Light from below matters: Quantifying the consequences of responses to far-red light reflected upwards for plant performance in heterogeneous canopies.

ABSTRACT: In vegetation stands, plants receive red to far-red ratio (R:FR) signals of varying strength from all directions. However, plant responses to variations in R:FR reflected from below have been largely ignored despite their potential consequences for plant performance. Using a heterogeneous rose canopy, which consists of bent shoots down in the canopy and vertically growing upright shoots, we quantified upward far-red reflection by bent shoots and its consequences for upright shoot architecture. With a three-dimensional plant model, we assessed consequences of responses to R:FR from below for plant photosynthesis. Bent shoots reflected substantially more far-red than red light, causing reduced R:FR in light reflected upwards. Leaf inclination angles increased in upright shoots which received

SUBMITTER: Zhang N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7818183 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature