Untangling the UV-B radiation-induced transcriptional network regulating plant morphogenesis and secondary metabolite production

[Display omitted] •Mechanism of UVR8 mediated UV-B signaling is highly conserved in plants.•UVR8 have regulatory role in plant developmental processes and secondary metabolite production.•UVR8 mediated signaling and their interactions with other regulators have paved a new path for UV B tolerance.•UVR8 together with COP1 acts as a significant regulator for enhanced secondary metabolite production.•Besides this, FHY3, STO/BBX24, WRKY36 have also emerged as new player in UV-B signaling. Earlier, Ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiations were considered to be detrimental to plant cells and their components. But recent researches have shown that it has multifaceted impacts on plants. The discovery of UV-B RESISTANCE 8 (UVR8) photoreceptors has changed the perceptions of its biological impact. They are significant regulators of plant morphogenesis, growth, and secondary metabolite production. UV-B radiations when provided in low intensity can be used to generate improved biotic and abiotic stress-tolerant plants with secondary metabolite enriched plant products. Deciphering the extensive role of plant transcription factors for the enzyme that encodes genes for the construction of the plant secondary metabolite network in response to UV-B has appeared to be useful in the plant signaling cascades and in understanding its regulatory role towards secondary metabolite biosynthesis. This review highlights the role UV-B regulated transcriptional factors involved in plant morphogenesis, signaling, and plant secondary metabolite production.