology, School of Biotechnology, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067,India
Keywords:
Photoreceptors, phototropin, artificial illumination, photoreceptor biotechnology, smart-crops, phytochrome.
Abstract:
Changes in environmental conditions like temperature and light critically influence crop
production. To deal with these changes, plants possess various photoreceptors such as Phototropin
(PHOT), Phytochrome (PHY), Cryptochrome (CRY), and UVR8 that work synergistically as sensor
and stress sensing receptors to different external cues. PHOTs are capable of regulating several
functions like growth and development, chloroplast relocation, thermomorphogenesis, metabolite
accumulation, stomatal opening, and phototropism in plants. PHOT plays a pivotal role in overcoming
the damage caused by excess light and other environmental stresses (heat, cold, and salinity)
and biotic stress. The crosstalk between photoreceptors and phytohormones contributes to plant
growth, seed germination, photo-protection, flowering, phototropism, and stomatal opening.
Molecular genetic studies using gene targeting and synthetic biology approaches have revealed the
potential role of different photoreceptor genes in the manipulation of various beneficial agronomic
traits. Overexpression of PHOT2 in Fragaria ananassa leads to the increase in anthocyanin content
in its leaves and fruits. Artificial illumination with blue light alone and in combination with
red light influence the growth, yield, and secondary metabolite production in many plants, while in
algal species, it affects growth, chlorophyll content, lipid production and also increases its bioremediation
efficiency. Artificial illumination alters the morphological, developmental, and physiological
characteristics of agronomic crops and algal species. This review focuses on PHOT modulated
signalosome and artificial illumination-based photo-biotechnological approaches for the development
of climate-smart crops.
