Characterization of lbs (light BRB suppression) Mutants in Arabidopsis thaliana

Abstract

A plant's ability to assess light quantity and quality is fundamental to maintaining healthy growth. One way that plants sense changing light conditions is via the perception of red (R~670 nm) and far red (FR~730 nm) wavelengths by a group of light receptors called the phytochromes. Phytochromes are principle mediators of shade induced elongation responses, which can negatively impact agronomic performance by increasing lodging or decreasing yield. For this reason, there has been increasing interest in engineering these responses in crop plants. However, currently the pathways for R/FR light reception are not fully understood. In order to identify that target, or other components in red light signaling, we have conducted a genetic suppressor screen, identifying mutations which relieve red light inhibition of hypocotyl elongation in the lrb1/lrb2 double mutant.