Photosynthetica 2016, 54(1):138-142 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-015-0173-7

Assessment of photosynthetic potential of indoor plants under cold stress

S. M. Gupta1,*, A. Agarwal1, B. Dev1, K. Kumar1, O. Prakash1, M. C. Arya1, M. Nasim1
1 Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering Laboratory, Defence Institute of Bio-Energy Research, Goraparao, P.O.-Arjunpur, Haldwani, Dist.-Nainital (UK) - 263 139, India

Photosynthetic parameters including net photosynthetic rate (P N), transpiration rate (E), water-use efficiency (WUE), and stomatal conductance (g s) were studied in indoor C3 plants Philodendron domesticum (Pd), Dracaena fragans (Df), Peperomia obtussifolia (Po), Chlorophytum comosum (Cc), and in a CAM plant, Sansevieria trifasciata (St), exposed to various low temperatures (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25°C). All studied plants survived up to 0°C, but only St and Cc endured, while other plants wilted, when the temperature increased back to room temperature (25°C). The P N declined rapidly with the decrease of temperature in all studied plants. St showed the maximum P N of 11.9 μmol m-2 s-1 at 25°C followed by Cc, Po, Pd, and Df. E also followed a trend almost similar to that of P N. St showed minimum E (0.1 mmol m-2 s-1) as compared to other studied C3 plants at 25°C. The E decreased up to ≈4-fold at 5 and 0°C. Furthermore, a considerable decline in WUE was observed under cold stress in all C3 plants, while St showed maximum WUE. Similarly, the g s also declined gradually with the decrease in the temperature in all plants. Among C3 plants, Pd and Po showed the maximum g s of 0.07 mol m-2 s-1 at 25°C followed by Df and Cc. However, St showed the minimum g s that further decreased up to ∼4-fold at 0°C. In addition, the content of photosynthetic pigments [chlorophyll a, b, (a+b), and carotenoids] was varying in all studied plants at 0°C. Our findings clearly indicated the best photosynthetic potential of St compared to other studied plants. This species might be recommended for improving air quality in high-altitude closed environments.

Keywords: house plants; low-temperature stress; net photosynthetic rate; photosynthetic pigment; stomatal conductance; transpiration rate; water-use efficiency

Received: October 16, 2014; Accepted: July 8, 2015; Published: March 1, 2016Show citation

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Gupta, S.M., Agarwal, A., Dev, B., Kumar, K., Prakash, O., Arya, M.C., & Nasim, M. (2016). Assessment of photosynthetic potential of indoor plants under cold stress. Photosynthetica, 54(1), 138-142. doi: 10.1007/s11099-015-0173-7.
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