The effect of red (RL, 660 nm) and blue (BL, 450 nm) light on phy mutant tomato plants was studied. The rates of photosynthesis (Pn) and transpiration, the efficiency of the primary photochemical processes of photosynthesis, the contents of flavonoids and phenolic compounds, the low-molecular-weight antioxidant capacity (Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC)) of leaf extracts, and the expression of light-dependent genes were evaluated. Under RL, BL, and white fluorescent light (WFL), the Pn values decreased in the order: WT > phyb2 > phyaphyb2 > phyaphyb1phyb2, except for the Pn in phyb2 on BL. Phyb2 also had a larger number of stomata under BL and, as a result, it reached maximum transpiration. The noticeable accumulation of flavonoids and phenolic compounds was observed only in the phyb2 and phyaphyb2 mutants upon irradiation with BL, which agrees with the increased TEAC in the leaf extracts. We suggest that the increased antioxidant activity under PHYB2 deficiency and the maintenance of high photosynthesis under BL are based on an increase in the expression of the early signaling transcription factors genes BBX, HY5. The largest decrease in the content of flavonoids and TEAC was manifested with a deficiency in PHYB1, which is probably the key to maintaining the antioxidant status in BL plants.

The effect of the light of different spectral compositions, white fluorescent light (WFL), red light (RL, 660 nm), blue light (BL, 450 nm), green light (GL, 525 nm), and white LED light (WL, 450 + 580 nm), on the physiological parameters of Solanum lycopersicum 3005 hp-2 (defective for a DET1 gene) and 4012 hp-1w; 3538 hp-1; 0279 hp-1.2 (defective for a DDB1a gene) photomorphogenetic mutants was studied. The parameters of the primary photochemical processes of photosynthesis, photosynthetic and transpiration rates, the antioxidant capacity of low-molecular weight antioxidants, the content of the total phenolic compounds, including flavonoids, and the expression of the genes involved in light signaling and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites were determined. Under BL, the 3005 hp-2 mutant showed the highest nonenzymatic antioxidant activity, which occurred to a greater extent due to the increase in flavonoid content. At the same time, under BL, the number of secretory trichomes on the surface of the leaves of all mutants increased equally. This suggests the accumulation of flavonoids inside leaf cells rather than in trichomes on the leaf surface. The data obtained indicate the possibility of using the hp-2 mutant for biotechnology to increase its nutritional value by enhancing the content of flavonoids and other antioxidants by modulating the spectral composition of light.

The photoreceptors of red light (phytochromes) and blue light (cryptochromes) impact plant growth and metabolism. However, their action has been barely studied, especially in coniferous plants. Therefore, the influence of blue (maximum 450 nm), red (maximum 660 nm), white light (maxima 450 nm + 575 nm), far-red light (maximum 730 nm), white fluorescent light and dark on seed germination, growth, chlorophyll and carotenoid contents, as well as the transcript levels of genes involved in reception, photosynthesis, light and hormonal signaling of Scots pine plantlets, was investigated. The highest values of dry weight, root length and photosynthetic pigment contents were characteristic of 9-day-old plantlets grown under red light, whereas in the dark plantlet length, seed vigor, seed germination, dry weight and pigment contents were decreased. Under blue and white lights, the main studied morphological parameters were decreased or close to red light. The cotyledons were undeveloped under dark conditions, likely due to the reduced content of photosynthetic pigments, which agrees with the low transcript levels of genes encoding protochlorophyllide oxidoreductase (PORA) and phytoene synthase (PSY). The transcript levels of a number of genes involved in phytohormone biosynthesis and signaling, such as GA3ox, RRa, KAO and JazA, were enhanced under red light, unlike under dark conditions. We suggest that the observed phenomena of red light are the most important for the germination of the plantlets and may be based on earlier and enhanced expression of auxin, cytokinin, gibberellin and jasmonate signaling genes activated by corresponding photoreceptors. The obtained results may help to improve reforestation technology; however, this problem needs further study.

Abbreviations: APX -ascorbate peroxidase; BL -blue light; DI0/RC -quantum yield of energy dissipation; Fv/Fm -PSII maximal quantum yield; GL -green light; HIL -high-intensity light; PA -photosynthetic apparatus; PIABS -PSII performance index; POD -peroxidase; RL -red light; TBARS -thiobarbituric acid reactive substances; TEAC -trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity; UVAPs -ultraviolet-absorbing pigments. Acknowledgments: This work was funded by the Russian Science Foundation (no. 22-74-00048). Fig. 3 was supported under the state contract of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation (theme no. 122050400128-1).