Methods and materials for modulating low light and/or shade tolerance, and red light specific responses in plants are disclosed. For example, nucleic acids encoding low light and/or SD+EODFR-tolerance polypeptides are disclosed as well as methods for using such nucleic acids to transform plant cells. Also disclosed are plants having increased low light and/or SD+EODFR tolerance. In addition, methods and materials involved in increasing UV-B tolerance in plants and methods and materials involved in modulating biomass levels in plants are provided.