Adaptation to low light levels by Hydrilla
Mature, apical stem sections of hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata (L.F.) Royle) were collected at Orange Lake, Florida to determine their adaptability to low light levels. These plants were grown in controlled environment chambers at quantum flux densities varying from below the photosynthetic light compensation point to near light saturation. Growth ratesa expressed as fresh weight, dry weight and stem length, were measured over a 5-week period. Concomitantly, chlorophyll content, photosynthetic, photorespiratory, and respiratory characteristics were determined. The plants adapted their photosynthetic and respiratory characteristics to make more effective use of the lower light levels. Young shoots, developing from tubers, exhibited similar adaptations to low light. Tuber size influenced both shoot survival and shoot length when they were germinated and held in complete darkness. The largest tubers produced shoots that survived longer and had longer stems. The lowest light level to which hydrilla plants could adapt was 10 to 12 ..mu..einstein/m/sup 2/.sec. Below this quantum flux density the plants were incapable of increasing in dry weight.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Florida, Gainesville
- OSTI ID:
- 6640164
- Journal Information:
- J. Aquat. Plant Manage.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Aquat. Plant Manage.; (United States) Vol. 15; ISSN JAPMD
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Seasonal variation in the biomass, tuber density, and photosynthetic metabolism of Hydrilla in three Florida lakes
Global climate change response program. Assessment of responses of `hydrilla verticillata` to atmospheric change with modeling predictions for four western United States reservoirs. Final report
Related Subjects
Aquatic-- Basic Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
BIOLOGICAL ADAPTATION
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGY
BIOMASS
BOTANY
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHLOROPHYLL
DENSITY
ECOSYSTEMS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ENERGY SOURCES
FRESH WATER
GROWTH
HETEROCYCLIC ACIDS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MASSLESS PARTICLES
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
PHOTONS
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PHYTOCHROMES
PIGMENTS
PLANT GROWTH
PLANT STEMS
PLANTS
PORPHYRINS
RADIATIONS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
RESPIRATION
SENSITIVITY
SYNTHESIS
TOLERANCE
TUBERS
VISIBLE RADIATION
WATER
WEIGHT
WEIGHT MEASUREMENT