%0 Journal Article %A Li-Yan MAO %A Xiao-Qian MU %A Gai-Gai DONG %A Hong-An CUI %A Jun-Xiang RAN %T Influence of light intensity on growth of Datura stramonium and D. stramonium var. tatual %D 2012 %R 10.3724/SP.J.1258.2012.00243 %J Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology %P 243-252 %V 36 %N 3 %X

Aims Our objective was to investigate the influence of light intensity on growth of Datura stramonium and D. stramonium var. tatual.
Methods Plants of D. stramonium var. tatual and D. stramonium were grown under five levels of light intensity in light incubators. We determined plant growth and pigment concentrations in leaves and stems and studied leaf anatomy.
Important findings Both plants grew best under 13 000 and 18 000 lx and had increased leaf and stem biomass with increased light intensity. Under the same light intensity, stem length, basal stem diameter, blade number, bud length, leaf and stem biomass of D. stramonium var. tatual appeared higher than those of D. stramonium, but most differences were statistically insignificant. Leaf, palisade and spongy thickness and stomatal density and index all increased with increasing light intensity. Under the same light intensity, stomatal density and index of D. stramonium var. tatual were significantly higher than those of D. stramonium. For both species, chlorophyll a, b and carotenoid concentrations in leaves showed open downward parabolic trends with increasing light intensity. Chlorophyll a, b and carotenoid concentrations increased with increasing light intensity in stems of D. stramonium var. tatual, but showed open downward parabolic trends in D. stramonium. Concentrations of anthocyanin, flavonoids, and total phenols of the two species increased with increasing light intensity. Stems of D. stramonium var. tatual became purple, presumably due to high levels of anthocyanin, flavonoids and total phenols. Higher levels of anthocyanin, flavonoids and total phenols, together with the higher stomatal density and index, may account for the wider distribution of D. stramonium var. tatual.

%U https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.3724/SP.J.1258.2012.00243