Far-red light mediates light energy capture and distribution in soybeans (Glycine max L.) under the shade

Shade avoidance syndrome (SAS) is an important measure of how plants respond to shade. Shade conditions are characterized by low light density and low red-to-far-red light (R/FR) ratio. However, low light intensity and low R/FR ratio play considerable and diverse roles in SAS. In the present study, soybean plants were grown in the presence and absence of additional FR at two light levels to investigate the different effects on soybean plants. Compared with normal light intensity, net photosynthetic rate significantly decreased in low light, but increased in low R/FR ratio. Chlorophyll a fluorescence transient curves showed that the absorption of light flux increased under low light intensity and low R/FR ratio, whereas the number of photo reaction centers decreased under low light intensity. In addition, the content of porphyrins and chlorophyll metabolites (magnesium protoporphyrin IX, protochlorophyllide, and chlorophyll a and b) was significantly enhanced by low light intensity and the relative gene expression levels of protoporphyrin IX magnesium chelatase, chlorophyll a oxygenase and protochlorophyllide oxidoreductases involved in the porphyrin pathway were significantly increased. The inhibitory effects of low light on the photosynthetic rate and biomass of soybean plants were alleviated by a low R/FR ratio. A low R/FR ratio optimized light capture and achieved efficient light energy utilization under low light intensity by fine-tuning the chlorophyll level and the relative gene expression level of critical chlorophyll biosynthesis-related enzymes. •Far-red light can improve the net photosynthetic rate of soybean under low light intensity.•Low R/FR ratio optimizes light energy capture and distribution under low light intensity.•Low R/FR ratio can be fine-tuned for accumulation of chlorophyll under low light intensity by decreasing the relative expression of CHL and POR.