Seedling growth and leaf pigments of Cleyera japonica with shade treatments.

Abstract

To determine branch yield and quality as well as to provide a theoretical basis for the formulation of cultural practices in a branch-producing plantation of Cleyera japonica，a shading experiment was carried out to measure growth indexes and leaf pigment content with shading treatments of 100% full-light （control），50%，20% and 12%. Results showed that（1） chlorophyll a，chlorophyll b，and anthocyanin in the leaf of C. japonica increased with an increase in shading with chlorophyll a，b and anthocyanin highest with the 12% shading treatment，which was significantly more than the control. （2） With 50% shading，seedling height，diameter，biomass，root to shoot ratio，specific leaf area were highest，whereas leaf spacing was lowest. As shading intensity increased from 50% to 12%，seedling growth was inhibited. Since the one-layer shading treatment （50%） promoted seedling growth，increased chlorophyll content，and reduced leaf spacing，utilization of C. japonica branches increased.［Ch，3 tab. 15 ref.］