Open Access

REVIEW

Light Regulation across Strawberry Growth Stages: A Comprehensive Review

Geng Zhang¹, Xiangyu Ding², Zidan Wen², Chao Liu², Duyen T. P. Nguyen³, Jinxiu Song⁴, Zejin Zhang⁵, Zhiming Yan^1,6, Yuanhua Wang^1,*, Zhengnan Yan^2,*

1 Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, Jiangsu Vocational College of Agriculture and Forestry, Jurong, China
2 College of Horticulture, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
3 Center for Environment, Health and Field Sciences, Chiba University, Kashiwa, Japan
4 College of Agricultural Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
5 Horticulture Research Institute, Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Science, Chengdu, China
6 Jiangsu Engineering and Technology Center for Modern Horticulture, Zhenjiang, China

* Corresponding Authors: Yuanhua Wang. Email: ; Zhengnan Yan. Email:

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany 2026, 95(2), 1 https://doi.org/10.32604/phyton.2026.077381

Received 08 December 2025; Accepted 19 January 2026; Issue published 28 February 2026

Abstract

As a pivotal environmental factor, light, comprising intensity, photoperiod, and spectrum, governs the entire life cycle of strawberries by mediating alterations in the plant’s morphological, physiological, and biochemical traits. Although extensive research has been conducted on light-mediated growth regulation in horticultural crops, most reviews focus primarily on leafy and fruiting vegetables, with limited attention given to berry crops such as strawberries. Additionally, most existing reviews concentrate on one or several growth stages, failing to systematically characterize light’s effects throughout the entire growth cycle and postharvest stage. This review briefly summarizes the regulatory roles of light across key stages of strawberry growth, including seedling propagation, vegetative growth, reproductive growth, and postharvest stages. It seeks to address the knowledge gap by systematically organizing research findings across these developmental phases. The integrated analysis provides a theoretical foundation for designing stage-specific lighting strategies to improve strawberry yield and quality.

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Keywords

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