Light and Temperature Signaling in Plants

Plant growth and development are profoundly influenced by environmental light cues. The spectrum, intensity, and periodicity of the ambient light environment — which reflect the local habitat’s physical condition and seasonal and diurnal time — are continuously monitored by plants via photoreceptors to generate adaptive responses. Our lab is interested in elucidating the signaling mechanisms by which light alters plant morphology and photosynthesis via dynamic reprogramming of the nuclear and plastid genomes. We also study how light signaling is modulated by temperature. The outcomes of our research are expected to help understand the basic principle of plant-environment interactions and predict how plants react to a changing climate.