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Effects of light quality on growth and development, photosynthetic characteristics and content of carbohydrates in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) plants

  • Original Paper
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Photosynthetica

Abstract

In this study, effects of yellow (Y), purple (P), red (R), blue (B), green (G), and white (W) light on growth and development of tobacco plants were evaluated. We showed that monochromatic light reduced the growth, net photosynthetic rate (P N), stomatal conductance, intercellular CO2, and transpiration rate of tobacco. Such a reduction in P N occurred probably due to the stomatal limitation contrary to plants grown under W. Photochemical quenching coefficient (qP), maximal fluorescence of dark-adapted state, effective quantum yield of PSII photochemistry (ΦPSII), and maximal quantum yield of PSII photochemistry (Fv/Fm) of plants decreased under all monochromatic illuminations. The decline in ΦPSII occurred mostly due to the reduction in qP. The increase in minimal fluorescence of dark-adapted state and the decrease in Fv/Fm indicated the damage or inactivation of the reaction center of PSII under monochromatic light. Plants under Y and G showed the maximal nonphotochemical quenching with minimum P N compared with the W plants. Morphogenesis of plants was also affected by light quality. Under B light, plants exhibited smaller angles between stem and petiole, and the whole plants showed a compact type, while the angles increased under Y, P, R, and G and the plants were of an unconsolidated style. The total soluble sugar content increased significantly under B. The reducing sugar content increased under B but decreased significantly under R and G compared with W. In conclusion, different monochromatic light quality inhibited plants growth by reducing the activity of photosynthetic apparatus in plants. R and B light were more effective to drive photosynthesis and promote the plant growth, while Y and G light showed an suppression effect on plants growth. LEDs could be used as optimal light resources for plant cultivation in a greenhouse.

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Abbreviations

B:

blue light

Car:

carotenoids

Chl:

chlorophyll

C i :

intercellular CO2 concentration

DAE:

days of exposure

DM:

dry mass

E :

transpiration rate

F0 :

minimal fluorescence of dark-adapted state

Fm :

maximum fluorescence of dark-adapted state

Fv/Fm :

maximum quantum yield of PSII photochemistry

FM:

fresh mass

G:

green light

g s :

stomatal conductance

LED:

light-emitting diodes

NPQ:

nonphotochemical quenching

P:

purple light

P N :

net photosynthetic rate

qP:

photochemical quenching coefficient

R:

red light

W:

white light

Y:

yellow light

ΦPSII :

quantum efficiency of PSII

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by following grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31260064, 31460059), and the key special project of science and technology (110201101003 TS03), State Tobacco Monopoly Bureau, China.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Life Sciences, Yunnan Normal University, Engineering Research Center of Sustainable Development and Utilization of Biomass Energy, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Biomass Energy and Environmental Biotechnology of Yunnan Province, Kunming Cheng gong, 650500, China

    L. Y. Yang, L. T. Wang & M. Gong

  2. Yunnan Academy of Tobacco Agricultural Sciences, Yu xi, Yunnan, 653l00, China

    J. H. Ma, E. D. Ma & J. Y. Li

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  1. L. Y. Yang
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  2. L. T. Wang
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  3. J. H. Ma
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  4. E. D. Ma
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  5. J. Y. Li
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  6. M. Gong
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Correspondence to M. Gong.

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Yang, L.Y., Wang, L.T., Ma, J.H. et al. Effects of light quality on growth and development, photosynthetic characteristics and content of carbohydrates in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) plants. Photosynthetica 55, 467–477 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-016-0668-x

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