Petunia Seedling Growth - HPS Photoperiod Study

Abstract

<jats:p><jats:italic>Petunia</jats:italic> `Red Flash' seedling were grown under HPS (175 μmolm<jats:sup>-2</jats:sup> s<jats:sup>-1</jats:sup>) photoperiod treatments of 10, 12, 14 or 16 hr at 20C soil temperature in a shaded glasshouse where the maximum peak PPF was reduced to 150 μmolm<jats:sup>-2</jats:sup>s<jats:sup>-1</jats:sup>. Seedling dry weight and individual leaf area were determined daily. The photosynthetic rate was determined when seedlings reached the second true leaf stage.</jats:p><jats:p>The dry weight response to increasing photoperiod durations was cubic with a peak at 14 hr. Seedling dry weight increased slowly during days 5 through 10 then increased rapidly during the next 7 to 10 days. This increase coincided with the unfolding of leaves one through four. The total leaf area showed a cubic response to the photoperiod treatments. The leaf area increased slowly then began an exponential increase after day 10. The photosynthetic rate per gram dry weight was increased by the 10 hr photoperiod treatment when compared to the 16 hr treatment. The increased photosynthetic rate was not observed when the data was calculated on a fresh weight or leaf area basis.</jats:p>