Morphological and Physiological Characteristics of Leea coccinia and Leea rubra in Response to Light Flux

Abstract

Two foliage plant species, Leea coccinia L. and Leea rubra L., were evaluated for survival and for morphological and physiological changes in response to low light flux. Both species of Leea survived in light as low as that survived by Ficus benjamina L. Following 124 days under simulated interior lighting conditions of 5.7, 2.6, or 0.70 mol·m-2·day-1, L. coccinia, L. rubra, and F. benjamina plants grown in 92% shade had lower total fresh/dry weight, smaller leaf area, and thinner leaves than plants grown in full sun. After 124 days, plants of all three species in 92% shade were shorter, narrower, and had fewer growing points than plants in full sun. After 124 days, plants of L. coccinia grown in 92% shade contained more total chlorophyll, and more chlorophyll a and b, and they had a lower chlorophyll a: b ratio than plants from full sun. Anthocyanin content in L. rubra plants grown in 92% shade was lower than that of plants grown in full sun. Plants of F. benjamina grown in 92% shade contained more total chlorophyll and more chlorophyll a and b than plants grown in full sun.