Growth, Physiological Response, and Quality Characteristics of Weeping Fig in Response to Shading Levels and Climatic Conditions

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The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of light availability and the climatic conditions on the growth and quality of weeping fig (Ficus benjamina L.). Plants of cv. Danielle were grown under five shading conditions (0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, and 80% reduction of the incident irradiance inside the greenhouse) and two cultivation periods (from May to October and from December to May). The light intensity in no shading treatment ranged from 6.3 to 16.4 MJ·m−2·d−1 in May to October and from 4.6 to 14.5 MJ·m−2·d−1 in December to May. Depending on climatic conditions, the light reduction resulting from shading produced strong differences in the growth of weeping fig. With increasing shading, the dry weight decreased from 282.4 to 113.3 g/plant during the first growth period, which was the period characterized by the highest values of global radiation and temperature, and from 120.8 to 56.8 g/plant during the second period. The effects of reduced light were evident in the plant quality, which is associated with the canopy and leaf characteristics. In particular, as a result of the increase of the apparent quantum yield and reduction of light compensation point, the most shaded plants showed a photosynthetic advantage over the control (0%) at a low irradiance level. Increased shading caused a reduction of plant compactness because of the increase of the internode length and branch insertion angle. Although shading also resulted in a reduction in the leaf number, the plant ornamental value was unaffected because of the highest unit leaf area (+72%) in both of the growth periods. Based on our results, the greatest decrease in irradiance (60% and 80% of shading) reduced the plant growth and compactness more in the growth period characterized by the highest values of global radiation and temperature, whereas the quality of the plants was improved by shading in both of the growth periods.