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- Title
Features of the Duckweed Lemna That Support Rapid Growth under Extremes of Light Intensity.
- Authors
Stewart, Jared J.; Adams III, William W.; López-Pozo, Marina; Doherty Garcia, Naiara; McNamara, Maureen; Escobar, Christine M.; Demmig-Adams, Barbara
- Abstract
This study addresses the unique functional features of duckweed via comparison of Lemna gibba grown under controlled conditions of 50 versus 1000 µmol photons m−2 s−1 and of a L. minor population in a local pond with a nearby population of the biennial weed Malva neglecta. Principal component analysis of foliar pigment composition revealed that Malva was similar to fast-growing annuals, while Lemna was similar to slow-growing evergreens. Overall, Lemna exhibited traits reminiscent of those of its close relatives in the family Araceae, with a remarkable ability to acclimate to both deep shade and full sunlight. Specific features contributing to duckweed's shade tolerance included a foliar pigment composition indicative of large peripheral light-harvesting complexes. Conversely, features contributing to duckweed's tolerance of high light included the ability to convert a large fraction of the xanthophyll cycle pool to zeaxanthin and dissipate a large fraction of absorbed light non-photochemically. Overall, duckweed exhibited a combination of traits of fast-growing annuals and slow-growing evergreens with foliar pigment features that represented an exaggerated version of that of terrestrial perennials combined with an unusually high growth rate. Duckweed's ability to thrive under a wide range of light intensities can support success in a dynamic light environment with periodic cycles of rapid expansion.
- Subjects
DUCKWEEDS; LEMNA minor; LIGHT intensity; PRINCIPAL components analysis; PORTULACA oleracea; ZEAXANTHIN
- Publication
Cells (2073-4409), 2021, Vol 10, Issue 6, p1481
- ISSN
2073-4409
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3390/cells10061481