Malays. Appl. Biol. (2007) 36(1): 79–83
EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT LIGHT INTENSITIES AND GROWTH MEDIA ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF FRESHWATER LAWN PENNYWORT (Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides Lam.)
CHUAH TSE-SENG1, YAP CHEE-HEUNG1 and ISMAIL B.S.2*
1 Faculty of Agro-technology and Food Science, Kolej Universiti Sains danTeknologi Malaysia, KUSTEM, 21030, KualaTerengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia
2 School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
*E-mail:
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ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to determine the interaction between growth medium and light intensity on the growth of the freshwater aquatic plant, Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides under glasshouse conditions. The plants were grown with two growth media, namely Hoagland nutrient solution with or without sand, at three different light levels, viz 100% (800 – 1200 ?Em-2s-1), 60% (480 – 720 ?Em-2s-1) and 40% (320 – 480 ?Em-2s-1). Generally, light could stimulate the growth of H. sibthorpioides when the light level was increased from 60% to 100% regardless of growth media. However, no significant difference was found in all growth parameters when light level was increased from 40% to 60%. Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides exhibited the highest number of new leaves formed, dry weight of total new leaves and leaf surface area at 100% light level under nutrient solution medium without sand, suggesting growth of H. sibthorpioides is optimal when grown under this medium at the 100% light level.
ABSTRAK
Tujuan kajian ini ialah untuk menentukan interaksi antara media pertumbuhan dan keamatan cahaya terhadap pertumbuhan pada tumbuhan akuatik air tawar Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides dalam keadaan rumah hijau. Tumbuhan ini ditanam dalam dua medium iaitu larutan Hoagland bersama pasir atau tanpa pasir, di bawah keadaan tiga keamatan cahaya iaitu 100% (800-1200 ?Em-2s-1), 60% (480 – 720 ?Em-2s-1) dan 40% (320 – 480 ?Em-2s-1). Pada amnya, cahaya boleh merangsang pertumbuhan H. sibthorpioides bila keamatan cahaya meningkat dari 60% ke 100% tanpa mengira medium pertumbuhannya. Bagaimanapun tiada perbezaan signifikan didapati dalam semua parameter pertumbuhan apabila cahaya meningkat dari 40% ke 60%. Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides menunjukkan pembentukan daun baru yang tinggi, berat kering daun baru dan keluasan permukaan daun pada 100% cahaya dalam nutrien tanpa pasir, yang mana ini mencadangkan pertumbuhan H. sibthorpioides optimum bila ditanam dalam medium ini pada keamatan cahaya 100%.
Key words: Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides, light level, growth media, interaction effects
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