Effects of Shading Treatments on the Growth and Physiological Indexes of Potentilla anserina L. in Dry Area of Northern Shaanxi, China

Abstract

Potentilla anserina L. is a widely distributed medicinal and edible perennial herb, which has a strong adaptability to the environment, thus it is necessary to explore its growth and physiological status under different shadings for further developing and utilization. In this study, P. anserina from the dry area of Northern Shaanxi was took as material, different shading treatments including full light (S0), 30% (S1), 50% (S2) and 70% shading (S3) were adopted, to analyze the effects on its growth and physiological status. In the results, under different shading levels, the growth indexes of P. anserina reached the maximum under 30% shading, and the water content of the aboveground part showed increasing first then decreasing. The content of chlorophyll a and b in leaves increased with shading degree, while the chlorophyll a/b decreased with the increase of shading degree. In addition, the photosynthetic parameters of P. anserina under different shading were different (P <0.05). The net photosynthetic rate (Pn) curve showed single-peak, and reached the maximum under S1 treatment, which was positively correlated with the diurnal variation trend of intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci). Under the treatment of S0 and S1, the diurnal variation trend of transpiration rate was the same, showing a “double peak” curve, and the stomatal conductance of all treatments showed a gradual downward trend. Moreover, the diurnal variation trend of transpiration rate under S0 and S1 treatments was the same, showing a double-peak curve, and the stomatal conductance of all treatments showed a gradually decreasing trend. In conclusion, P. anserina was proved to be a shade tolerant ground cover, and could exert the maximum ecological benefits under 30% shade environment. This is conducive to its further planting, promotion and utilization.