Influence of photoselective covers on the growth and stomatal anatomy of Agave durangensis Gentry, under protected conditions
##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.main##
Keywords
agave cenizo, light environment, biomass, stomatal density
Resumen
Objective: To study the effect of light modification using photoselective covers on the growth and stomatal traits of agave cenizo (Agave durangensis Gentry) seedlings.
Design/methodology/approach: Seedlings were grown for eight months under different types of cover: 1) no cover (outdoor), 2) greenhouse, 3) blue net, 4) black net, 5) red net, and 6) green net. Height, rosette diameter, true diameter, number of expanded leaves, °Brix, biomass of the different components (root, cone, leaf), leaf area (LA), specific leaf area (SLA), and leaf succulence (FS), as well as different stomatal traits were evaluated.
Results: Seedlings under black and green nets had the lower development in height (7.6 y 8.2 cm) and diameter (2.0 y 2.2 cm), but increased SLA (100 y 89.7 cm2 g-1) and biomass allocation to leaves. Seedlings grown under red net, outdoors, and in the greenhouse showed the greatest growth in height (9.7, 8.8 y 8.5 cm) and diameter (2.5, 2.3 y 2.4 cm), and an increased biomass allocation to leaves, but with the lowest SLA values (< 75 cm2 g-1). In addition, the red net condition marginally increased the increase in stomatal density (2500 and 1100 cm-2, in the adaxial and abaxial surfaces, respectively). In general, the dimensions of the stomatal characters were smaller in the greenhouse condition, while they were favored in the blue net condition.
Limitations on study/implications: In addition to the practical implications for the seedling production in nurseries, the results contribute to understanding the species' capacity to acclimatize to heterogeneous light environments.
Findings/conclusions: Due to its heliophilous nature, A. durangensis seedlings have better development in conditions of greater luminosity (outdoors). However, photoselective covers, such as red and blue nets, improve some stomatal characteristics, which can contribute to the physiological performance of the plants.