ISHS Acta Horticulturae 669: VIII International Symposium on Postharvest Physiology of Ornamental Plants
RESPONSE OF TROPICAL FOLIAGE PLANTS TO INTERIOR LOW LIGHT CONDITIONS |
| Authors: | J. Chen, Q. Wang, R.J. Henny, D.B. McConnell |
| Keywords: | Anthurium, Dieffenbachia, chlorophyll, Ficus, leaf specific area, light acclimatization, ornamental foliage plants, photosynthesis |
| DOI: | 10.17660/ActaHortic.2005.669.5 |
| Abstract:
Tropical ornamental foliage plants have been widely used for interior plantscaping. This report summarizes our investigations on how some flowering and foliage plants adjust to interior low light conditions. Ficus benjamina ‘Common’, a green-leafed plant, adapted by increasing specific leaf area, internode length, and chlorophyll b content. Variegated-leafed Dieffenbachia maculata ‘Camille’ responded by decreasing leaf area, degree of variegation, and increasing chlorophyll content in the yellow-white leaf areas. Individual leaves of a flowering foliage plant, Anthurium × ‘Red Hot’, sustained net photosynthesis rates (Pn) under interior conditions and delayed leaf senescence. It produced new leaves and flowers. Additionally, changes in canopy configuration of both Anthurium and Dieffenbachia increased light interception. All plants investigated apparently maximized net photosynthesis rates under the low light environment. The species investigated maximized their net photosynthesis rates differently. | |
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