General introduction 11 1 Figure 1.1. Model plants of M82 (left) vs Moneymaker (right). Figure 1.2. Examples of first true leaves of M82 vs Moneymaker. 1.2 SHADE AVOIDANCE RESPONSE The shade avoidance syndrome (SAS) is a plant’s acclimation reaction to changes in light that signal impending shade. SAS describes a suite of morphological and physiological changes that occur when plants perceive neighbours, typically through a reduction in the ratio of red: far-red (R:FR) light caused by reflection of far-red light from neighbouring leaves (Smith and Whitelam, 1997). Common shade avoidance responses include hyponasty (upward leaf movement), petiole elongation, stem elongation, and accelerated flowering time (Woodward and Bartel, 2005). Studying SAS unveils crucial insights into plant growth strategies with implications for agriculture and horticulture.
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