Abstract

We investigated the response to increasing intensity of red (R) and far-R (FR) light and to a decrease in R: FR ratio in Pinus sylvestris L. (Scots pine) seedling. The results showed that FR high-irradiance response for hypocotyl elongation may be present in Scots pine and that this response is enhanced by increasing light intensity. However, both hypocotyl inhibition and pigment accumulation were more strongly affected by the R light compared with FR light. This is in contrast to previous reports in Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. In the angio-sperm, A. thaliana R light shows an overall milder effect on inhibition of hypocotyl elongation and on pigment biosynthesis compared with FR suggesting conifers and angiosperms respond very differently to the different light regimes. Scots pine shade avoidance syndrome with longer hypocotyls, shorter cotyledons and lower chlorophyll content in response to shade conditions resembles the response observed in A. thaliana. However, anthocyanin accumulation increased with shade in Scots pine, which again differs from what is known in angiosperms. Overall, the response of seedling development and physiology to R and FR light in Scots pine indicates that the regulatory mechanism for light response may differ between gymnosperms and angiosperms.

Keywords

light intensity; light quality; R:FR ratio; shade avoidance syndrome; seedling morphology; pigment synthesis

Published in

Plant, Cell and Environment
2017, Volume: 40, number: 8, pages: 1332-1340

SLU Authors

• Ranade, Sonali

  • Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Garcia Gil, Rosario

  • Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Genetics


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.12921

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/86344