Skip to main content
Log in

Photon flux density and light quality induce changes in growth, stomatal development, photosynthesis and transpiration of Withania Somnifera (L.) Dunal. plantlets

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The aim of the study was to establish whether the quantity and the quality of light affect growth and development of Withania somnifera plantlets. We have studied growth and histo-physiological parameters [stomatal characteristics, chloroplastic pigments concentrations, photosynthesis, and transpiration (E)] of W. somnifera plantlets regenerated under various light intensities, or monochromatic light or under a mixture of two colors of light in tissue culture conditions. Plantlets grown under a photon flux density (PFD) of 30 μmol m-2 s-1 showed greater growth and development than those raised under other PFDs. Chlorophylls and carotenoids, numbers of stomata, rate of photosynthesis (PN) and transpiration (E), stomatal conductance (gs), and water use efficiency (WUE) increased with increasing the PFD up to 60 μmol m-2 s-1. Light quality also affected plantlets growth and physiology. Highest growth was observed under fluorescent and in a mixture of blue and red light. Very few stomata were developed in any of the monochromatic light but under fluorescent or under a mixture of two colors stomatal numbers increased. Similarly, gs, E, PN, and WUE were also higher under fluorescent light and under a mixture of red and blue light. Regressional analysis showed a linear relationship between PN (r 2 = 70) and gs and between E (r 2 = 0.95) and gs. In conclusion, both the quality and the quantity of light affect growth of plantlets, development of stomata and physiological responses differently depending on the intensity and the wavelength of light.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

E:

Transpiration

EDTA:

Ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid

gs :

Stomatal conductance

LEDs:

Light emitting diodes

LHC:

Light harvesting complex

PFD:

Photon flux density

PN :

Rate of photosynthesis

POD:

Peroxidase

WUE:

Water use efficiency

References

  • Ali MB, Hahn EJ, Paek KY (2005) Effect of light intensities on antioxidant enzymes and malondialdehyde content during short-term acclimatization on micropropagated Phalaenopsis plantlet. Environ Exp Bot 54:109–120

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson JM, Chow WS, Park Y-I (1995) The grand design of photosynthesis: acclimation of the photosynthetic apparatus to environmental cues. Photosynth Res 46:129–139

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Christophe A, Moulia B, Varlet-Grancher C (2006) Quantitative contributions of blue light and PAR to the photocontrol of plant morphogenesis in Trifolium repens (L.). J Exp Bot 57:2379–2390

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Demmig-Adams B, Adams III (1992) Photoprotection and other responses of plants to high light stress. Annu Rev Plant Physiol Plant Mol Biol 43:599–626

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Goins GD, Yorio NC, Sanwo MM, Brown CS (1997) Photomorphogenesis, photosynthesis, and seed yield of wheat plants grown under red light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with and without supplemental blue lighting. J Exp Bot 48:1407–1413

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gray JD, Kolesik P, Hoj PB, Coombe BG (1999) Confocal measurement of the three-dimensional size and shape of plant parenchyma cells in a developing fruit tissue. Plant J 19:229–236

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jeon MW, Ali MB, Hahn EJ, Paek KY (2005) Effect of photon flux density on the morphology, photosynthesis, and growth of a CAM orchid, Doritaenopsis during post-micropropagation acclimatization. Plant Growth Regul 45:139–147

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim SJ, Hahn EJ, Heo J-W, Paek KY (2004) Effects of LEDs on net photosynthetic rate, growth and leaf stomata of chrysanthemum plantlets in vitro. Sci Hort 101:143–151

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kulkarni AA, Thengane SR, Krishnamurthy KV (2000) Direct shoot regeneration from node, internode, hypocotyl and embryo explants of Withania somnifera. Plant Cell Tiss Org Cult 62:203–209

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leicht SA, Silander JA Jr (2006) Differential responses of invasive Celastrus orbiculatus (celastraceae) and native C. scandens to changes in light quality. Am J Bot 93:972–977

    Google Scholar 

  • Lichtenthaler HK (1987) Chlorophyll and carotenoids: pigments of photosynthetic biomembranes. Method Enzymol 148:350–382

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lin C (2002) Blue light receptors and signal transduction. Plant Cell Suppl 14:S207–S225

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Long SP, Humphries S, Falkowski PG (1994) Photoinhibition of photosynthesis in nature. Ann Rev Plant Physiol Plant Mol Biol 45:633–662

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McCree KJ (1972) The action spectra, absorbance, and quantum yield of photosynthesis in crop plants. J Agric Meteorol 9:191–196

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Montané MH, Tardy F, Kloppstech K, Havaux M (1998) Differential control of xanthophylls and light-induced stress protein, as opposed to light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b protein, during acclimation of barley leaves to light irradiance. Plant Physiol 118:227–235

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Murashige T, Skoog F (1962) A revised medium for rapid growth and bioassays with tobacco tissue culture. Physiol Plant 15:473–497

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Muleo R, Morini S (2006) Light quality regulates shoot cluster growth and development of MM106 apple genotype in in vitro culture. Sci Hort 108(2006):364–370

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murchie EH, Horton P (1997) Acclimation of photosynthesis to irradiance and spectral quality in British plant species: chlorophyll content, photosynthetic capacity and habitat preference. Plant Cell Environ 20:438–448

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nogués S, Allen DJ, Morison JIL, Baker NR (1998) Ultraviolet-B radiation effects on water relations, leaf development, and photosynthesis in droughted pea plants. Plant Physiol 117:173–181

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Niyogi KK (2000) Safety valves for photosynthesis. Curr Opin Plant Biol 3:455–460

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Osmond CB (1994) What is photoinhibition? Some insights from comparisons of shade and sun plants. In: Baker NR, Bowter JR (eds) Photoinhibition of photosynthesis: from molecular mechanisms to the field. BIOS Scientific, Oxford, pp1–24

    Google Scholar 

  • Pandey DM, Kang K-H, Yeo U-D (2005) Effects of excessive photon on the photosynthetic pigments and violaxanthin de-epoxidase activity in the xanthophylls cycle of spinach leaf. Plant Sci 168:161–166

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Park Y-I, Chow WS, Anderson JM, Hurry VM (1996) Differential susceptibility of photosystem II to light stress in light-acclimated pea leaves depends on the capacity for photochemical and non-radiative dissipation of light. Plant Sci 115:137–149

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Powles SB (1984) Photoinhibition of photosynthesis induced by visible light. Annu Rev Plant Physiol 35:15–44

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pütter J (1974) Peroxidases. In: Bergmeyer HU (eds) Methods of enzymatic analysis, Vol. 2. Academic, New York, pp685–690

    Google Scholar 

  • Qin Y, Zhang S, Syed A, Zhang L, Qin Q, Chen K, Xu C (2005) Regeneration mechanism of Toyonoka strawberry under different color plastic films. Plant Sci 168:1425–1431

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Savitch LV, Massacci A, Gray GR, Huner NPA (2000) Acclimation to low temperature or high light mitigates sensitivity to photoinhibition: roles of the Calvin cycle and the Mehler reaction. Aust J Plant Physiol 27:253–264

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sen J, Sharma AK (1991) Micropropagation of Withania somnifera from germinating seeds and shoot tips. Plant Cell Tiss Org Cult 26:71–73

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sharma PN, Kumar P, Tewari RK (2004) Early signs of oxidative stress in wheat plant subjected to zinc deficiency. J Plant Nutr 27:451–463

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Taiz L, Zeiger E (2002) Plant physiology, 3rd edn. Sinauer Associates, Sunderland, MA

    Google Scholar 

  • Tanaka M, Takamura T,Watanabe H, Endo M, Yanagi T, Okamoto K (1998) In vitro growth of Cymbidium plantlets cultured under super bright red and blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs). J Hort Sci Biotechnol 73:39–44

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor AR, Assmann SM (2001) Apparent absence of a redox requirement for blue light activation of pump current in broad bean guard cells. Plant Physiol 125:329–338

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tennessen DJ, Singsaas EL, Sharkey TD (1994) Light-emitting diodes as a light source for photosynthesis research. Photosynth Res 39:85–92

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Terry N (1983) Limiting factors in photosynthesis, Iron stress-mediated changes in light-harvesting and electron transport capacity and its effects on photosynthesis in vivo. Plant Physiol 71:855–860

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wadegaonkar PA, Bhagwat KA, Rai MK (2006) Direct rhizogenesis and establishment of fast growing normal root organ culture of Withania somnifera Dunal. Plant Cell Tiss Org Cult 84:223–225

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walters RG, Shephard F, Rogers JJM, Rolfe SA, Horton P (2003) Identification of mutants of Arabidopsis defective in acclimation of photosynthesis to the light environment. Plant Physiol 131:472–481

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Whitelam GC, Halliday KJ (1999) Phytochrome takes a partner!. Curr Biol 9:225–227

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work is financially supported by the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development (MOE), the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy (MOCIE) and Ministry of Labor (MOLAB) through the fostering project of Lab. of Excellency.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kee-Yoeup Paek.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lee, SH., Tewari, R.K., Hahn, EJ. et al. Photon flux density and light quality induce changes in growth, stomatal development, photosynthesis and transpiration of Withania Somnifera (L.) Dunal. plantlets. Plant Cell Tiss Organ Cult 90, 141–151 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11240-006-9191-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11240-006-9191-2

Keywords

Navigation