Growth, production and flower quality in calla lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica (L.) K. Spreng) exposed to different light quality

Abstract

The quantity, quality and duration of light affect plant growth. Light quality refers to color, or wavelength, that reaches the plant. The spectral manipulation is aimed to specifically promote desired physiological responses. The influence of light quality on growth, production and flowers quality was studied in calla lilly plants (Zantedeschia aethiopica). Plants were grown in Tunja / Colobia, in a greenhouse, under different light qualities (control without colored cover, yellow, green, blue transparent and red) provided by polypropylene filter film. The colored films provided too different levels of shading to plants. The treatments were laid out in a randomized complete block design where each treatment was replicated ten times. The filter films were set 1m above the crop canopy at transplanting until the harvest of plants. The flowers quality related to the length of peduncle was positively affected by shading, however the number of flowers, the flowering time and the dry mass allocation to flowers were not influenced by the applied treatments. The response of plants in relation to growth rates were the result of joint action of both, the quantity and quality of incident light. Calla lily showed versatility to adapt to environmental conditions, which was manifested through physiological and morpho-anatomical changes in plants growing under manipulated spectra.