Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Assessment of photosynthetic potential of indoor plants under cold stress

Photosynthetica volume 54, pages 138–142 (2016)Cite this article

Abstract

Photosynthetic parameters including net photosynthetic rate (P N), transpiration rate (E), water-use efficiency (WUE), and stomatal conductance (g s) were studied in indoor C3 plants Philodendron domesticum (Pd), Dracaena fragans (Df), Peperomia obtussifolia (Po), Chlorophytum comosum (Cc), and in a CAM plant, Sansevieria trifasciata (St), exposed to various low temperatures (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25°C). All studied plants survived up to 0°C, but only St and Cc endured, while other plants wilted, when the temperature increased back to room temperature (25°C). The P N declined rapidly with the decrease of temperature in all studied plants. St showed the maximum P N of 11.9 μmol m−2 s−1 at 25°C followed by Cc, Po, Pd, and Df. E also followed a trend almost similar to that of P N. St showed minimum E (0.1 mmol m−2 s−1) as compared to other studied C3 plants at 25°C. The E decreased up to ≈4-fold at 5 and 0°C. Furthermore, a considerable decline in WUE was observed under cold stress in all C3 plants, while St showed maximum WUE. Similarly, the g s also declined gradually with the decrease in the temperature in all plants. Among C3 plants, Pd and Po showed the maximum g s of 0.07 mol m−2 s−1 at 25°C followed by Df and Cc. However, St showed the minimum g s that further decreased up to ∼4-fold at 0°C. In addition, the content of photosynthetic pigments [chlorophyll a, b, (a+b), and carotenoids] was varying in all studied plants at 0°C. Our findings clearly indicated the best photosynthetic potential of St compared to other studied plants. This species might be recommended for improving air quality in high-altitude closed environments.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Abbreviations

ANOVA :

analysis of variance

Car:

carotenoids

Cc :

Chlorophytum comosum

Chl:

chlorophyll

Df :

Dracaena fragans

DMF:

N,N-dimethyl formamide

E :

transpiration rate

FM:

fresh mass

g s :

stomatal conductance

LSD:

least significant difference

Pd :

Philodendron domesticum

P N :

net photosynthetic rate

Po :

Peperomia obtussifolia

St :

Sansevieria trifasciata

WUE:

water-use efficiency

References

  • Ashraf M., Harris P.J.C.: Photosynthesis under stressful environments: An overview. — Photosynthetica 51: 163–190, 2013.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Biswal B., Joshi P.N., Raval M.K. et al.: Photosynthesis, a global sensor of environmental stress in green plants: stress signalling and adaptation. — Curr. Sci. 101: 47–56, 2011.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cowan I.R.: Regulation of water use in relation to carbon gain in higher plants. — In: Pirson A., Zimmermann M.H. (ed.): Encyclopedia of Plant Physiology. Pp. 589–613. Springer-Verlag, Berlin 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  • Doubnerová V., Ryšlavá H.: What can enzymes of C4 photosynthesis do for C3 plants under stress? — Plant Sci. 180: 575–583, 2011.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ensminger I., Busch F., Huner N.P.A.: Photostasis and cold acclimation: sensing low temperature through photosynthesis. — Physiol. Plantarum 126: 28–44, 2006.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Freschi L., Mercier H.: Connecting environmental stimuli and crassulacean acid metabolism expression: Phytohormones and other signaling molecules. — Prog. Bot. 73: 231–255, 2012.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gupta S.M., Agarwal A., Kumar K. et al.: Physiochemical response of air purifyingindoor plants under cold stress. — J. Biochem. Internatl. 2: 1–7, 2015.

    Google Scholar 

  • Habibi F., Normahamadi H., Sharifabad A. et al.: Effect of cold stress on cell membrane stability, chlorophyll a and b contain and proline accumulation in wheat (Triticum aiestivum L.) variety. — African J. Agric. Res. 6: 5854–5859, 2011.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krivosheeva A., Tao D.L., Ottander C. et al.: Cold acclimation and photoinhibition of photosynthesis in Scots pine. — Planta 200: 296–305, 1996.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maroni M., Seifert B., Lindvall T. (ed.): Indoor Air Quality — A Comprehensive Reference Book. Pp. 29–87. Elsevier Sci., New York 1995.

    Google Scholar 

  • Medici L.O., Azevedo R.A., Canellas L.P. et al.: Stomatal conductance of maize under water and nitrogen deficits. — Pesqui. Agropecu. Bras. 42: 599–601, 2007.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moran R., Porath D.: Chlorophyll determination in intact tissues using N,N dimethylformamide. — Plant Physiol. 65: 478–479, 1980.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Nobel P.S.: High productivities of certain agronomic CAM species. — In: Winter K., Smith J.A.C. (ed.): Crassulacean Acid Metabolism. Biochemistry, Ecophysiology and Evolution. Pp. 255–265. Springer-Verlag, Berlin 1996.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Oliveira G., Peñuelas J.: Effects of winter cold stress on photosynthesis and photochemicalefficiency of PSII of the Mediterranean Cistus albidus L. and Quercus ilex L. — Plant Ecol. 175: 179–191, 2004.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Orsenigo M., Patrignani G., Rascio N.: Ecophysiology of C3,C4 and CAM plants. — In: Pessarakli M. (ed.): Handbook of Photosynthesis. Pp. 1–25. Marcel Dekker, New York-Basel, Hong Kong 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  • Papinchak H.L., Holcomb E.J., Best T.O. et al.: Effectiveness of houseplants in reducing the indoor air pollutant ozone. — HortTechnology19: 286–290, 2009.

  • Roden J.S., Egerton J.J.G., Ball M.C.: Effect of elevated CO2 on photosynthesis and growth of snow gum Eucalyptuspauciflora seedlings during winter and spring. — Aust. J. Plant Physiol. 26: 37–46, 1999.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sinclair T.R., Tanner C.B., Bennett J.M.: Water-use efficiency in crop production. — Bioscience 34: 36–40, 1984.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tewari A.K., Tripathy B.C.: Temperature-stress-induced impairment of chlorophyll biosynthetic reactions in cucumberand wheat. — Plant Physiol. 117: 851–858, 1998.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • West J.B.: Oxygen enrichment of room air to relieve the hypoxia of high altitude. — Resp. Physiol. 99: 225–232, 1995.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wolverton B.C., McDonald R.C., Watkins E.A.: Foliage plants for removing indoor air pollutants from energy-efficient homes. — Econ. Bot. 38: 224–228, 1984.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wood R.A.: Improving the indoor environment for health, wellbeing and productivity. — In: Greening Cities: A New Urban Ecology. Australian Technology Park. Pp. 13. Sydney 2003.

  • Xu Z., Zhou G.: Responses of leaf stomatal density to water status and its relationship with photosynthesis in a grass. — J. Exp. Bot. 59: 3317–3325, 2008.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Yamori W., Hikosaka K., Way D.A.: Temperature response of photosynthesis in C3, C4, and CAM plants: temperature acclimation and temperature adaptation. — Photosynth Res. 119: 101–117, 2014.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yamori W., Noguchi K., Hikosaka K., Terashima I.: Phenotypic plasticity in photosynthetic temperature acclimation among crop species with different cold tolerances. — Plant Physiol. 152: 388–399, 2010.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering Laboratory, Defence Institute of Bio-Energy Research, Goraparao, P.O.-Arjunpur, Haldwani, Dist.-Nainital (UK) - 263 139, India

    S. M. Gupta, A. Agarwal, B. Dev, K. Kumar, O. Prakash, M. C. Arya & M. Nasim

Authors
  1. S. M. Gupta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. Agarwal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. B. Dev
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. K. Kumar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. O. Prakash
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. M. C. Arya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. M. Nasim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. M. Gupta.

Additional information

Acknowledgments: Authors thank to the Director DIPAS for providing research guidance under DHRUV project. Financial assistance received by K. Kumar and B. Dev from Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), India is also duly acknowledged. First two authors contributed equally.

Electronic supplementary material

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Gupta, S.M., Agarwal, A., Dev, B. et al. Assessment of photosynthetic potential of indoor plants under cold stress. Photosynthetica 54, 138–142 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-015-0173-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-015-0173-7

Additional key words

search

Navigation