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Scientia Silvae Sinicae ›› 2021, Vol. 57 ›› Issue (2): 49-61.doi: 10.11707/j.1001-7488.20210206

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Influence of Temperature and Light on Leaf Coloration of Buxus microphylla During Overwintering

Jingen Peng1,2,Xueru Jiang2,3,Lijuan Xie1,Yan Liu2,*   

  1. 1. School of Applied Chemistry and Biotechnology, Shenzhen Polytechnic Shenzhen 518055
    2. College of Landscape Architecture, Beijing Forestry University Beijing 100083
    3. College of Forestry/Landscape Architecture and Art, Jiangxi Agricultural University Nanchang 330045
  • Received:2019-02-01 Online:2021-02-25 Published:2021-03-29
  • Contact: Yan Liu

Abstract:

Objective: In this study, the influence of temperature and light on leaf coloration of three cultivars of Buxus mircophylla during overwintering was studied. The threshold value of the temperature and light on B. mircophylla leaf reddening in winter was explored. This study aims to provide a theoretical basis for the application of evergreen broad-leaved plants in witer and the promotion of green landscape in northern China. Method: From 2011 to 2013, the temperature of the three cultivars of B. mircophylla and the illumination conditions of the leaves under five different shading treatments were monitored in two consecutive overwintering and regreening periods (from October of the first year to March of the following year). Meanwhile, the redness index and anatomical structure of leaves were observed dynamically during the periods. Correlation analysis and linear fitting were used to investigate the relationship between the temperature, light and the leaf coloration of the Buxus mircophylla during overwintering. Result: The three cultivars appeared different leaf coloration in winter, among which 'Greenbeauty' maintained the best greening effect, 'Sunnyside' performed a moderate redness in winter but retruned green the latest in spring, and 'Wintergreen' turned red seriously in winter but returned green the earliest in spring. The reddening of the wintering leaves of the three cultivars was directly related to temperature changes, and the critical temperature for the leaf reddening on the adaxial side was lower than that on the abaxial side. Among them, the critical temperature for leaf redness of 'Greenbeauty' was the lowest (0.67-1.55 ℃ on the adaxial side and 5.25-7.68 ℃ on the abaxial side), different performances were presented on the adaxial and abaxial sides of 'Sunnyside' and 'Wintergreen'. Among them, the critical temperature of 'Sunnyside' leaves was 4.33-6.42 ℃ on the adaxial side and 8.43-9.41 ℃ on the abaxial side; the critical temperature of 'Wintergreen' leaves was 4.16-4.98 ℃ on the adaxial side and 9.41-10.23 ℃ on the abaxial side. The red index (RI) of the leaves of the three cultivars decreased with the light intensity. Conclusion: The leaf reddening of the three cultivars of B. mircophylla is closely related to the interaction between low temperature and relatively high light during the overwintering. The sunny leaves of three cultivars show differences in leaf coloration, reflecting their different tolerance to low temperature + high light and the sensitivity of the leaves. These results suggest that B. mircophylla should be planted under a sheltered environment which is conducive to maintaining a good green landscape in winter.

Key words: Buxus microphylla, overwintering, leaf coloration, temperature and light, landscape application

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