Articles
Can cacti alleviate global warming? Effect of red and blue light on the growth and calcium oxalate crystal content in Opuntia cochenillifera stem
Article number
1452_63
Pages
483 – 490
Language
English
Abstract
Calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystals are insoluble salts that form when oxalic acid combines with calcium ions, leading to precipitation.
Cacti accumulate significant numbers of biominerals, including CaOx, within their stems; however, the physiological functions of such accumulations remain largely unclear.
Here, we investigated the effects of red and blue LED light on the growth and CaOx amount of cactus stems.
Daughter cladodes developed from the mother cladodes in all treatments.
The elongation speed of the cladodes was low under weak light intensity in red and blue light.
Under high light intensity, more cladodes appeared in the red light treatments, while no difference was observed under blue light.
The daughter cladodes’ fresh weight also increased under high light intensity, red and blue.
Regarding CaOx concentrations, stems under red light displayed higher CaOx concentrations in daughter cladodes than those under blue light, resulting in high CaOx amounts.
However, no significant difference was observed in CaOx concentration and amount in the mother cladodes.
Our results indicate that the light wavelength strongly affects daughter cladode growth and the amount of CaOx.
Thus, controlling the light environment is essential for increasing the amount of CaOx in cactus stems.
Some cacti, including O. cochenillifera, can reach over 5 m and weigh several hundred kilograms, making them potential long-term carbon fixation resources.
Due to their rapid growth rate and substantial biomass, they can be utilized for carbon fixation even in arid regions.
Cacti accumulate significant numbers of biominerals, including CaOx, within their stems; however, the physiological functions of such accumulations remain largely unclear.
Here, we investigated the effects of red and blue LED light on the growth and CaOx amount of cactus stems.
Daughter cladodes developed from the mother cladodes in all treatments.
The elongation speed of the cladodes was low under weak light intensity in red and blue light.
Under high light intensity, more cladodes appeared in the red light treatments, while no difference was observed under blue light.
The daughter cladodes’ fresh weight also increased under high light intensity, red and blue.
Regarding CaOx concentrations, stems under red light displayed higher CaOx concentrations in daughter cladodes than those under blue light, resulting in high CaOx amounts.
However, no significant difference was observed in CaOx concentration and amount in the mother cladodes.
Our results indicate that the light wavelength strongly affects daughter cladode growth and the amount of CaOx.
Thus, controlling the light environment is essential for increasing the amount of CaOx in cactus stems.
Some cacti, including O. cochenillifera, can reach over 5 m and weigh several hundred kilograms, making them potential long-term carbon fixation resources.
Due to their rapid growth rate and substantial biomass, they can be utilized for carbon fixation even in arid regions.
Authors
T. Horibe
Keywords
biomineralization, cladodes, carbon, LED, environmental control
Groups involved
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