城市不同遮阴环境下光强和光质特征

城市的发展伴随着大量高层建筑的出现,城市建筑作为人工构筑物,形成了与自然环境不同的人工遮阴环境,这种人工环境可能会对其下生长的植物产生一定的影响。为了研究人工建筑遮阴与自然遮阴环境之间的差异,北京市典型高层建筑遮阴和冠层遮阴光环境进行了测量,发现建筑和冠层显著改变其遮阴微环境的光强和光质。两种遮阴下光合有效辐射分别为天空自然辐射的9.09%和5.50%,遮阴处的光合有效辐射均小于200μmol m~(-2)s~(-1),低于多数城市植物的光饱和点。与天空自然辐射相比,建筑遮阴处蓝光在光合有效辐射中所占比例(B/P)、蓝光与红光的比例(B/R)以及蓝光与远红光的比例(B/FR)升高,且高于冠层遮阴,红光与远红光的比例(R/FR)没有显著变化,而冠层遮阴下R/FR则低于天空自然辐射。建筑遮阴下光质的改变可能会对植物的光合产生积极作用,并可能影响到植物的形态及生理反应。窄波段和宽波段两种不同积分方法对R/FR没有显著影响,采用宽波段积分得到的B/R低于窄波段,但降低幅度很小,在植物光合生理研究方面两种积分方法可以通用。     

遮阴对浙江三叶青生理生化及总黄酮的影响

为探究抗癌药物浙江三叶青在不同遮阴处理下其有效成分总黄酮含量及生理生化响应,该研究设置5个光照梯度(全光照CK、遮阴30%、50%、70%、90%),以三叶青二年生扦插苗为材料,处理6个月后,测定三叶青在不同遮阴梯度条件下的生长指标、生化指标以及不同部位(叶片和块根)的总黄酮含量。结果表明:遮阴70%的处理中植株长势最佳,随着光照强度的减弱,三叶青生物量呈现先增高后降低趋势;比叶重呈降低趋势;叶片中的可溶性蛋白(SP)、游离脯氨酸(FP)和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)含量均在全光照下最高,遮阴70%时最低,分别比全光照降低了33.36%、17.22%、46.88%,表现出光胁迫特点;总黄酮含量为叶片块根,且均以遮阴70%下含量最高,从整体来看,总黄酮含量随着遮阴度的增大而呈现先增加后降低的趋势。这表明光照强度是影响浙江三叶青生长及有效成分积累的重要因素,且高光强在一定程度上抑制三叶青植株的生长,适当遮阴对三叶青植株的生长起促进作用,但块根和叶片中的总黄酮含量对光强的响应却不同,这为今后科学栽培种植及合理有效开发三叶青提供了科学依据。     

光照对苦瓜形态可塑性及生物量配置的影响

在人为遮阴条件下,对苦瓜的生长动态、形态特征以及生物量分配进行了研究。结果表明,不同遮阴处理下苦瓜植株的生长有较大的差异,弱光照不利于苦瓜构件数量的增加和生物量的积累;植株在弱光下形成较少的分枝,较薄的叶片以及较细长的主茎和叶柄,表现出较强光生长环境下更强的形态可塑性;植株在生长早期较生长晚期有较大的形态可塑性;生物量对叶片和主茎的分配随光照的减弱而增大,分枝的生物量分配随光照的减弱而降低,光照对分枝茎的生物量分配影响不大;在光资源充足的情况下,外界支持物的缺乏不会对苦瓜的生长造成太大的影响。     

异质性光对野牛草叶片解剖结构的影响

自然界中植物生长所需资源通常呈异质性分布, 具有发达匍匐茎的野牛草(Buchloe dactyloides)在蔓延过程中相连克隆分株常生活在异质性的光环境中。有研究证明, 在异质性光条件下, 植株幼叶的叶片解剖结构受成熟叶所处光照条件的影响, 而异质性光条件下克隆分株的叶片形态解剖结构是否也受相连分株所处光照条件的影响则未见报道。通过设置高光(全光照)和低光(遮阴)两个水平, 对由匍匐茎相连的野牛草克隆分株施以同质和异质性光处理, 研究了异质性光对野牛草叶片解剖结构的影响。结果发现: 在异质性光环境中, 遮阴的野牛草克隆分株的主脉直径、维管束鞘细胞个数、叶片厚度以及近轴侧和远轴侧叶肉细胞的厚度均显著降低; 同质性的低光处理对这些指标则没有显著影响。在异质性光处理下, 未遮阴姊株近轴侧和远轴侧叶肉细胞的厚度以及远轴侧的气孔大小显著增加, 而未遮阴的妹株近轴侧和远轴侧叶肉细胞的厚度、气孔密度和气孔大小、叶片厚度和维管束鞘细胞个数则会降低。同质高光处理下克隆分株近轴侧和远轴侧的气孔密度和气孔大小显著高于同质低光。野牛草克隆分株近轴侧和远轴侧叶肉细胞的厚度、气孔密度和气孔大小受相连分株所处光照条件的显著影响。该研究结果表明: 未遮阴的姊株因为与遮阴的妹株相连而显著受益, 而未遮阴的妹株则因为与遮阴的姊株相连而损耗严重; 在异质性光处理下, 遮阴分株叶片形态上缩减的可塑性生长是为减少维持其存活的消耗, 提高遮阴分株存活率的一种适应性表现。     

橡胶树大筒苗培育方法VII.遮阴率的筛选

为了解不同遮阴环境下橡胶树(Heveabrasiliensis)大筒苗的生长及光合特性,明确大筒苗生长的适宜光照环境,以小苗芽接苗和组培苗为胚苗的橡胶树大筒苗为材料,设置5个遮阴处理：CK (全光照),S60、S70、S80和S90 (分别为60%、70%、80%、90%遮阴率),观测其出圃时的生长指标和光合参数变化情况。结果表明,不同遮阴率对橡胶树大筒苗的生长、光合参数及出圃时顶蓬叶的叶面积和叶绿素相对含量均有极显著影响,且2种胚苗间差异显著。大筒苗的壮苗指数随遮阴率的增加呈现先增后降的趋势;与全光照相比,遮阴显著影响大筒苗的出圃率,但对定植成活率的影响较小;胚苗类型与遮阴处理的交互作用明显。全光照和过度遮阴(S90)均会明显抑制大筒苗的生长,不同胚苗的大筒苗最适遮阴率不同,小苗芽接苗大筒苗在S60、组培大筒苗在S80下的生长表现最好。因此,橡胶树大筒苗培育时应根据不同的胚苗类型选择适宜的遮阴措施。     

遮阴对石笔木苗木生长和保护酶活性的影响

为探讨石笔木Tutcheria championi苗木对遮阴环境的适应性,以全光照(无遮阴覆盖)为对照,研究遮阴30%、50%和70%对2年生石笔木苗生长和生理特性的影响。结果表明,全光照下石笔木苗木生长较为健壮,其苗高、地径生长优于遮阴处理;全光照下石笔木总生物量、根生物量比以及根冠比显著大于遮阴处理(P<0.05);50%遮阴处理苗木叶片叶绿素含量显著高于全光照和70%遮阴处理(P<0.05),叶绿素a/b值在各处理间无显著差异。丙二醛(MDA)含量、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性在各处理间无显著差异(P>0.05);70%遮阴处理的苗木叶片过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性最高,显著高于全光照和50%遮阴。由此表明,充足的光照环境有利于石笔木苗木生长。     

遮阴对疏叶骆驼刺叶形态和光合参数的影响

通过设置自然光与遮阴(60%自然光)两种光环境, 观测了遮阴60天后疏叶骆驼刺(Alhagi sparsifolia)叶形态、光合生理参数和脯氨酸(Pro)含量的变化。结果表明: 与自然光照下的叶片相比, 遮阴叶的比叶面积显著增大(p < 0.01), 比叶干重、比叶鲜重和叶片厚度明显降低(p < 0.01); 叶绿素(a + b)和类胡萝卜素含量有所增加, 其中叶绿素a含量增加显著(p < 0.01); 光补偿点、光饱和点和暗呼吸速率降低, 表观量子效率提高, 最大净光合速率明显增大, 光能利用效率高于自然光叶; 强光照下遮阴叶的净光合速率明显降低, 易发生光合光抑制现象。上述结果说明: 遮阴处理后, 疏叶骆驼刺在叶形态和光合生理上表现出对遮阴弱光条件的一定程度的驯化适应。另外, 遮阴叶片Pro的大量积累, 说明Pro在疏叶骆驼刺驯化适应弱光环境中起着重要作用。遮蔽环境下疏叶骆驼刺植株死亡率明显偏高, 表明塔克拉玛干沙漠南缘荒漠区的疏叶骆驼刺属于专性阳生植物不耐阴品种。     

红光,远红光和植物激素对水稻幼苗生长及CAT,POX活性的影响

红光(R)和远红光(Fr)都抑制水稻胚芽的生长,但对胚芽鞘来说,红光抑制其生长,远红光表现出部分逆转效应。一定浓度单一生长素(IAA)促进水稻胚芽鞘的生长,而赤霉素(GA_3)与生长素作用相反。对于水稻的过氧化氢酶(CAT)、过氧化物酶(POX),红光促进两种酶的活性,远红光则表现出逆转效应。单一10~(-2)ppmIAA、10~(-2)ppmGA_3都促进其活性。照光时,在10~(-2)ppm IAA存在的条件下,红光表现为促进,远红光则表现为抑制;但在10~(-2)ppm GA_3存在的条件下,红光反而对两种酶的活性有抑制作用,远红光则表现为促进作用。     

遮阴对骆驼刺叶性状和水分生理的影响

以塔克拉玛干沙漠南缘荒漠绿洲过渡带优势种骆驼刺为试验材料,研究正常光照(NL)、中度遮阴(MS)和重度遮阴(SS)3种不同遮阴环境对骆驼刺(Alhagi sparsifoliashap.)叶厚、单叶面积、比叶面积、比叶质量等叶性状参数和相对含水量、水势、失水速率、气孔导度、蒸腾速率以及水分利用效率等水分生理参数的影响。结果显示:随着光照强度的降低,骆驼刺的叶片厚度(LT)、比叶质量(LMA)、净光合速率(Pn)、气孔导度(Gs)、蒸腾速率(Tr)和水分利用效率(WUE)明显降低,而单叶面积(LA)、比叶面积(SLA)、相对含水量(RWC)、失水速率(RWL)和水势(WP)明显升高;各叶性状参数与水分生理参数之间均有极显著的相关性。说明:骆驼刺在遮阴环境下,其叶性状特征主要通过单叶面积和单叶干物质积累的变化来响应遮阴环境;其水分生理特征主要是牺牲对水分胁迫具有较好抗逆性的水分生理特征并通过气孔调节和更多的水分消耗用于维持一定的光合能力来响应遮阴环境。叶性状与水分生理参数相关性分析表明,遮阴环境下骆驼刺叶性状变化主要通过影响RWL、WP、Tr和WUE进而影响其水分生理特征的变化。因此,建议可利用遮阴措施对极端干旱区荒漠植物骆驼刺进行植被恢复,但其遮光度应设置在70%—80%自然光之间。     

遮阴对绣球光合特性和叶绿素荧光参数的影响北大核心CSCD

为了从光合作用机制及叶片吸收光能分配的角度解释绣球(Hydrangea macrophylla)对不同光环境的适应机制,探讨绣球对光环境变化的生理响应和适应性,该文以盆栽的绣球品种‘无尽夏新娘’为材料,设置遮阴(遮光率为50%、75%)两种处理,并以全光照为对照,经过60天的处理,测定其光合-光响应曲线、气体交换参数、叶绿素荧光参数。结果表明:遮阴60天后,绣球的暗呼吸速率、光补偿点和光饱和点均有所下降,而表观量子效率(AQY)上升,说明绣球能够通过这些途径提高对弱光的利用能力并降低呼吸消耗,以维持植株正常生长,从而表现出了极强的适应能力;在50%的遮阴处理下,绣球叶片的净光合速率、胞间CO2浓度、蒸腾速率和水分利用效率均与其全光照和75%遮阴处理下差异显著;遮阴导致光系统II(PSII)最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)增加,3种光照处理下呈显著差异,全光照下Fv/Fm低于50%遮阴处理,初始荧光水平高于50%遮阴处理,推断此条件下的绣球叶片发生了光抑制;而随着光照的减弱,非光化学淬灭系数在降低,说明遮阴降低了绣球叶片PSII天线色素吸收光能以热的形式耗散的比例,绣球叶片吸收的能量约70%用于热耗散,约20%用于非光化学反应,仅有4%的能量用于光化学反应,说明绣球处于饱和光环境下时,主要通过提高叶片吸收光能向热耗散等PSII调节性能量耗散途径的分配,削弱反应中心过量激发能的积累。     

The effects of mechanical stress and spectral shading on the growth and allocation of ten genotypes of a stoloniferous plant

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Because plants protect each other from wind, stand density affects both the light climate and the amount of mechanical stress experienced by plants. But the potential interactive effects of mechanical stress and canopy shading on plant growth have rarely been investigated and never in stoloniferous plants which, due to their creeping growth form, can be expected to respond differently to these factors than erect plants. METHODS: Plants of ten genotypes of the stoloniferous species Potentilla reptans were subjected to two levels of mechanical stress (0 or 40 daily flexures) and two levels of spectral shading (15 % of daylight with a red:far red ratio of 0.3 vs. 50 % daylight and a red:far red ratio of 1.2). KEY RESULTS: Mechanically stressed plants produced more leaves with shorter more flexible petioles, more roots, and more but less massive stolons. Responses to spectral shading were mostly in the opposite direction to thigmomorphogenesis, including the production of thinner, taller petioles made of more rigid tissue. The degree of thigmomorphogenesis was either independent of light climate or stimulated by spectral shading. At the genotypic level there were no clear correlations between responses to shade and mechanical stress. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that in stoloniferous plants mechanical stress results in clones with a more compact, shorter shoot structure and more roots. This response does not appear to be suppressed by canopy shading, which suggests that wind shielding (reduced mechanical stress) by neighbours in dense vegetation serves as a cue that induces shade avoidance responses such as increased petiole elongation.     

Temperature‐dependent shade avoidance involves the receptor‐like kinase ERECTA

Plants detect the presence of neighbouring vegetation by monitoring changes in the ratio of red (R) to far‐red (FR) wavelengths (R:FR) in ambient light. Reductions in R:FR are perceived by the phytochrome family of plant photoreceptors and initiate a suite of developmental responses termed the shade avoidance syndrome. These include increased elongation growth of stems and petioles, enabling plants to overtop competing vegetation. The majority of shade avoidance experiments are performed at standard laboratory growing temperatures (>20°C). In these conditions, elongation responses to low R:FR are often accompanied by reductions in leaf development and accumulation of plant biomass. Here we investigated shade avoidance responses at a cooler temperature (16°C). In these conditions, Arabidopsis thaliana displays considerable low R:FR‐mediated increases in leaf area, with reduced low R:FR‐mediated petiole elongation and leaf hyponasty responses. In Landsberg erecta, these strikingly different shade avoidance phenotypes are accompanied by increased leaf thickness, increased biomass and an altered metabolite profile. At 16°C, low R:FR treatment results in the accumulation of soluble sugars and metabolites associated with cold acclimation. Analyses of natural genetic variation in shade avoidance responses at 16°C have revealed a regulatory role for the receptor‐like kinase ERECTA.     

Light quality regulation of endogenous levels of auxin,abscisic acid and ethylene production in petioles and leaves of wild type and ACC deaminase transgenic <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica napus</Emphasis> seedlings

Brassica napus L. seedlings responded to low red to far-red (R/FR) ratio by elongating petioles and decreasing leaf expansion. These typical shade avoidance traits were correlated with significantly decreased endogenous indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) levels and significantly increased endogenous abscisic acid (ABA) levels and ethylene production. The transgenic (T) B. napus line bearing the bacterial ACC deaminase gene, did not respond to low R/FR ratio with altered petiole and leaf growth and less ethylene (especially by petioles) was produced. As with WT seedlings, T seedlings had significantly lower IAA levels in both petioles and leaves under low R/FR ratio. However, ABA levels of low R/FR ratio-grown T seedlings either increased (petioles) or were unaltered (leaves). Our results further suggest that low R/FR ratio regulates endogenous IAA levels independently of ethylene, but there may be an interaction between ABA and ethylene in leaf development.     

Physiological responses of spring rapeseed (Brassica napus) to red/far‐red ratios and irradiance during pre‐ and post‐flowering stages

Early shade signals promote the shade avoidance syndrome (SAS) which causes, among others, petiole and shoot elongation and upward leaf position. In spite of its relevance, these photomorphogenic responses have not been deeply studied in rapeseed (Brassica napus). In contrast to other crops like maize and wheat, rapeseed has a complex developmental phenotypic pattern as it evolves from an initial rosette to the main stem elongation and an indeterminate growth of floral raceme. In this work, we analyzed (1) morphological and physiological responses at individual level due to low red/far‐red (R/FR) ratio during plant development, and (2) changes in biomass allocation, grain yield and composition at crop level in response to high R/FR ratio and low irradiance in two modern spring rapeseed genotypes. We carried out pot and field experiments modifying R/FR ratios and irradiance at vegetative or reproductive stages. In pot experiments, low R/FR ratio increased the petiole and lamina length, upward leaf position and also accelerated leaf senescence. Furthermore, low R/FR ratio reduced main floral raceme and increased floral branching with higher remobilization of soluble carbohydrates from the stems. In field experiments, low irradiance during post‐flowering reduced grain yield, harvest index and grain oil content, and high R/FR ratio reaching the crop partially alleviated such effects. We conclude that photomorphogenic signals are integrated early during the vegetative growth, and irradiance has stronger effects than R/FR signals at rapeseed crop level.     

Interactions between ethylene and gibberellins in phytochrome-mediated shade avoidance responses in tobacco

Plants respond to proximate neighbors with a suite of responses that comprise the shade avoidance syndrome. These phytochrome-mediated responses include hyponasty (i.e. a more vertical orientation of leaves) and enhanced stem and petiole elongation. We showed recently that ethylene-insensitive tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) plants (Tetr) have reduced responses to neighbors, showing an important role for this gaseous plant hormone in shade avoidance. Here, we investigate interactions between phytochrome signaling and ethylene action in shade avoidance responses. Furthermore, we investigate if ethylene acts in these responses through an interaction with the GA class of hormones. Low red to far-red light ratios (R:FR) enhanced ethylene production in wild-type tobacco, resulting in shade avoidance responses, whereas ethylene-insensitive plants showed reduced shade avoidance responses. Plants with inhibited GA production showed hardly any shade avoidance responses at all to either a low R:FR or increased ethylene concentrations. Furthermore, low R:FR enhanced the responsiveness of hyponasty and stem elongation in both wild-type and Tetr plants to applied GA(3), with the stem elongation process being more responsive to GA(3) in the wild type than in Tetr. We conclude that phytochrome-mediated shade avoidance responses involve ethylene action, at least partly by modulating GA action.     

Petiole twisting in the crowns of<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Psychotria limonensis:</Emphasis> implications for light interception and daily carbon gain

We used Y-plant, a computer-based model of crown architecture, to examine the implications of leaf reorientation resulting from petiole bending in Psychotria limonensis (Rubiaceae) seedlings. During this reorientation process, bending of the petioles of lower leaves that are potentially self-shaded by the upper leaves rotates the lamina around the stem's orthotropic axis so that self-shading is reduced. Simulations of daily light capture and assimilation revealed a 66% increase in daily C gain due to reorientation of the leaves as compared to simulations where the leaves remained in their characteristic opposite decussate pattern set by the phyllotaxy. This was due to enhanced carbon (C) gain of the lower leaves because of the reduction of shading by upper developing leaves in the same vertical plane. The light signal for this movement was experimentally examined by placing leaf-shaped filters above already fully expanded leaves and following the resulting shade-avoiding movements. The filters were either neutral density shade cloth that reduced the photon flux density (PFD) but did not alter the red to far red ratio (R:FR) or a film that reduced the PFD equivalently but also reduced the R:FR. Leaf reorientation was much more rapid and complete under the low R:FR as compared to the high R:FR indicating involvement of a phytochrome photosensory system that detected the presence of a shading leaf. Plants in gaps were found to lack a reorientation response indicating that the reorientation is specific to the shaded understory environment.     

Phytochrome D acts in the shade-avoidance syndrome in Arabidopsis by controlling elongation growth and flowering time

Shade avoidance in higher plants is regulated by the action of multiple phytochrome (phy) species that detect changes in the red/far-red ratio (R/FR) of incident light and initiate a redirection of growth and an acceleration of flowering. The phyB mutant of Arabidopsis is constitutively elongated and early flowering and displays attenuated responses to both reduced R/FR and end-of-day far-red light, conditions that induce strong shade-avoidance reactions in wild-type plants. This indicates that phyB plays an important role in the control of shade avoidance. In Arabidopsis phyB and phyD are the products of a recently duplicated gene and share approximately 80% identity. We investigated the role played by phyD in shade avoidance by analyzing the responses of phyD-deficient mutants. Compared with the monogenic phyB mutant, the phyB-phyD double mutant flowers early and has a smaller leaf area, phenotypes that are characteristic of shade avoidance. Furthermore, compared with the monogenic phyB mutant, the phyB-phyD double mutant shows a more attenuated response to a reduced R/FR for these responses. Compared with the phyA-phyB double mutant, the phyA-phyB-phyD triple mutant has elongated petioles and displays an enhanced elongation of internodes in response to end-of-day far-red light. These characteristics indicate that phyD acts in the shade-avoidance syndrome by controlling flowering time and leaf area and that phyC and/or phyE also play a role.     

Canopy studies on ethylene-insensitive tobacco identify ethylene as a novel element in blue light and plant-plant signalling

Plants growing at high densities express shade avoidance traits as a response to the presence of neighbours. Enhanced shoot elongation is one of the best researched shade avoidance components and increases light capture in dense stands. We show here that also leaf movements, leading to a more vertical leaf orientation (hyponasty), may be crucial in the early phase of competition. The initiation of shade avoidance responses is classically attributed to the action of phytochrome photoreceptors that sense red:far-red (R:FR) ratios in light reflected by neighbours, but also other signals may be involved. It was recently shown that ethylene-insensitive, transgenic (Tetr) tobacco plants, which are insensitive to the gaseous plant hormone ethylene, have reduced shade avoidance responses to neighbours. Here, we report that this is not related to a reduced response to low R:FR ratio, but that Tetr tobacco plants are unresponsive to a reduced photon fluence rate of blue light, which normally suppresses growth inhibition in wild-type (WT) plants. In addition to these light signals, ethylene levels in the canopy atmosphere increased to concentrations that could induce shade avoidance responses in WT plants. Together, these data show that neighbour detection signals other than the R:FR ratio are more important than previously anticipated and argue for a particularly important role for ethylene in determining plant responses to neighbours.     

Contrasting shade avoidance responses in two perennial grasses: a field investigation in simulated sparse and dense canopies

We designed an experiment with potted plants grown outdoors to investigate the expression of shade avoidance in simulated sparse and dense canopies by two perennial grasses known to express contrasting responses to low red:far-red ratios (R:FR). Plants were grown in canopy microenvironments designed to lower the R:FR by reflection of horizontally propagated FR from neighbors and by direct attenuation of R by filters located above plants. Two specific hypotheses were tested: (1) Paspalum dilatatum will express greater shade avoidance than Schizachyrium scoparium to low R:FR in both sparse and dense canopies, and (2) low R:FR will produce greater expressions of shade avoidance in sparse than in dense canopies in both species. P. dilatatum was more responsive to low R:FR than S. scoparium in both the sparse and dense canopies and lower ramet number plant^–1 was the only common shade avoidance response between species in sparse canopies. P. dilatatum also showed significant reductions in juvenile ramet initiation, juvenile ramet mass, total shoot mass, and shoot:root ratios in sparse canopies, but only juvenile ramet initiation was reduced in dense canopies. The suppression of juvenile ramet initiation in the dense canopy was at least partially modulated by the vertically propagated R:FR because a similar reduction in PFD and horizontally propagated R:FR showed 42% greater juvenile ramet initiation in the respective control. S. scoparium only showed a significant reduction in ramet number plant^–1 and a significant increase in blade length in sparse canopies, but no significant responses occurred in dense canopies. Consequently, neither hypothesis was rejected. Variable shade avoidance responses between species and canopy densities indicate that both interspecific variation and various proportions of vertically and horizontally propagated low R:FR can influence the expression of shade avoidance responses of perennial grasses in field settings.     

Maternal and ambient environmental effects of light on germination in Plantago lanceolata: correlated responses to selection on leaf length

1. Seeds from artificial selection lines were exposed to different maternal and ambient conditions, simulating sunlight and vegetation shade.
2. Lines selected for longer leaves also produced larger seeds, indicating a positive genetic correlation between leaf length and seed size.
3. Light conditions during maturation had no large effect on seed size.
4. Seed germination was reduced by a low ratio of red to far-red light (R/FR ratio) in the ambient environment.
5. Seeds maturated under simulated vegetation shade germinated less readily and were more inhibited by a low ambient R/FR ratio than seeds maturated under full sunlight or R/FR-neutral shade. Thus, low R/FR-ratios in the maternal and ambient environment operated synergistically.
6. Large genotypic variation in the germination responses to both maternal and ambient light conditions was found among and within selection lines, indicating that such responses might have the potential to evolve in response to natural selection.
7. Artificial selection for leaf length had affected seed germination characteristics but correlated responses and thus genetic correlations largely depended on light conditions in the selective environment. Selection for longer leaves under a low R/FR ratio increased seed dormancy and plasticity of germination in response to the R/FR ratio. However, in the opposite selective environment selection for longer leaves reduced seed dormancy and plasticity to the R/FR ratio. It is argued that leaf length and seed germination characteristics are somehow linked by shared physiological mechanisms, which may facilitate concerted changes in shade avoidance responses.