Search

Agricultural production in controlled indoor farming offers a reliable alternative to food and nutrition supply for densely populated cities and contributes to addressing the impending food insecurity. Leafy vegetables, rich in vitamins, minerals, fibres and antioxidants, account for over half of the indoor farming operations worldwide. Light is the foremost environmental factor for plant growth and development, and the success of indoor farming largely depends on lighting qualities. The energy efficient light-emitting diode (LED) has been increasingly used in indoor farming systems. Here we provide an updated overview of the current indoor vertical farming systems, the mechanisms of light perception by photoreceptors, and the effects of LED spectra or intensity on growth and phytonutrient accumulation of leafy greens. We also outline the challenges in interpreting and applying the research findings in the field and highlight issues to be addressed. Lighting quality and quantity can be manipulated to improve yield and phytonutrient contents of leafy greens. As responses of leafy greens to light are dependent on genotype and developmental stage, light recipe targeting different developmental stages should be formulated for different species for maximizing yield. While it has been known that blue wavelength has a more prominent positive impact on phytonutrient accumulation than red, little is known for other wavelengths. Moreover, recent findings that green wavelength inhibits plant growth in a blue-wavelength-dependent manner highlight the need for future research to investigate interactive effects of different wavelengths on modulating plant growth and metabolism. • Leafy greens are important functional foods. • LED affects growth of leafy greens in a wavelength-dependent manner. • Investigation of interactive effects of LED wavelengths on leafy greens is necessary. • Optimization of light spectra could maximise the productivity of indoor vertical farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RNA modifications constitute an essential layer of gene regulation in living organisms. As the most prevalent internal modification on eukaryotic mRNAs, N 6-methyladenosine (m6A) exists in many plant species and requires the evolutionarily conserved methyltransferases, demethylases, and m6A binding proteins for writing, erasing, and reading m6A, respectively. In plants, m6A affects many aspects of mRNA metabolism, including alternative polyadenylation, secondary structure, translation, and decay, which underlies various plant developmental processes and stress responses. Here, we discuss the recent progress in understanding the roles of m6A modification in mRNA metabolism and their mechanistic link with plant development and stress responses. We also highlight some outstanding questions and provide an outlook on future prospects of m6A research in plants. • m6A affects various aspects of mRNA metabolism in plants. • Specific m6A targets serve as mechanistic links connecting m6A and plant development. • m6A mediates plant responses to environmental signals. • Manipulation of m6A epitranscriptome is of great potential in crop improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over 160 distinct RNA modifications are known and collectively termed the epitranscriptome. Some of these modifications have been discovered in mRNA, uncovering a new layer of gene regulation. Transcriptome-wide mapping of epitranscriptomic codes and the discovery of their writers, erasers, and readers that dynamically install, remove, and interpret RNA modifications, respectively, are fundamental to understanding the epitranscriptome. Recent technologies have enabled the transcriptome-wide profiling of several mRNA modifications in Arabidopsis thaliana, providing key insights into regulating these modifications and their effects on plant development. Here we review technological innovations and recent progress in epitranscriptomics, with specific focus on N 6-methyladenosine (m6A), 5-methylcytosine (m5C), uridylation, and their roles in multiple aspects of plant development. Highlights Application of multiple high-throughput sequencing technologies has enabled transcriptome-wide mapping of several mRNA modifications with distinct global topology in plants. Increasing evidence suggests a link between mRNA modification and its metabolism, adding a new layer of gene regulation. Regulation of mRNA modification is an essential and widespread molecular mechanism underlying key plant developmental processes, including embryo development, shoot stem cell fate, floral transition, trichome morphogenesis, leaf initiation, and root development. Investigation of RNA modifications in plants provides a unique platform to elucidate biological roles and genetic influences of epitranscriptome in multicellular eukaryotic organisms, which are difficult to achieve in animal cell systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]