Effects of Different Light Levels on the Initial Growth and Photosynthesis of Croton urucurana Baill. in Southeastern Brazil

Effects of Different Light Levels on the Initial Growth and Photosynthesis of Croton urucurana Baill. in Southeastern Brazil

background

This study measures the effect of different levels of shading on growth, chlorophyll concentration, and photosynthetic rate of Croton urucurana, a pioneer species potentially important in reforestation efforts in riparian forests of Brazil.

Research Goals & Methods

The authors tested seedlings at 0% shade (full sunlight), 30% shade, 50% shade, and 70% shade.

Conclusions & Takeaways

Plants grown at 70% shade had higher leaf and stem dry weight accumulation than plants grown in full sunlight, and plants grown in more shade had higher plant height and higher leaf area than plants grown in full sunlight. Plants grown in less shade had higher dry biomass of roots than shaded plants. As shade level increased, chlorophyll concentration increased and photosynthetic rate decreased. The authors conclude that C. urucurana shows superior development under conditions of 70% shading than in less shaded or full sunlight conditions.

 

Reference: 

de Alvarenga AAlves, de Castro EMauro, Junior Éde Castro, Magalhães MMurad. Effects of different light levels on the initial growth and photosynthesis of Croton urucurana Baill. in southeastern Brazil. Revista Árvore. 2003;27:53–57. doi:10.1590/s0100-67622003000100007.

Affiliation: 

  • Dep. de Biologia da Universidade Federal de Lavras-UFLA, Lavras, MG, Brazil