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Evaluation of shade tolerance of one annual and five perennial Medicagospecies under different artificial shade levels

Authors :
Gao, Yang
Zhang, Youxin
Yu, Jialin
Liu, Li
Wang, Yawen
Zhang, Jingxue
Chen, Minghui
Jonathan, Mahoney
Yan, Xuebing
Min, Xueyang
Wei, Zhenwu
Zhang, Chuan-Jie
Source :
New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science; October 2023, Vol. 51 Issue: 4 p566-584, 19p
Publication Year :
2023

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe objective of this study was to evaluate the shade tolerance of one annual and five perennial Medicagogenotypes under different artificial shade levels and determine the shade tolerant candidates for an intercropping system. The results showed that shade significantly affected branch number and plant dry weight, but not plant height and leaf area. The mean branch number and dry weight plant−1(g) across the tested genotypes were 42.5 and 2.2 under non-shade condition, decreased to 39.5 and 2.0 at 25% shade level, and were further reduced to 17.2 and 0.4 at 75% shade level, respectively. The mean chlorophyll content (mg g−1) and maximum quantum yield of Photosystem II (Fv/Fm) across the tested genotypes at 75% shade level (38.8; 0.6) were significantly lower than other shade levels (46.6–47.3; 0.69–0.70). Antioxidant enzyme activity and malondialdehyde production in Medicagoleaves increased concomitantly with increased shade levels compared to non-shade control. The evaluation showed that annual M. polymorpha‘Jinhuacai’ (range of mean: 0.97–5.97 g) significantly out-yielded those perennials (range of mean: 0.26–2.57 g) by a wide margin at all shade levels. This study would provide baseline information on shade tolerance of Medicagospecies for the selection of intercropped candidates in an intercropping system.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
01140671
Volume :
51
Issue :
4
Database :
Supplemental Index
Journal :
New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science
Publication Type :
Periodical
Accession number :
ejs64545484
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1080/01140671.2022.2035412