The basis’s of the department's research activities directions were made and developed by three prominent scientists.

Vladimir Pavlovich Malchevsky - the first head of the laboratory of plants lightphysiology and lightculture (1932-1942). During this short period, a reliable basis’s was laid for all subsequent activities of the laboratory (department). A huge amount of research was carried out to develop the biological, physical and technical basis’s for growing crops without sunlight, and for the first time the possibility of obtaining full-fledged fruit-bearing plants under these conditions was established.

Boris Sergeevich Moshkov - сorresponding member of All-Union Academy of Agricultural Sciences named after Lenin, abbreviated VASKhNIL, author of classical works on photoperiodism of plants, head of the laboratory of light physiology (1945-1988). During this period, all the previously established directions of the laboratory's work were preserved and expanded, including scientific fundamental, scientific applied and scientific - methodological research. The main goal of the laboratory's work was to study the photoperiodic reaction and its role in the formation of the most important indicators of plants early maturity and productivity. On an in-depth genetic basis, work has been expanded to improve breeding efficiency by taking advantage of controlled conditions. An applied aspect of the laboratory's work was the development of a protected ground culture using electric lighting.

Evgeny Ivanovich Ermakov - academician of the Russian Agricultural Academy, head of the Laboratory and later of the Department of Plants lighthysiology and Agroecosystems bioproductivity (1982-2006). The central pivot of the laboratory's (department's) research activities during this period was made up of work on the development of principles for physical modeling of agroecosystems and of a methodology for creating perfect regulated agroecosystems that ensure year-round manufacture of high-quality plant production with a balanced elemental composition. The creation of a regulated agroecosystem is carried out on the basis of the design and using the original plant growing light equipment, including a unique rhizotron technique, and the development of resource-saving technologies for year-round intensive plant cultivation under simulated conditions. On the basis of the created regulated agroecosystems, comprehensive research for the patterns of initially abiogenic substrates evolutionary transformation into soil-like bioinert formations under the influence of root systems and associated biota during long-term plant cultivation have been carried out, and highly effective methods have been developed to restore the properties of soil substitutes that determine their fertility in the complex. The bases and methods for bioremediation of soils contaminated with the liquid rocket fuels components, oil and oil products, have been developed. The genetic line of research was further developed, focusing on solving the problem of programming transgressions for the purposes of plant breeding and introduction. The creation of the corresponding department on the basis of the  plants lightphysiology laboratory  with the involvement of employees from other laboratories in its staff contributed to the expansion of the ongoing works scope, devoted, inter alia, to the study of the plants water status, of their response to the action of the ultraviolet radiations increased levels and other stress factors.

Currently, Gayane Gennadievna Panova, candidate of biological sciences, is responsible for the development of research directions in the department.