Vol. 75 No: 3

Title:
Effects of irradiance on growth, net photosynthesis and indoor performance of the shade-adapted plant, maidenhair fern

Authors:
D.M. YEH and H.M. WANG

pp: 293-298

Abstract:
Effects of irradiance on growth and net photosynthesis were studied in Adiantum raddianum cv. Fritz Luth grown under warm (26 ± 3°C) greenhouse conditions. Efficiency of light conversion for frond dry weight increase was reduced from 0.0067 to 0.0016 as the mean daily light integral increased from 1.3 to 6.7 MJ m^-2d^-1. The maximum frond area and frond dry weight were measured in plants grown in daily light integrals of 2.6 and 3.3 MJ m^-2d^-1. Specific leaf area decreased exponentially from 0.046 to 0.032 m^-2g^-1 over the daily light integral from 0.6 to 6.7 MJ m^-2d^-1. Rate of frond appearance was linearly increased with increasing mean daily light integral from 0.6 to 6.7 MJ m^-2d^-1 and a light integral of 4.2 MJ m^-2 was required for appearance of one frond. Pinnule thickness increased, and chlorophyll content decreased, as irradiance increased from 0.6 to 6.7 MJ m^-2d^-1. Numbers of fronds bearing sori increased linearly with increasing irradiance up to 3.3 MJ m^-2d^-1, beyond which the number decreased. The fronds grown under 0.6-3.3 MJ m^-2d^-1 conditions had a photosynthetic advantage over those under 5.9 and 6.7 MJ m^-2d^-1 at photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) levels less than 50 mmol m22s21. Light compensation points were near 15 mmol m^-2s^-1 for fronds grown under 5.9 and 6.7 MJ m^-2d^-1, as compared with 5.mmolm^-2s^-1 for fronds preconditioned to lower irradiance levels from 0.6 to 3.3 MJ m^-2d^-1. Significantly fewer wilted fronds and better interior performance quality were recorded in plants grown under daily light integrals from 0.6 to 2.6 MJ m^-2d^-1.

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