DAILY PHOTOSYNTHETIC COURSE OF CALLA LILY PLANTS

Abstract

The calla lily ornamental plant (Zantedeschia aethiopica) is grown and marketed in many countries. Studies on daily variation in photosynthesis are critical for understanding how a plant behaves in its growing environment. The objective of this study was to evaluate the daily photosynthetic course of calla lily plants grown in pots in a greenhouse under 50% shade. Gas exchange (gs, A, E, Ci, WUE, iWUE, and iCE) and chlorophyll indices (a, b, and total) were evaluated from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. over three days. The values of all variables were greater at high temperatures (11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.), except for gs, Ci, and chlorophyll b, which were higher at low temperatures (7:00 to 9:00 a.m.) Therefore, it is suggested that calla lily producers maintain the water status between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to optimize photosynthetic processes, and consequently, the growth and development of this plant. Correspondingly, irrigation of this crop should be performed prior to the interval mentioned above.

Keywords

• Chlorophyll
• Gas Exchange
• Ornamental Plants
• Zantedeschia aethiopica