Abstract
The difference in the levels of light intensity was responded with changes in morphophysiological and biochemical characters of plants, especially in leaves of black pepper. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of several levels of light intensity on the morphophysiological and biochemical characters of leaves of black pepper. The research was conducted in July - November 2017 in Kemuja, Mendobarat, Bangka Belitung. This study used split-plot design with three replications. The main plots were the levels of light intensity, namely 100%, 75%, and 50%. Subplots were varieties of black pepper, namely Petaling 1, Petaling 2, and Nyelungkup. The results showed that there was no interaction between varieties and light intensities. The morphophysiological and biochemical responses of the leaves of the three varieties tested were the same at all levels of light intensity. Light intensity up to 50% has no effect on leaf morphological characters, but leaves become thinner at lower light intensities. Chlorophyll, nitrate reductase activity and leaf sucrose concentration were same at all light intensities up to 50%. Plants exposed to higher light intensity have a higher number of stomata. The results concluded that the light intensity of up to 50% did not cause changes in leaf morphology and biochemistry and only affected leaf stomata density.
Highlights
The important role of light for plants is as a source of energy needed in the photosynthesis process
It can be stated that black pepper plants exposed to 50% light intensity do not experience low light intensity stress
This result was in line with the higher number of Lepidium sativum plant stomata on leaves exposed to high light intensity compared to low light intensity [13]
Summary
The important role of light for plants is as a source of energy needed in the photosynthesis process. The response of plants to decreased light is in two ways, which are shade tolerance and avoidance of shade. Shade tolerant plants carry out biochemical, physiological, anatomical and morphological adaptations to improve light interception and suppression. Shade tolerant plants tend to have thinner leaves [2], increase the ratio of leaf area and specific leaf area [3]. The information on the morpho-physiological and biochemical characters of black pepper leaves can characterize varieties that are adaptive to low light intensity conditions. Black pepper that uses living support is susceptible to exposure to low light intensity. The use of varieties that are tolerant of low light intensity is part of an effort to increase the growth and yield of black pepper using living support. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of light intensity on the morphophysiological and biochemical characters of leaves of several varieties of black pepper
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