Medicinal Plant Research 2026, Vol.16, No.2, 92-109 http://hortherbpublisher.com/index.php/mpr 106 irradiance below that under 75% shading restricts carbon assimilation and plant growth. This suggests that an appropriate window may exist near approximately two-thirds shading. From broader research on medicinal plants, moderate reduction of light intensity or optimization of scattered light proportion generally improves biomass and key metabolite contents, whereas excessively strong or weak light impairs survival, photosynthesis, and secondary metabolism. This further indicates that precise calibration of shading conditions is necessary to achieve the dual goals of high yield and stable medicinal quality. Although existing studies have clarified the suitable shading range for T. hemsleyanum and demonstrated that light quality and cultivation mode strongly affect its growth and flavonoid accumulation, research on its intrinsic mechanisms and standardized application remains limited. Recent reviews have pointed out that current physiological studies of T. hemsleyanum mainly focus on light and fertilizer effects, with relatively few investigations into deeper regulatory processes or systematic quality control. They also emphasize that this species still lacks a scientific, universal, and measurable quality evaluation system. In contrast, integrated phenotypic, physiological, and transcriptomic analyses of other medicinal plants under light gradients have revealed how moderate light reallocates carbon sources, reshapes membrane structures, and directs metabolic flux toward photoprotection and bioactive compound production, providing a useful theoretical framework for mechanistic studies of T. hemsleyanum. Therefore, future research should integrate omics-based analyses of light signaling, carbon-nitrogen metabolism, and secondary metabolic networks with multifactorial cultivation experiments involving shading intensity, spectrum, cultivation mode, nutrient management, and water management. Multi-index evaluation or decision-making models should also be applied to construct standardized and scalable shading cultivation systems and quality evaluation systems suitable for resource conservation and industrial development of T. hemsleyanum. Conflict of Interest Disclosure The author affirms that this research was conducted without any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. References Ahmed O.A., Yusoff M.M., Misran A., Wahab P.E.M., and Muttaleb Q.A., 2024, Root-shoot ratio and its relationships with physiological characteristics, growth and biomass yield of Gynura procumbens under different shade levels and plant density, Bionatura, 9(1): 52. https://doi.org/10.21931/rb/2024.09.01.52 Alabd A., Ahmad M., Zhang X., Gao Y., Peng L., Zhang L., Ni J., Bai S., and Teng Y., 2022, Light-responsive transcription factor PpWRKY44 induces anthocyanin accumulation by regulating PpMYB10 expression in pear, Horticulture Research, 9: uhac199. https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhac199 Bai Y., Chen W., Liu S., Xu L., Li Z., and Liu B., 2021, Physiological responses of the Tetrastigma hemsleyanumplant under different color films, HortScience, 56(10): 672-677. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI15690-21 Barazetti V.M., Gross E., Sodré G., Dalmolin Â., Costa L.C., and Ribeiro M.A., 2021, Growth, leaf gas exchange and mycorrhizal colonization of three medicinal species submitted to different irradiance levels, Ciência Rural, 52(4): e20200633. https://doi.org/10.1590/0103-8478cr20200633 Chen Y.D., Shi L.X., Xu Q.T., Zhang C., Wang L., and Li W., 2025, Light signal transduction networks regulating phenylpropanoid, terpenoid and alkaloid biosynthesis in horticultural plants, Journal of Plant Physiology, 18: 154681. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jplph.2025.154681 Cun Z., Xu X.Z., Zhang J.Y., Shuang S.P., Wu H.M., An T., and Chen J.W., 2023, Responses of photosystem to long-term light stress in a typically shade-tolerant species Panax notoginseng, Frontiers in Plant Science, 13: 1095726. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2022.1095726 Dai Y.J., Shen Z.G., Liu Y., Wang L.L., Hannaway D., and Lu H.F., 2009, Effects of shade treatments on the photosynthetic capacity, chlorophyll fluorescence, and chlorophyll content of Tetrastigma hemsleyanumdiels et gilg, Environmental and Experimental Botany, 65(2-3): 177-182. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envexpbot.2008.12.008 Deng C.N., Zhang Z.Z., Da Silva F.S.B., Hashem A., Abd_Allah E.F., Zou Y., and Wu Q., 2024, Shading impairs mycorrhizal benefits on plant growth, leaf gas exchange, and active ingredients in Polygonum cuspidatum, Horticulturae, 10(10): 1078. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10101078 Deng Y.X., and Lu S.F., 2017, Biosynthesis and regulation of phenylpropanoids in plants, Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences, 36(4): 257-290. https://doi.org/10.1080/07352689.2017.1402852
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