Effect of Light and Nitrogen and Potassium Levels on Growth and Light Compensation Point of Ficus benjamina L.1

1982

Weeping fig (Ficus benjamina L.) plants were greenhouse-grown under full sun or 75% light exclusion. Shade-grown leaves were larger, thinner, flatter, and darker green than sun-grown leaves. Sun- and shade-grown plants had the same total leaf area and were the same height. Shade-grown leaves had a single, poorly developed palisade layer with large chloroplasts dispersed throughout the palisade cells. Sun-grown leaves had one or two layers of well developed palisade cells with the chloroplasts aligned primarily along the radial walls. Stomatal density was greater in sun-grown leaves, but shade-grown leaves had more stomata per leaf.

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Anatomy and Morphology of Sun- and Shade-grown Ficus benjamina1

1982

“…Low LCP and Rd rates for shade-grown weeping fig plants explain the observation (10) that shade-produced plants survive better in low-light interior environments than plants produced in full sun. Comparisons among the previous reports (7,15,17) on whole plant LCP of sun-and shade-grown weeping fig plants indicate considerable variation, but LCP cannot be compared directly due to differing units of measure. However, their results generally concur with those reported herein which indicate considerable potential for photosynthetic adaptation of weeping fig leaves to varying light environments.…”

Section: Pn (M8kc9 2 Dm 2 Tr (Gh2q Dm ~2 H R-1) Time Of Day ---------...mentioning

confidence: 78%

“…Collard et al (7) determined whole plant LCPs of weeping fig plants grown under 4 radiation levels and found that the LCP of 80% shade-grown plants was only 36% that of full-sun-grown plants. Other researchers (15,17) also reported lower whole plant LCPs for shade-grown weeping fig plants.…”

mentioning

confidence: 86%

“…Transfer of weeping fig from production areas to low-light interior environments often results in severe leaf abscission. Light acclimatization improves the adaptation of plant species to low light (5,6,21) and in weeping fig has been found to affect leaf chlorophyll content (7,10,19), nonstructural carbohydrate content (17,19), stomatal resistance (16), plant morphology (11,15,17), leaf anatomy (11), and the occurrence of leaf abscission after placement in a low-light environment (8,9,19).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Net Photosynthesis and Transpiration of Sun- and Shade-grown Ficus benjamina Leaves1

1982

Suitable conditions for determining net photosynthesis (Pn) of individual sun- and shade-grown leaves of weeping fig (Ficus benjamina L.) were 21°C dew point and an air flow rate between 1 and 3 liters/min. A diurnal trend in Pn occurred for sun leaves, with maximum rates between 0800 and 1200 hr; shade leaves did not decline in Pn until mid-afternoon. Leaves which originated from nodes 4 through 10 (from the shoot apex) did not differ in Pn, transpiration (Tr), specific leaf weight (SLW), or leaf water content. Shade-grown leaves had a photosynthetic advantage over sun-grown leaves at levels of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) below 77 μE m−2s−1, whereas at PAR levels above 100 μE m−2s−1 the reverse was true. Sun-grown leaves had higher Tr rates than shade grown leaves at all PAR levels used.

“…Collard et al (6) found that weeping fig plants grown under 80% shade had a LCP about one-third that of full-sun-grown plants. Johnson et al (17) and Joiner et al (18) reported that LCP of 47% shade-grown plants was less than that of full-sun-grown plants. Fonteno and McWilliams (13) reported that LCP and Rd of 4 sun-grown foliage species declined after transfer to a SIE for 4 to 15 weeks.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Light Acclimatization Potential of Ficus benjamina1

1982

Weeping Hg (Ficus benjamina L.) plants grown under 3 light regimes (full sun, full sun followed by 8 weeks acclimatization under 75% shade, and 75% shade) were placed in a low-light simulated interior environment (SIE) for 12 weeks. Acclimatized and shade-grown leaves had higher net photosynthesis (Pn) rates, lower dark respiration (Rd) rates, and lower light compensation points (LCP) than sun-grown leaves after 12 weeks in the SIE. No treatments increased total plant dry weight during the 12 weeks of SIE. However, percent dry matter of sun plants was redistributed with additional leaves produced at the expense of root carbohydrate reserves. Leaf production exceeded abscission in all treatments. Anatomical observations prior to and following the SIE indicated chloroplast reorientation in all treatments. The development of large, heavily stained chloroplasts suggest ultrastructural changes may also occur as a result of low light.