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Renowned for its leaf-spice attributes, kaffir lime has economic value that is worthy of intensifying amidst environmental threats, such as drought stress. This study aimed to analyze the morpho-physiological traits of kaffir lime in response to defoliation and drought stress. Kaffir lime was subjected to drought, defoliation, and a combination of both arranged in a randomised complete block design. Concerning morphology, defoliated lime produced a new flush that grows like a crown, while drought-treated plants displayed a bent pose with withered, edge-rolled, and drooping leaves. Higher leaf drop incidences were also noticed in drought-stressed plants. A combination of defoliation and drought stress produced severe flushing disruption by reducing 61% flush number, 77% flush fresh weight, and 74% flush dry weight, compared to undefoliated plants in normal irrigated conditions. Regardless of drought stress conditions, leaf production did not show significant differences among all defoliated plants. Defoliated plants maintained their photosynthetic rate and water use efficiency, leading to the absence of bent flush and rolling leaves as morphological markers of drought-treated plants. It is implied that defoliation can be a practical strategy for adapting kaffir lime in a drought environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gibberellin regulates the flowering and fruiting response of fruit-oriented citrus, but there are a lack of studies on the methods for boosting the production of leaf-oriented citrus. This study aimed to analyze the effects of exogenous gibberellins and pruning on the leaf production of kaffir lime. Kaffir lime seedlings, grafted into rangpur lime, were arranged in a split-plot design under an open field condition. Four gibberellin concentrations (control, 0.005%, 0.01%, and 0.02%) and two pruning levels (no pruning and pruning at 30 cm main stem) were subjected to selected seedlings. The result showed a contrasting effect between gibberellin and pruning on the plant height and shoot number. Pruning significantly reduced the flush number, flush length, leaf length, leaf area, and leaf weight by 38%, 44%, 17%, 26%, and 28%, respectively. Without pruning, applying 0.02% gibberellin could produce the longest flush, with an increase in the number and weight of leaves by about 77% and 64%, compared with the control, respectively. Multivariate analysis also confirmed the positive effect of gibberellin on leaf production. However, these positive results are diminished by pruning due to limited source capacity, as indicated by the fewer leaves. Future research is required to analyze whether increasing gibberellin concentrations can speed up the recovery of post-pruned kaffir lime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This work assessed the physiological properties of dark-colored caladium (dark green, pinkish-dark green, dark maroon, maroon, and green lime) and light-colored caladium (yellow, white, young pinkish green, pink, and red). • A higher rate of photosynthesis was positively correlated to the higher stomatal conductance and lower RGB in the dark-colored caladium group rather than the light-colored ones. • The main characteristics of the group of light-colored leaves were a high RGB, LUE, and leaf temperature. This work aims to analyze the physiological characteristics of caladium ornamental plants with different leaf colors. Ten leaf colors, i.e., dark maroon, maroon, red, pink, white, pinkish young green, yellow, lime green, pinkish dark green, and dark green, were arranged in a completely randomized design and subjected to colorimetric red–green–blue (RGB) and portable photosynthesis measurement. Caladium leaf color, defined by the colorimetric RGB value, significantly impacted leaf physiological properties. Heatmap analysis apparently clustered caladiums into dark-colored group and light-colored ones. Dark-colored caladiums, as indicated by lower RGB values, exhibited higher photosynthesis rate, stomatal conductance, and water use efficiency (WUE). In contrast, light-colored caladium show a higher RGB, leaf temperature and light use efficiency (LUE) than the dark ones. By considering their leaf color-based physiological adaptability, this work recommends moderate sunlight and adequate water conditions for growing light-colored caladiums, while dark caladiums potentially tolerate excess light and water scarcity. Further research, including quantitative pigment analysis, is necessary to verify this hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]