Natural Irradiance Research Articles

The effect of irradiance and temperature on the growth and flowering of Sinningia cardinalis

The effects of irradiance and temperature on growth and flowering in seed propagated Sinningia cardinalis especially to increase the number of flowers were investigated. To understand the effect of irradiance on flowering and the number of flowers, seedlings were grown under 30% shade (30% SH), natural irradiance (ND), and ND supplemented with 14h of high irradiance at 14W/m2 (ND+14HID) at 3 stages (ST) lasted for 40 days (d) at each ST (Expt. 1). Flowering was the earliest (205d) when 20-d old plants were grown under 30% SH during the entire three stages (July 1 through October 31). Longer than 215 d to flower was required when plants received ND+14HID during stage 3 (ST 3) (September 21–October 31). The number of flowers was highest (22) when grown under 30% SH during ST 1 (July 1–August 10) followed by ND or ND+14HID during the ST 2 (August 12–September 20) or ST 3. To investigate the effect of temperature on flowering and the number of flowers, 42 d of 15/13°C (15°C), 19/17°C (19°C), 23/21°C (23°C), and 27/25°C (27°C) and under ND+10HDI were given to 45-d old plants (Expt. 2). The number of days to flower was only significantly accelerated at 23° and 27°C as compared to 15°C and 19°C, but not by irradiance treatments. The highest number of flowers (24) was produced when plants were grown at 15°C under ND+10HID given prior to formation of three pairs of leaves (<3L). To further refine the level of reduced of light irradiance on the number of flowers, plants were grown under 45% shade (45% SH), 30% shade (30% SH) from 08:00 to 20:00h, and ND were given to 128-d old plants between days 0 and 20 (0 and 20), 21 and 40, and 0 and 40 (Expt. 3). The number of flowers (17.6) was significantly increased when grown under 45% SH, especially during the 21–40 d period. To investigate the effect of temperature on plants at visible buds stages, plants were transferred to growth chambers maintained at 18, 21, 24, 27, and 30°C during the day (0800–1600h; 35W/m2) and at 16°C at night for 42d (Expt. 4). Flowering was delayed from 100 to 115 d as day temperatures were increased from 18° to 30°C, and the number of flowers was the highest number (26.5 flowers) at 24°C. Therefore, to promote flowering and to increase the flower numbers, S. cardinalis should be grown under 30% SH or under ND photoperiod during May–October. At a later stage of flower bud development, temperature rather than irradiance controls the speed of flowering. The differences in flowering time for only 16d from sowing to flowering may suggest that S. cardinalis can be considered as a day-neutral plant for flower bud initiation.

Effects of irradiance on non-structural carbohydrates, growth, and hypoglycemic activity of Rhynchelytrum repens (Willd.) C.E. Hubb. (Poaceae)

Irradiance is a crucial factor in plant development. Different radiant energy levels cause different responses related to plant growth and the production and distribution of dry matter. Considering the relationship between light availability and metabolism of carbohydrates and derived compounds, the aim of this work was to assess the effects of irradiance on non-structural carbohydrate contents and composition, as well as on the hypoglycemiant activity of Rhynchelytrum repens, a pantropical grass species popularly used for diabetes treatment. Plants of R. repens growing under natural irradiance (NI) showed increased content of total soluble carbohydrate (TSC), higher fluctuations in starch content (SC) and higher number of tillers. The flowering process of these plants was preceded by an increase in sucrose. However, their water content was low when compared to that of plants cultivated under low irradiance (LI). The ratio root/aerial organs and SC showed no significant differences in plants grown under LI, although TSC increased and a lower number of tillers were observed during the experimental period. In both conditions, sucrose was the ubiquitous sugar and seemed to be involved in the flowering process. A reduction in the blood sugar level was observed through the intra-peritoneal (IP) administration of the precipitate of aqueous extracts obtained from plants growing in both conditions of light; the supernatant fraction showed no hypoglycemic effect.