H. Smith et Gc. Whitelam, THE SHADE AVOIDANCE SYNDROME - MULTIPLE RESPONSES MEDIATED BY MULTIPLE PHYTOCHROMES, Plant, cell and environment, 20(6), 1997, pp. 840-844
In recent years, the concept of shade avoidance has provided a functio
nal meaning to the role of the phytochrome photoreceptor family in mat
ure plants in their natural environment, and the question of which of
these phytochromes is responsible for shade avoidance reactions has in
evitably been raised. Unfortunately, a misconception has arisen that p
hytochrome B is solely responsible for detecting the environmental sig
nal that initiates the shade avoidance syndrome. This view is too simp
listic, and is based upon a selective interpretation of the available
evidence, In this short Commentary, we review the concept of the shade
avoidance syndrome, show how the misconception arose, and emphasize t
he plurality of perception and response that is crucial to successful
competition for light.