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. 2017 May 30:8:917.
doi: 10.3389/fpls.2017.00917. eCollection 2017.

Long-Term Effects of Red- and Blue-Light Emitting Diodes on Leaf Anatomy and Photosynthetic Efficiency of Three Ornamental Pot Plants

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Long-Term Effects of Red- and Blue-Light Emitting Diodes on Leaf Anatomy and Photosynthetic Efficiency of Three Ornamental Pot Plants

Liang Zheng et al. Front Plant Sci. .

Abstract

Light quality critically affects plant development and growth. Development of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) enables the use of narrow band red and/or blue wavelengths as supplementary lighting in ornamental production. Yet, long periods under these wavelengths will affect leaf morphology and physiology. Leaf anatomy, stomatal traits, and stomatal conductance, leaf hydraulic conductance (Kleaf), and photosynthetic efficiency were investigated in three ornamental pot plants, namely Cordyline australis (monocot), Ficus benjamina (dicot, evergreen leaves), and Sinningia speciosa (dicot, deciduous leaves) after 8 weeks under LED light. Four light treatments were applied at 100 μmol m-2 s-1 and a photoperiod of 16 h using 100% red (R), 100% blue (B), 75% red with 25% blue (RB), and full spectrum white light (W), respectively. B and RB resulted in a greater maximum quantum yield (Fv/Fm) and quantum efficiency (ΦPSII) in all species compared to R and W and this correlated with a lower biomass under R. B increased the stomatal conductance compared with R. This increase was linked to an increasing stomatal index and/or stomatal density but the stomatal aperture area was unaffected by the applied light quality. Leaf hydraulic conductance (Kleaf) was not significantly affected by the applied light qualities. Blue light increased the leaf thickness of F. benjamina, and a relative higher increase in palisade parenchyma was observed. Also in S. speciosa, increase in palisade parenchyma was found under B and RB, though total leaf thickness was not affected. Palisade parenchyma tissue thickness was correlated to the leaf photosynthetic quantum efficiency (ΦPSII). In conclusion, the role of blue light addition in the spectrum is essential for the normal anatomical leaf development which also impacts the photosynthetic efficiency in the three studied species.

Keywords: Cordyline australis; Ficus benjamina; Sinningia speciosa; chlorophyll fluorescence; leaf anatomy; leaf hydraulic conductance; stomatal conductance.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Relative spectral distribution of the light treatments: Red (R), Blue (B), Red/Blue (3:1) (RB) and white (W). Spectrum was measured at the plant canopy level with a JAZ spectrometer (Ocean Optics, FL, US).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Effects of light quality on total aboveground fresh weight (A), total dry weight (B) and individual leaf area (C) of C. australis, F. benjamina, and S. speciosa. Data are presented as means ± standard error (n = 4). Different letters indicate significant differences between values (p < 0.05).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Leaf sectioning anatomy of C. australis (left panel), F. benjamina (middle panel), and S. speciosa (right panel) developed under Red light (A–C), Blue light (D–F), Red with Blue (G–I) and White (J–L). Black bar = 100 μm. UE, upper epidermis; LE, lower epidermis; PP, palisade parenchyma; SP, spongy parechyma.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Effects of blue light ratio on stomatal conductance (A) and leaf hydraulic conductance (B) of C. australis, F. benjamina, and S. speciosa. Data are presented as means ± standard error (n = 4). Different letters indicate significant differences between values (p < 0.05) and n.s. indicates no significant differences. W indicates the multispectral white treatment.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Effects of light quality on chlorophyll a and b (A,B) and carotenoid (C) content and Chl a/b ratio (D) of C. australis, F. benjamina, and S. speciosa. Data are presented as means ± standard error (n = 4). Different letters indicate significant differences between values (p < 0.05).
Figure 6
Figure 6
Correlations between leaf thickness and Kleaf (A) and stomatal conductance and Kleaf (B) of C. australis, F. benjamina, and S. speciosa under different light qualities. Values presents the mean of four replicates with standard errors (n = 4).

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