Effects of light quality on the chloroplastic ultrastructure and photosynthetic characteristics of cucumber seedlings

To understand how light quality influences plant photosynthesis, we investigated chloroplastic ultrastructure, chlorophyll fluorescence and photosynthetic parameters, Rubisco and chlorophyll content and photosynthesis-related genes expression in cucumber seedlings exposed to different light qualities: white, red, blue, yellow and green lights with the same photosynthetic photon flux density of 100 μmol m^?2 s^?1. The results revealed that plant growth, CO₂ assimilation rate and chlorophyll content were significantly reduced in the seedlings grown under red, blue, yellow and green lights as compared with those grown under white light, but each monochromatic light played its special role in regulating plant morphogenesis and photosynthesis. Seedling leaves were thickened and slightly curled; Rubisco biosynthesis, expression of the rca, rbcS and rbcL, the maximal photochemical efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm) and quantum yield of PSII electron transport (Ф_PSII) were all increased in seedlings grown under blue light as compared with those grown under white light. Furthermore, the photosynthetic rate of seedlings grown under blue light was significantly increased, and leaf number and chlorophyll content of seedlings grown under red light were increased as compared with those exposed to other monochromatic lights. On the contrary, the seedlings grown under yellow and green lights were dwarf with the new leaves etiolated. Moreover, photosynthesis, Rubisco biosynthesis and relative gene expression were greatly decreased in seedlings grown under yellow and green light, but chloroplast structural features were less influenced. Interestingly, the Fv/Fm, Ф_PSII value and chlorophyll content of the seedlings grown under green light were much higher than those grown under yellow light.     

Growth and photosynthesis of Chinese cabbage plants grown under light-emitting diode-based light source

We compared growth and the content of sugar, protein, and photosynthetic pigments, as well as chlorophyll fluorescence parameters in 15- and 27-day-old Chinese cabbage (Brassica chinensis L.) plants grown under a high-pressure sodium (HPS) lamps or a light source built on the basis of red (650 nm) and blue (470 nm) light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with a red to blue photon ratio of 7: 1. One group of plants was grown at a photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) level of 391 ± 24 μ mol/(m² s) (normal level); the other, at a PPF level of 107 ± 9 μ mol/(m² s) (low light). Plants of the third group were firstly grown at the low light and then (on the 12th day) transferred to the normal level. When grown at the normal PPF level, the plants grown under LEDs didn’t differ from plants grown under HPS lamps in shoot fresh weight, but they showed a lower root fresh and dry weights and the lower content of total sugar and sugar reserves in the leaves. No differences in the pigment content and photosystem II quantum yield were found; however, a higher Chl a/b ratio in plants grown under LEDs indicates a different proportion of functional complexes in thylakoid membranes. The response to low light conditions was mostly the same in plants grown under HPS lamps and LEDs; however, LED plants showed a lower growth rate and a higher nonphotochemical fluorescence quenching. In the case of the altered PPF level during growth, the plant photosynthetic apparatus adapted to new conditions of illumination within three days. Plants grown under HPS lamps at a constant normal PPF level and those transferred to the normal PPF level on the 12th day, on the 27th day didn’t differ in shoot fresh weight, but in plants grown under LEDs, the differences were considerable. Our results show that LED-based light sources can be used for plant growing. At the same time, some specific properties of plant photosynthesis and growth under these conditions of illumination were found.     

光质与补光对水稻幼苗生长及光合速率的影响

测定水稻成龄离体叶片在波长380～800nm下的透射率,推算其吸收光谱;在培养室内,观测水稻幼苗在蓝(475±5nm)、黄(585±5nm)、红(660±5nm)色的半导体(LED)和普通日光灯下的生长状况,每天照光12h;同时,在大棚中将刚萌发的水稻幼苗白天自然日照,每晚(18:00～24:00)人工补蓝、红、黄、白光各0、2、4、6h,定期观测其生长情况,在补光50d后测成龄叶片的光合曲线。结果发现:水稻叶片在波长400～500nm之间及680nm附近有较强吸收;在不同光质下进行培养,单波蓝光对水稻幼苗的生长最好;补光对水稻幼苗生长均有促进作用,其中补白光4h效果最明显,其次是补黄光2h;补蓝光2、4h和补白光4h提高植株的光合能力。     

Interaction between the spectral photon flux density distributions of light during growth and for measurements in net photosynthetic rates of cucumber leaves

The net photosynthetic rate of a leaf becomes acclimated to the plant's environment during growth. These rates are often measured, evaluated and compared among leaves of plants grown under different light conditions. In this study, we compared net photosynthetic rates of cucumber leaves grown under white light‐emitting diode (LED) light without and with supplemental far‐red (FR) LED light (W‐ and WFR‐leaves, respectively) under three different measuring light (ML) conditions: their respective growth light (GL), artificial sunlight (AS) and blue and red (BR) light. The difference in the measured photosynthetic rates between W‐ and WFR‐leaves was greater under BR than under GL and AS. In other words, an interaction between supplemental FR light during growth and the spectral photon flux density distribution (SPD) of ML affected the measured net photosynthetic rates. We showed that the comparison and evaluation of leaf photosynthetic rates and characteristics can be biased depending on the SPD of ML, especially for plants grown under different photon flux densities in the FR waveband. We also investigated the mechanism of the interaction. We confirmed that the distribution of excitation energy between the two photosystems (PSs) changed in response to the SPD of GL, and that this change resulted in the interaction, as suggested in previous reports. However, changes in PS stoichiometry could not completely explain the adjustment in excitation energy distribution observed in this study, suggesting that other mechanisms may be involved in the interaction.     

不同光质对桑树幼苗生长和光合特性的影响

光质可影响植物光合特性、形态以及生理过程。本试验研究了不同光质(白光W、红光R、红蓝混合光RB、蓝光B)对桑树植株生长、形态和光合作用的影响。结果表明:与白光对照相比,红光、蓝光和红蓝混合光处理下植株的生长、干物质积累受到抑制;红光处理下植株的株高、叶面积显著高于白光、红蓝混合光、蓝光处理;而白光、红蓝混合光、蓝光处理下植株的LMA、叶绿素a/b比值、可溶性蛋白含量、蔗糖、淀粉含量和叶片总N含量显著高于红光处理;红蓝混合光处理下植株的Pn、Gs、ΦPSⅡ与白光处理相近,红光、蓝光处理下植株的Pn、ΦPSⅡ低于白光、红蓝混合光处理,同时红光、红蓝混合光、蓝光处理下植株的抗氧化酶活性高于白光处理,而MDA含量低于白光处理;红光处理下植株的叶片厚度、栅栏组织和海绵组织厚度显著小于白光处理。因此,一定比例的红蓝混合光可以使桑树植株的生长、光合特性、生理特征和叶片解剖结构与白光下生长植株相近,并减少单质红光、单质蓝光对植株生长发育的不利影响。     

The effect of light quality and gibberellic acid (GA3) on photosynthesis and respiration rates of pea seedlings

CO₂ exchange were measured on pea seedlings (Pisum sativum L. var. Bördi) cultivated from seeds imbibed either in water (C-plants) or in gibberellic acid (GA₃) at the concentration of 25 g/1 (GA-plants), and then grown under 17 W/m² blue light (B-plants) or 11 W/m² red light (R-plants).When measured under the same light conditions as during growth the net photosynthesis (APS) rate in B-plants was about twice higher than that in R-plants. Dark respiration (DR) rate was 70% higher in B- than in R-plants. Red light retarded the development of photosynthetic activity, but GA₃ suppressed this effect. The hormone enhanced net photosynthesis and dark respiration to the same extent.When measured under saturating white light net photosynthesis rate of C-plants was also two times higher in B-plants than in R-plants. Growth conditions had only a slight effect on the APS of GA-plants under white light. APS rates of GA-plants grown under red light were higher under white light than those of C-plants, but lower than those of plants grown under blue light.We assume that blue light induced formation of plants that were adapted to higher light intensity: red light had an opposite effect, whereas gibberellic acid induced formation of plants that were adapted to medium light intensity.     

Effect of light quality on the composition and function of thylakoid membranes in atriplex triangularis

Light quality was shown to exert well-coordinated regulatory effects on the composition and function of the thylakoid membranes as well as on the photosynthetic rates of intact leaves from Atriplex triangularis grown in continuous blue, white and red lights (50 μE · m^?2 · s^?1). The higher photosynthetic rates in plants grown in blue light, as compared to those in white and red lights, resulted from marked changes in both light-harvesting complexes and electron carriers. The concentrations of electron carriers such as atrazine binding sites, plastoquinone, cytochromes b and f and P-700 on a chlorophyll basis were markedly increased in Atriplex grown in blue light; and the apparent light-harvesting antenna unit sizes of Photosystems I and II were greatly reduced. Consequently, the electron transport capacities of Photosystems I and II were also increased as was the coupling factor CF₁ activity. Atriplex grown in red light had lower photosynthetic rates than those grown in blue or white light by incorporating changes in the composition and function of the thylakoids in a direction opposite to those caused by growth in blue light. When these regulatory effects of light quality were compared with those of light quantity [6,7], it is clear that $\text{Chl}\text{a}\text{Chl}\text{b}$ ratios, electron transport capacities of Photosystems I and II, concentrations of plastoquinone, atrazine binding sites, coupling factor CF₁ activity and the apparent antenna unit size of Photosystem II are more affected by light quantity, whereas light quality has a greater influence on the concentration of P-700, the apparent antenna unit size of Photosystem I and the overall photosynthetic rates of intact leaves.     

Effect of different light qualities on the ultrastructure, thylakoid membrane composition and assimilation metabolism of Chlorella fusca

Chlorella fusca (Shihira et Krauss) strain C-1.1.10 was grown under three different light qualities (red, white or blue light) in homocontinuous cultures. Under electron microscopy, blue light cultures showed enlarged cells, thinner cell walls and lower starch content than red light cells. Under blue light, the degree of stacking of the thylakoid membranes was significantly lower than under white or red light conditions. Changing the light from blue to red the ratio of exposed to appressed membranes was doubled. Compared to red light cells, blue light cells exhibited higher photosynthetic rates per chlorophyll molecule and contained less chlorophyll per dry weight. Blue light stimulated the content of soluble protein as well as that of soluble carbohydrates. The dry weight productivity per unit time was enhanced under blue light conditions. The thylakoid protein complexes which are generally assumed to be localized in the exposed membranes were found in higher concentrations under blue light than under red light. In blue light, both the Photosystem II/Photosystem I ratio and the ratio of light-harvesting chlorophyll protein to P-700 chlorophyll a -protein were lower than in red light. Blue light cells contained twice the concentration of cytochrome f , which correlates well with their higher photosynthetic capacity. When altering the light quality, the degree of change in the reaction center complexes was much lower than expected given the corresponding degree of change in the ratio of exposed to appressed membranes. These results are discussed in light of the question as to whether the variation in the stoichiometry of the laterally distributed complexes can be explained by changes in the degree of stacking alone.     

Co-ordination of hydraulic and stomatal conductances across light qualities in cucumber leaves

Long-term effects of light quality on leaf hydraulic conductance (K(leaf)) and stomatal conductance (g(s)) were studied in cucumber, and their joint impact on leaf photosynthesis in response to osmotic-induced water stress was assessed. Plants were grown under low intensity monochromatic red (R, 640 nm), blue (B, 420 nm) or combined red and blue (R:B, 70:30) light. K(leaf) and g(s) were much lower in leaves that developed without blue light. Differences in g(s) were caused by differences in stomatal aperture and stomatal density, of which the latter was largely due to differences in epidermal cell size and hardly due to stomatal development. Net photosynthesis (A(N)) was lowest in R-, intermediate in B-, and highest in RB- grown leaves. The low A(N) in R-grown leaves correlated with a low leaf internal CO(2) concentration and reduced PSII operating efficiency. In response to osmotic stress, all leaves showed similar degrees of stomatal closure, but the reduction in A(N) was larger in R- than in B- and RB-grown leaves. This was probably due to damage of the photosynthetic apparatus, which only occurred in R-grown leaves. The present study shows the co-ordination of K(leaf) and g(s) across different light qualities, while the presence of blue in the light spectrum seems to drive both K(leaf) and g(s) towards high, sun-type leaf values, as was previously reported for maximal photosynthetic capacity and leaf morphology. The present results suggest the involvement of blue light receptors in the usually harmonized development of leaf characteristics related to water relations and photosynthesis under different light environments.     

苗期遮光光质对生姜光合及生长的影响

以不同颜色塑料薄膜为遮光材料,研究了苗期遮光光质对生姜生长及光合作用的影响.结果表明:幼苗覆膜期,生姜叶片叶绿素含量以蓝膜及绿膜处理较高,白膜次之,红膜较低;叶片P_n则以绿膜处理较高,为14.9 μmol·m^-2·s^-1（第4叶）,分别较白膜、红膜及蓝膜提高5.7%、10.4%和18.3%.旺盛生长期撤膜后,P_n较幼苗期升高,但处理间的变化趋势与幼苗期相似;新生叶片叶绿素含量除红膜处理较低外,其它处理无显著差异,但下位叶片叶绿素含量则以蓝膜和红膜处理显著低于绿膜和白膜处理.蓝膜处理生姜植株茎秆增高、变细,分枝数较少;绿膜处理植株根、茎、叶及根茎鲜质量较高,白膜、红膜及蓝膜处理依次降低,收获时,其产量分别达57 000、53 709、51 487和48 712 kg·hm^-2.说明生姜苗期采用绿膜遮光,可增强叶片光合作用,促进植株生长,提高生姜产量.     

Analyzing photosynthetic activity and growth of Solanum lycopersicum seedlings exposed to different light qualities

To investigate how light quality influences tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L) seedlings, we examined changes in plant growth, chloroplast ultrastructure, photosynthetic parameters and some photosynthesis-related genes expression levels. For this, tomato plants were grown under different light qualities with the same photosynthetic photon flux density: red (R), blue (B), yellow (Y), green (G) and white (W) lights. Our results revealed that, compared with plants grown under W light, the growth of plants grown under monochromatic lights was inhibited with the growth reduction being more significant in the plants grown under Y and G lights. However, the monochromatic lights had their own effects on the growth and photosynthetic function of tomato seedlings. The plant height was reduced under blue light, but expression of rbcS, rbcL, psbA, psbB genes was up-regulated, and the ΦPSII and electron transport rate (ETR) values were enhanced. More starch grains were accumulated in chloroplasts. The root elongation, net photosynthetic rate (Pn), NPQ and rbcS and psbA genes expression were promoted under red light. Yellow light- and green light-illuminated plants grew badly with their lower Rubisco content and Pn value observed, and less starch grains accumulated in chloroplast. However, less influence was noted of light quality on chloroplast structure. Compared with yellow light, the values of ΦPSII, ETR, qP and NPQ of plants exposed to green light were significantly increased, suggesting that green light was beneficial to both the development of photosynthetic apparatus to some extent.     

High light intensity protects photosynthetic apparatus of pea plants against exposure to lead.

The electron transport rates and coupling factor activity in the chloroplasts; adenylate contents, rates of photosynthesis and respiration in the leaves as well as activity of isolated mitochondria were investigated in Pisum sativum L. leaves of plants grown under low or high light intensity and exposed after detachment to 5 mM Pb(NO(3))(2). The presence of Pb(2+) reduced rate of photosynthesis in the leaves from plants grown under the high light (HL) and low light (LL) conditions, whereas the respiration was enhanced in the leaves from HL plants. Mitochondria from Pb(2+) treated HL-leaves oxidized glycine at a higher rate than those isolated from LL leaves. ATP content in the Pb-treated leaves increased to a greater extend in the HL than LL grown plants. Similarly ATP synthase activity increased markedly when chloroplasts isolated from control and Pb-treated leaves of HL and LL grown plants were subjected to high intensity light. The presence of Pb ions was found inhibit ATP synthase activity only in chloroplasts from LL grown plants or those illuminated with low intensity light. Low light intensity during growth also lowered PSI electron transport rates and the Pb(2+) induced changes in photochemical activity of this photosystem were visible only in the chloroplasts isolated from LL grown plants. The activity of PSII was influenced by Pb ions on similar manner in both light conditions. This study demonstrates that leaves from plants grown under HL conditions were more resistant to lead toxicity than those obtained from the LL grown plants. The data indicate that light conditions during growth might play a role in regulation of photosynthetic and respiratory energy conservation in heavy metal stressed plants by increasing the flexibility of the stoichiometry of ATP to ADP production.     

不同光质LED光源对草莓光合特性、产量及品质的影响

以‘妙香7号’草莓品种为材料,利用LED精量调制光源,设红光、蓝光、黄光、白光、红/蓝/黄(7/2/1)、红/蓝(7/2) 5个处理,以白光为对照,测定了草莓叶片的光合与荧光参数、色素含量、果实产量、品质和根系活力指标,研究 500 μmol·m^-2·s^-1光强下不同光质处理对草莓光合特性、果实产量及品质的影响.结果表明： 红光处理有利于提高草莓叶片的净光合速率与蒸腾速率,而蓝光有减弱作用;气孔导度与胞间CO₂浓度均以蓝光处理效果最为显著.叶绿素荧光参数(F_o、F_m、Φ_PSⅡ)均在红光处理下最大,而F_v/F_m、F_v/F_o、F_m/F_o均在红/蓝/黄处理下最大;红/蓝/黄处理下草莓色素含量、果实产量和根系活力均显著高于其他处理.红光处理的可溶性固形物和维生素C含量均最高,且与红/蓝/黄处理差异不显著;蓝光处理有利于提高可滴定酸和蛋白质含量,而红/蓝/黄处理的固酸比最大.红/蓝/黄处理最有利于增加光合色素含量,提高果实产量,促进部分品质改善.     

Photosynthetic characteristics of leaves of male-sterile and hermaphrodite sex types of Plantago lanceolata grown under conditions of contrasting nitrogen and light availabilities

Plantago lanceolata is a gynodioecious species: In natural populations male steriles (MS) coexist with hermaphrodites (H). Since male steriles have a reproductive disadvantage, without any compensation for their loss in male function by an increase in female function, they are expected to disappear from the population. In this study we investigated the possibility that differences in ecologically important photosynthetic characteristics, between MS and H lines of P. lanceolata. play a role in maintaining gynodioecy. One MS line and two H lines were grown under conditions of high N and light availability, as well as under either N limitation or light limitation, to investigate whether the sex types respond differently to environmental constraints. Photosynthetic light-response and CO₂-response curves were made, together with leaf organic N and chlorophyll determinations. There were only few small differences between the lines and since the MS line did not differ in any of the determined photosynthetic characteristics from either H line, it is unlikely that these differences are involved in maintaining male sterility in populations of P. lanceolata. The low-light-grown plants showed a high degree of acclimation as shown by a two-fold higher leaf area to leaf weight ratio (SLA), a two-fold higher investment of N in light harvesting, and higher net photosynthetic rates under low-light conditions, as compared to the high-light-grown plants. The low-N-grown plants used their organic N more efficiently in photosynthesis compared to plants grown at an optimal N supply. This was mainly due to the N-limited plants having leaves with a lower organic N content and thus lower photosynthetic capacities. To a lesser extent it was due to the higher value for the curvature factor of the light-response curves of the N-limited plants, to their decreased rates of photorespiration and possibly to their relatively higher allocation of organic N to photosynthetic functions.     

Acclimations to light quality on plant and leaf level affect the vulnerability of pepper (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Capsicum annuum</Emphasis> L.) to water deficit

We investigated the influence of light quality on the vulnerability of pepper plants to water deficit. For this purpose plants were cultivated either under compact fluorescence lamps (CFL) or light-emitting diodes (LED) providing similar photon fluence rates (95 µmol m^?2 s^?1) but distinct light quality. CFL emit a wide-band spectrum with dominant peaks in the green and red spectral region, whereas LEDs offer narrow band spectra with dominant peaks at blue (445 nm) and red (665 nm) regions. After one-week acclimation to light conditions plants were exposed to water deficit by withholding irrigation; this period was followed by a one-week regeneration period and a second water deficit cycle. In general, plants grown under CFL suffered more from water deficit than plants grown under LED modules, as indicated by the impairment of the photosynthetic efficiency of PSII, resulting in less biomass accumulation compared to respective control plants. As affected by water shortage, plants grown under CFL had a stronger decrease in the electron transport rate (ETR) and more pronounced increase in heat dissipation (NPQ). The higher amount of blue light suppressed plant growth and biomass formation, and consequently reduced the water demand of plants grown under LEDs. Moreover, pepper plants exposed to high blue light underwent adjustments at chloroplast level (e.g., higher Chl a/Chl b ratio), increasing the photosynthetic performance under the LED spectrum. Differently than expected, stomatal conductance was comparable for water-deficit and control plants in both light conditions during the stress and recovery phases, indicating only minor adjustments at the stomatal level. Our results highlight the potential of the target-use of light quality to induce structural and functional acclimations improving plant performance under stress situations.     

Effects of Different Light Qualities on Structure of Chloroplasts and Photosynthetic Physiological Properties in Panax ginseng

The ultrastructure of chloroplasts and the photosynthetic physiological properties of Panax ginseng C. A. Mey. grown under different light qualities with same light transmission rate (25 % of sun light) were investigated. The results showed that the thylakoid membranes of Panax ginseng chloroplasts are well deve lopted, and the number of grana and granal lame llae under green and violet film are more than that under red and blue film. The content of chlorophyll in the same area of leaves and the absorption spectra area of chlorophylls and leaves under violet and green film are higher than those under other films. All the photosynthetic rates are very low, and their sequence from high to low are violet, green, red and blue . Green film is advantageous to the accumulation of chlorophylls and the development of thylakoid membranes and red film is advantageous to the accumulation of chlorophyll b. Blue film reduced granal thylakoid staking and decreased the photosynthetic rate. A superior trend of the photosynthetic physiologic properties as well as the structure of chloropiasts of Panasc ginseng leaves under violet film,being composed with red and blue film is significant.     

Anatomical features of pepper plants (Capsicum annuum L.) grown under red light-emitting diodes supplemented with blue or far-red light

Pepper plants (Capsicum annuum L. cv., Hungarian Wax) were grown under metal halide (MH) lamps or light-emitting diode (LED) arrays with different spectra to determine the effects of light quality on plant anatomy of leaves and stems. One LED (660) array supplied 90% red light at 660 nm (25nm band-width at half-peak height) and 1% far-red light between 700-800nm. A second LED (660/735) array supplied 83% red light at 660nm and 17% far-red light at 735nm (25nm band-width at half-peak height). A third LED (660/blue) array supplied 98% red light at 660nm, 1% blue light between 350-550nm, and 1% far-red light between 700-800nm. Control plants were grown under broad spectrum metal halide lamps. Plants were gron at a mean photon flux (300-800nm) of 330 micromol m-2 s-1 under a 12 h day-night photoperiod. Significant anatomical changes in stem and leaf morphologies were observed in plants grown under the LED arrays compared to plants grown under the broad-spectrum MH lamp. Cross-sectional areas of pepper stems, thickness of secondary xylem, numbers of intraxylary phloem bundles in the periphery of stem pith tissues, leaf thickness, numbers of choloplasts per palisade mesophyll cell, and thickness of palisade and spongy mesophyll tissues were greatest in peppers grown under MH lamps, intermediate in plants grown under the 660/blue LED array, and lowest in peppers grown under the 660 or 660/735 LED arrays. Most anatomical features of pepper stems and leaves were similar among plants grown under 660 or 660/735 LED arrays. The effects of spectral quality on anatomical changes in stem and leaf tissues of peppers generally correlate to the amount of blue light present in the primary light source.     

Long-term effects of blue or red light on ATP and ADP contents in primary barley leaves

Levels of ATP and ADP were studied in primary leaves of barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Viner) seedlings grown under blue (BL) or red light (RL) of various irradiances. In mature leaf segments, BL stimulated a greater accumulation of adenylates than RL. Transfer of barley seedlings from RL to BL for 48 h caused about a twofold increase in the content of adenylates, probably due to de-novo synthesis of adenine nucleotides. Weak BL was found to stimulate an increase in the adenylate content and a higher irradiance enhanced the stimulatory effect. The adenylate content increased markedly from the base towards the tip of barley leaves grown under BL but not in those grown under RL. However, the adenylate content was higher in the basalmost segment of barley leaves grown under RL, indicating that the action of RL on adenylate content proceeded more rapidly than that of BL. The same conclusion could be drawn from the results of experiments with de-etiolated leaves. A linear relationship was established between the maximum rate of CO₂ fixation and the ATP or ADP content in mature segments of primary barley leaves. The possible involvement of two photoreceptors, phytochrome and cryptochrome, in the long-term light regulation of the total content of adenylates in primary barley leaves is discussed.Abbreviations BL blue light - Chl chlorophyll - RL red light     

Photomorphogenesis and photoassimilation in soybean and sorghum grown under broad spectrum or blue-deficient light sources

The role of blue light in plant growth and development was investigated in soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr. cv Williams) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench. cv Rio) grown under equal photosynthetic photon fluxes (approximately 500 micromoles per square meter per second) from broad spectrum daylight fluorescent or blue-deficient, narrow-band (589 nanometers) low pressure sodium (LPS) lamps. Between 14 and 18 days after sowing, it was possible to relate adaptations in photosynthesis and leaf growth to dry matter accumulation. Soybean development under LPS light was similar in several respects to that of shaded plants, consistent with an important role for blue light photoreceptors in regulation of growth response to irradiance. Thus, soybeans from LPS conditions partitioned relatively more growth to leaves and maintained higher average leaf area ratios (mean LAR) that compensated lower net assimilation rates (mean NAR). Relative growth rates were therefore comparable to plants from daylight fluorescent lamps. Reductions in mean NAR were matched by lower rates of net photosynthesis (A) on an area basis in the major photosynthetic source (first trifoliolate) leaf. Lower A in soybean resulted from reduced leaf dry matter per unit leaf area, but lower A under LPS conditions in sorghum correlated with leaf chlorosis and reduced total nitrogen (not observed in soybean). In spite of a lower A, mean NAR was larger in sorghum from LPS conditions, resulting in significantly greater relative growth rates (mean LAR was approximately equal for both light conditions). Leaf starch accumulation rate was higher for both species and starch content at the end of the dark period was elevated two- and three-fold for sorghum and soybean, respectively, under LPS conditions. Possible relations between starch accumulation, leaf export, and plant growth in response to spectral quality were considered.     

The effect of light quality on leaf production and development of in vitro-cultured plants of Alternanthera brasiliana Kuntze

We investigated the influence of light quality on the leaf development of Alternanthera brasiliana Kuntze (Amaranthaceae) grown in vitro. Growth parameters including specific leaf mass, thickness, and leaf density were lowest in plants grown under red light. Blue light induced the largest number of leaves/plant, and the largest thickness and area of the leafblade. Green and red lights induced the smallest leaf areas. The thickness of the abaxial-face epidermis and spongy parenchyma of the plants was significantly reduced in plants grown under red light. The thickness of the palisade parenchyma and upper epidermis were significantly increased in plants grown under blue light, compared to the other fluorescent-light treatments. The specific spectral band also influenced the differentiation of mesophyll cells. In the dark and under red light, the mesophyll was homogenous; and in the dark and under green light, the leaves were more compact. Under blue light, the cells displayed the characteristic palisade morphology. The results showed that the increase of a specific parenchyma type was related to a specific spectral band. All spectral-quality treatments reduced the numbers of stomata and trichomes. The results for green light were in some respects similar to those for red light, and in other respects similar to those for blue light, probably because phytochromes and cryptochromes are green-light receptors. This study indicated that Alternanthera plants have strong morphological plasticity induced by light. The results suggest that high-quality Alternanthera can be achieved by culturing the plants in vitro under a combination of blue and red light.