biostudies-literatureUnknown16Lei YFluctuating light (FL) conditions particularly the diurnal alternation between shaded and high-light periods are intrinsic to intercropping systems and impose substantial regulatory challenges on crop photosynthesis. However, the cultivar-specific mechanisms underlying adaptation to such dynamic light environments remain largely unexplored. Here, we examined how the duration of midday high-light exposure modulates the coordination between cyclic electron flow (CEF) and non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) in two soybean cultivars grown under simulated intercropping light regimes. Plants were exposed to morning shade followed by either short (T30) or prolonged (T150, T200) midday high-light treatments. All treatments triggered common photoprotective responses, including increased energy dissipFrontiers in plant science1648079https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12454400biostudies-literatureThe adaptability of soybean photosynthesis to midday high-light duration through CEF-NPQ coupling regulation.PMC12454400Yang WWang QTan XLei YDiwakar DGao JWang JYang FWu XfalseThe adaptability of soybean photosynthesis to midday high-light duration through CEF-NPQ coupling regulation.Fluctuating light (FL) conditions particularly the diurnal alternation between shaded and high-light periods are intrinsic to intercropping systems and impose substantial regulatory challenges on crop photosynthesis. However, the cultivar-specific mechanisms underlying adaptation to such dynamic light environments remain largely unexplored. Here, we examined how the duration of midday high-light exposure modulates the coordination between cyclic electron flow (CEF) and non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) in two soybean cultivars grown under simulated intercropping light regimes. Plants were exposed to morning shade followed by either short (T30) or prolonged (T150, T200) midday high-light treatments. All treatments triggered common photoprotective responses, including increased energy dissip2025-01-01T00:00:00Z20252026-06-03T19:46:02.601Z2026-05-01T03:10:09.026ZS-EPMC124544004099500410.3389/fpls.2025.1648079