Photosynthetica 2017, 55(1):144-152 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-016-0233-7

Green light enhances growth, photosynthetic pigments and CO2 assimilation efficiency of lettuce as revealed by 'knock out' of the 480-560 nm spectral waveband

H. Liu1,2, Y. Fu1,2,3, M. Wang1,3, H. Liu1,2,3,*
1 School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China
2 Institute of Environmental Biology and Life Support Technology, Beihang University, Beijing, China
3 International Joint Research Center of Aerospace Biotechnology & Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China

Adding green component to growth light had a profound effect on biomass accumulation in lettuce. However, conflicting views on photosynthetic efficiency of green light, which have been reported, might occur due to nonuniform light sources used in previous studies. In an attempt to reveal plausible mechanisms underlying the differential photosynthetic and developmental responses to green light, we established a new way of light treatment modeled according to the principle of gene "knock out". Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. youmaicai) was grown under two different light spectra, including a wide spectrum of light-emitting diode (LED) light (CK) and a wide spectrum LED light lacking green (480-560 nm) (LG). Total PPFD was approximately 100 µmol(photon) m-2 s-1 for each light source. As compared to lettuce grown under CK, shoot dry mass, photosynthetic pigment contents, total chlorophyll to carotenoids ratio, absorptance of PPFD, and CO2 assimilation showed a remarkable decrease under LG, although specific leaf area did not show significant difference. Furthermore, plants grown under LG showed significantly lower stomatal conductance, intercellular CO2 concentration, and transpiration compared with CK. The plants under CK exhibited significantly higher intrinsic quantum efficiency, respiration rate, saturation irradiance, and obviously lower compensation irradiance. Finally, we showed that the maximum ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate-saturated rate of carboxylation, the maximum rate of electron transport, and rate of triosephosphate utilization were significantly reduced by LG. These results highlighted the influence of green light on photosynthetic responses under the conditions used in this study. Adding green component (480-560 nm) to growth light affected biomass accumulation of lettuce in controllable environments, such as plant factory and Bioregenerative Life Support System.

Keywords: gas exchange; green light; leafy vegetable; light-response curve; pigment; PN, Ci curve; photosynthesis

Received: September 30, 2015; Accepted: April 1, 2016; Published: March 1, 2017Show citation

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Liu, H., Fu, Y., Wang, M., & Liu, H. (2017). Green light enhances growth, photosynthetic pigments and CO2 assimilation efficiency of lettuce as revealed by 'knock out' of the 480-560 nm spectral waveband. Photosynthetica, 55(1), 144-152. doi: 10.1007/s11099-016-0233-7.
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