TITLE:
Effect of Light Intensity on Leaf Photosynthetic Characteristics and Accumulation of Flavonoids in Lithocarpus litseifolius (Hance) Chun. (Fagaceae)
AUTHORS:
Aimin Li, Shenghua Li, Xianjin Wu, Jian Zhang, Anna He, Guang Zhao, Xu Yang
KEYWORDS:
Lithocarpus litseifolius (Hance) Chun., Light Intensity, Photosynthetic Characteristics, Antioxidant Enzyme Activity, Flavones Content, Cultivation
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Forestry,
Vol.6 No.5,
October
13,
2016
ABSTRACT: The active compounds in herb drugs are mainly secondary metabolites,
which are greatly influenced by external conditions. Particularly, light
intensity has a great influence on the photosynthesis and accumulation of secondary
metabolites. In this study, the light intensity was changed, and the influence
of the light intensity on leaf photosynthetic characteristics, antioxidant
enzyme activity and flavone contents of Lithocarpus
litseifoliusp (Hance) Chun. was discussed. The results showed that (1) L. litseifolius is a typical heliophyte.
As the light intensity decreased, the contents of chlorophyll a (Chl a),
chlorophyll b (Chl b) and total chlorophyll (Chl a + b) all increased. However,
the Chl a/b ratio gradually decreased. The daily variation of net
photosynthetic rate changed from a double-peak curve under natural light to
single-peak curve under 20% full light two shading nets. (2) As the light
intensity decreased, the SOD and POD activities and the soluble proteins
content decreased in the leaves. In contrast, the malondialdehyde content
increased. (3) The flavone content was the highest in leaves at one shading nets 60% of full
light, and the lowest occurred in leaves at two shading nets 20% of full light. A
comprehensive analysis indicated that an appropriate shading could induce shade
tolerance in the leaves of L.
litseifolius, which promoted the accumulation of flavonoids. L. litseifolius should be planted in the
lower position of sunny slope or the upper position of shady slope to increase
the content of flavone in the leaves.