Abstract
Studies on crop response to light quality (red (R) to far-red (FR) light ratio) often recommend early weed removal to reduce the effects of shade avoidance responses on crop yield. However, it is unclear whether crops are able to distinguish reflected light quality of kin from that of nonkin. We evaluated the response of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) to reflected FR light from sugar beet, common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album L.), Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), and bare soil (control) under outdoor conditions in 2016 and 2017. Treatments were completely randomized with 10 replications per treatment. The study methods ensured there was no direct resource competition. The reflected R:FR of plant species ranged from 0.06 (common lambsquarters) to 0.24 (sugar beet) compared to 0.7 for the bare soil. In 2016 and 2017, there were 2 to 4 more leaves in the sugar beet surrounded by soil compared to sugar beet surrounded by neighboring species. There was up to 47, 57, 43, and 23% reduction in sugar beet leaf area, shoot dry weight, root diameter, and root dry weight, respectively, due to reflected R:FR light from neighboring species. Sugar beet did not respond differently to reflected light quality of kin compared to nonkin.
Highlights
IntroductionCompetition among plants arises due to the limited availability of nutrients, water, and light [1]
Competition among plants arises due to the limited availability of nutrients, water, and light [1].Plants, though sessile, are not passive
Sugar beet did not respond differently to reflected light quality of kin compared to nonkin
Summary
Competition among plants arises due to the limited availability of nutrients, water, and light [1]. Most studies on shade avoidance evaluated the effects of reflected light quality from heterospecifics (different species) on crop growth and yield [5,9,10]. Photoreceptor-mediated kin recognition is important because studies on shade avoidance recommend early weed removal as a management strategy for reducing the effects of shade avoidance on crop yield [7,21,22]. In the absence of weeds, it could be useful for plants to be able to distinguish light quality of conspecifics from that of heterospecifics to prevent yield loss due to shade avoidance. Since kin recognition may be density-dependent [24], understanding crop response to reflected light quality from conspecifics and heterospecifics is important. This study, evaluated the response of sugar beet to reflected light quality from kin and nonkin
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