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Features of the Duckweed Lemna That Support Rapid Growth under Extremes of Light Intensity
- Source :
- Cells, Cells, Vol 10, Iss 1481, p 1481 (2021), Volume 10, Issue 6
- Publication Year :
- 2021
- Publisher :
- MDPI AG, 2021.
-
Abstract
- This study addresses the unique functional features of duckweed via comparison of Lemna gibba grown under controlled conditions of 50 versus 1000 µmol photons m−2 s−1 and of a L. minor population in a local pond with a nearby population of the biennial weed Malva neglecta. Principal component analysis of foliar pigment composition revealed that Malva was similar to fast-growing annuals, while Lemna was similar to slow-growing evergreens. Overall, Lemna exhibited traits reminiscent of those of its close relatives in the family Araceae, with a remarkable ability to acclimate to both deep shade and full sunlight. Specific features contributing to duckweed’s shade tolerance included a foliar pigment composition indicative of large peripheral light-harvesting complexes. Conversely, features contributing to duckweed’s tolerance of high light included the ability to convert a large fraction of the xanthophyll cycle pool to zeaxanthin and dissipate a large fraction of absorbed light non-photochemically. Overall, duckweed exhibited a combination of traits of fast-growing annuals and slow-growing evergreens with foliar pigment features that represented an exaggerated version of that of terrestrial perennials combined with an unusually high growth rate. Duckweed’s ability to thrive under a wide range of light intensities can support success in a dynamic light environment with periodic cycles of rapid expansion.
- Subjects :
- 0106 biological sciences
0301 basic medicine
Light
Perennial plant
QH301-705.5
Acclimatization
Lemna gibba
Population
Biology
01 natural sciences
Article
03 medical and health sciences
Malva
Botany
Araceae
Biology (General)
education
photochemical efficiency
Shade tolerance
education.field_of_study
Lemna
chlorophyll fluorescence
carotenoids
food and beverages
xanthophyll cycle
Pigments, Biological
General Medicine
tocopherol
biology.organism_classification
Plant Leaves
Light intensity
antioxidants
zeaxanthin
030104 developmental biology
Malva neglecta
protein
010606 plant biology & botany
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 20734409
- Volume :
- 10
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Cells
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....889c7d3a6252728f17ef638ae43e50b3