Blue light regulation of quality formation in horticultural crops: metabolic reprogramming and product organ development

The quality of horticultural crops is directly associated with their economic value. Precise regulation by exposure to blue light has been widely applied to improve crop quality, including nutritional components and flavor characteristics, while also promoting the synthesis of beneficial metabolites. In addition, blue light influences plant growth and developmental processes, thereby enhancing the appearance and structural attributes of crops. Understanding the responses and underlying mechanisms in horticultural crops to blue light, as well as its precise application for improving crop quality, is of great importance. In this review, we systematically summarize the regulatory roles and mechanisms of blue light in the quality formation of horticultural crops from two perspectives: the accumulation of key metabolites and development of horticultural product organs. We aimed to provide a theoretical basis for the targeted regulation of horticultural crop quality using blue light.