Articles
Photosynthesis in Ranunculus asiaticus L.: characterization in two Mediterranean hybrids under fluorescent white light
Article number
1271_23
Pages
163 – 168
Language
English
Abstract
Ranunculus asiaticus L. is a quantitative long-day species, originating from Mediterranean area, grown in cold greenhouse for cut flowers and potted plants.
Flowering in ranunculus is a complex process, strongly steered by the temperature and the photoperiod.
Vernalization of rehydrated tuberous roots, used as propagation material, anticipates sprouting and leaf rosette formation and flowering.
It is known that the time for flowering and the sensitivity to cold treatment vary in the numerous commercial hybrids, while no information seems to be available on the influence of vernalization on the photosynthetic process.
The aim of the experiment was to investigate the influence of two hybrids, MDR (medium earliness) and MBO (early flowering), and two preparation treatments of tuberous roots, only rehydration (Control, C) and rehydration plus vernalisation (V), on photosynthesis and photochemistry and photosynthetic pigments content in plants grown in pot in growth chamber, under controlled environment.
In control plants, photosynthesis was higher in MDR-C than in MBO-C, while the maximal PSII photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm) slightly decreased in the first hybrid.
MBO-C developed more leaves and a consequent higher plant leaf area.
Compared to only rehydration, vernalization of rehydrated tuberous roots increased the number of leaves and the plant leaf area in both the hybrids.
The preparation treatment did not affect photosynthetic rate while it decreased the maximal PSII photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm) in both the hybrids.
A significant interaction was found between the hybrid and the preparation treatment in the content of photosynthetic pigments, which decreased in plants from vernalized tuberous roots compared to those from only rehydrated roots in MDR, while increased with vernalization in MBO.
Flowering in ranunculus is a complex process, strongly steered by the temperature and the photoperiod.
Vernalization of rehydrated tuberous roots, used as propagation material, anticipates sprouting and leaf rosette formation and flowering.
It is known that the time for flowering and the sensitivity to cold treatment vary in the numerous commercial hybrids, while no information seems to be available on the influence of vernalization on the photosynthetic process.
The aim of the experiment was to investigate the influence of two hybrids, MDR (medium earliness) and MBO (early flowering), and two preparation treatments of tuberous roots, only rehydration (Control, C) and rehydration plus vernalisation (V), on photosynthesis and photochemistry and photosynthetic pigments content in plants grown in pot in growth chamber, under controlled environment.
In control plants, photosynthesis was higher in MDR-C than in MBO-C, while the maximal PSII photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm) slightly decreased in the first hybrid.
MBO-C developed more leaves and a consequent higher plant leaf area.
Compared to only rehydration, vernalization of rehydrated tuberous roots increased the number of leaves and the plant leaf area in both the hybrids.
The preparation treatment did not affect photosynthetic rate while it decreased the maximal PSII photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm) in both the hybrids.
A significant interaction was found between the hybrid and the preparation treatment in the content of photosynthetic pigments, which decreased in plants from vernalized tuberous roots compared to those from only rehydrated roots in MDR, while increased with vernalization in MBO.
Authors
G.C. Modarelli, C. Arena, S. De Pascale, R. Paradiso
Keywords
photochemistry, long day plant, tuberous roots
Groups involved
- Division Greenhouse and Indoor Production Horticulture
- Division Precision Horticulture and Engineering
- Division Plant-Environment Interactions in Field Systems
- Working Group Nettings in Horticulture (subgroup of Protected Cultivation in Mild Winter Climates)
- Working Group Light in Horticulture
- Working Group Organic Greenhouse Horticulture
- Working Group Modelling Plant Growth, Environmental Control, Greenhouse Environment
- Working Group Protected Cultivation, Nettings and Screens for Mild Climates
- Working Group Vegetable Grafting
- Working Group Computational Fluid Dynamics in Agriculture
- Working Group Design and Automation in Integrated Indoor Production Systems
- Working Group Mechanization, Digitization, Sensing and Robotics
- Working Group Greenhouse Environment and Climate Control
- Commission Agroecology and Organic Farming Systems
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