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Article

Effect of Light Intensity on Morphology, Photosynthesis and Carbon Metabolism of Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) Seedlings

by
Wei Tang
1,
Haipeng Guo
1,
Carol C. Baskin
2,3,
Wangdan Xiong
1,
Chao Yang
1,
Zhenyi Li
1,
Hui Song
1,
Tingru Wang
1,
Jianing Yin
1,
Xueli Wu
1,
Fuhong Miao
1,
Shangzhi Zhong
1,
Qibo Tao
1,
Yiran Zhao
1 and
Juan Sun
1,*
1
College of Grassland Science, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China
2
Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506-0225, USA
3
Department of Plant and Soil Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546-0312, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Plants 2022, 11(13), 1688; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11131688
Submission received: 31 May 2022 / Revised: 21 June 2022 / Accepted: 23 June 2022 / Published: 25 June 2022
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effects of LED Light Spectra and Intensities on Plant Growth)
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Abstract

To understand how light intensity influences plant morphology and photosynthesis in the forage crop alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. cv. Zhongmu 1), we investigated changes in leaf angle orientation, chlorophyll fluorescence, parameters of photosynthesis and expression of genes related to enzymes involved in photosynthesis, the Calvin cycle and carbon metabolism in alfalfa seedlings exposed to five light intensities (100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 μmol m−2 s−1) under hydroponic conditions. Seedlings grown under low light intensities had significantly increased plant height, leaf hyponasty, specific leaf area, photosynthetic pigments, leaf nitrogen content and maximal PSII quantum yield, but the increased light-capturing capacity generated a carbon resource cost (e.g., decreased carbohydrates and biomass accumulation). Increased light intensity significantly improved leaf orientation toward the sun and upregulated the genes for Calvin cycle enzymes, thereby increasing photosynthetic capacity. Furthermore, high light (400 and 500 μmol m−2 s−1) significantly enhanced carbohydrate accumulation, accompanied by gene upregulation and increased activity of sucrose and starch-synthesis-related enzymes and those involved in carbon metabolism. Together, these results advance our understanding of morphological and physiological regulation in shade avoidance in alfalfa, which would guide the identification of suitable spatial planting patterns in the agricultural system.
Keywords: alfalfa; light intensity; photosynthesis; growth; adaption alfalfa; light intensity; photosynthesis; growth; adaption

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MDPI and ACS Style

Tang, W.; Guo, H.; Baskin, C.C.; Xiong, W.; Yang, C.; Li, Z.; Song, H.; Wang, T.; Yin, J.; Wu, X.; et al. Effect of Light Intensity on Morphology, Photosynthesis and Carbon Metabolism of Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) Seedlings. Plants 2022, 11, 1688. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11131688

AMA Style

Tang W, Guo H, Baskin CC, Xiong W, Yang C, Li Z, Song H, Wang T, Yin J, Wu X, et al. Effect of Light Intensity on Morphology, Photosynthesis and Carbon Metabolism of Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) Seedlings. Plants. 2022; 11(13):1688. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11131688

Chicago/Turabian Style

Tang, Wei, Haipeng Guo, Carol C. Baskin, Wangdan Xiong, Chao Yang, Zhenyi Li, Hui Song, Tingru Wang, Jianing Yin, Xueli Wu, and et al. 2022. "Effect of Light Intensity on Morphology, Photosynthesis and Carbon Metabolism of Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) Seedlings" Plants 11, no. 13: 1688. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11131688

APA Style

Tang, W., Guo, H., Baskin, C. C., Xiong, W., Yang, C., Li, Z., Song, H., Wang, T., Yin, J., Wu, X., Miao, F., Zhong, S., Tao, Q., Zhao, Y., & Sun, J. (2022). Effect of Light Intensity on Morphology, Photosynthesis and Carbon Metabolism of Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) Seedlings. Plants, 11(13), 1688. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11131688

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