Plant photoreceptors mediate multimodal environmental signaling

Abstract

Studies indicate that plant photoreceptors, beyond their canonical role as light sensors, also act as mediators of responses to thermal, electrical, magnetic, and gravitropic stimuli. In addition, they participate in signaling pathways related to abiotic and biotic stresses, as well as in responses to the presence of neighboring plants. However, the recognition of photoreceptors as multifunctional molecules remains limited within the scientific community, primarily due to the prevalence of isolated studies addressing specific functions. This review aims to concisely examine the diverse and scattered roles of plant photoreceptors within a unified framework. A comprehensive understanding of these roles may clarify potential cross-effects among photoreceptor-mediated signaling pathways.