Growth, development, and flowering responses of Salicornia genotypes to photoperiod
2022
Izadi, Yazdan | Nabipour, Majid | Ranjbar, Gholam Hassan
Salicornia , a succulent, halophyte, specialty vegetable, development from emergence through flowering and maturity is largely controlled by photoperiod and may be genotype-dependent. Photoperiod affects timing of Salicornia development by changing the amount of light received during the growing season. Plant responses to photoperiod has not been well documented for Salicornia. One challenge to its successful cultivation is to prevent early flowering due to shorter day length at the beginning of the growing season. This study investigated physiological responses and growth characteristics of Salicornia genotypes originating in Europe [S. europaea L. from southern Spain), Central America (S. bigelovii Torrey from gulf of Mexico) and Asia (4 landrace of S. persica L. from the Akhani area, i.e., Bushehr; Central Plateau; Golestan, and Urmia regions of Iran] under photoperiod regimes of 10:14, 12:12, 14:10 or 16:8 h light:dark. Times to plant emergence and first flower appearance were determined. The longest photoperiods (16:8 h) caused increased plant green area, total dry matter and growth rate. Stomatal conductance and photosynthesis were important to understanding Salicornia responses to photoperiod in all genotypes. Maximum stomatal conductance (473.9 mmol∙m⁻²∙s⁻¹) and photosynthesis (11.10 µmol∙CO₂∙m⁻²∙s⁻¹) were due to exposure to 16:8 h for S. persica Bushehr and S. europaea, respectively. Because Salicornia is a short-day plant, growing it under long-day photoperiods will postpone flowering and provide more shoots. Increased growth during vegetative periods strengthens the plant in the reproductive stage, resulting in increased final biomass.
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