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Chinese Journal of Ecology ›› 2020, Vol. 39 ›› Issue (9): 2963-2973.doi: 10.13292/j.1000-4890.202009.013

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Effects of light intensity on physiological and growth characteristics of Paeonia suffruticosavar.papaveracea.

SHANG San-juan1,2, WANG Yi-jing1,2, WANG Nan1,2,YANG Ji-lan4, XU Sheng1,2,3, HE Xing-yuan1,2,3, CHEN Wei1,2,3*   

  1. (1CAS Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China; 2University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; 3Shenyang Arboretum, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China; 4Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China).  
  • Online:2020-09-10 Published:2021-03-10

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Abstract: Paeonia suffruticosavar. papaveracea is an economic crop with ornamental, oil, and medicinal values. It has stronger cold and drought tolerance than Paeonia suffruticosa, but is strict with light requirement. To understand the light requirement and adaptation of P. suffruticosa var. papaveracea, 3-year-old seedlings were used to examine the physiological and growth characteristics under four different light intensities (full sunlight, light with transmission rate 55%, 25% and 15%) by simulating the understory light intensity in northeast China. Compared with the full light condition, P. suffruticosa var. papaveracea seedlings under shading increased the absorption and utilization efficiency of light energy by increasing the pigment content, apparent quantum efficiency (AQE), the maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm) and the light compensation point (LCP) to adapt to the weak light conditions. The seedlings treated with 25% light transmittance had the highest photosynthetic performance and net photosynthetic rate (Pn), which was 1.58 times as much as that under full light. Under full light treatment, foliar malondialdehyde (MDA) and proline (Pro) contents increased significantly (P<0.05), but the photosynthetic system was seriously damaged, with low photosynthetic rate. In shading treatment, plant obtained more light by increasing specific leaf area (SLA), reducing root/crown (R/S), and promoting plant height growth. The height growth of plants under 25% light transmittance treatment was significantly higher than that under full sunlight and 15% light transmittance (P<0.05), being 3.57 and 2.87 times higher respectively. Therefore, 25% light transmittance was the most favorable light condition for the growth of P. suffruticosa var. papaveracea seedlings. Our results provided scientific basis for the introduction and cultivation of P. suffruticosa var.papaveracea seedlings in forests of northeast China.

Key words: light intensity, Paeonia suffruticosa var.papaveracea, physiological property, seedling growth.