GROWTH RESPONSES OF PALM SEEDLINGS TO DIFFERENT LIGHT INTENSITIES STIMULATING CANOPY GAPS WITH AN ECOPHYSIOLOGICAL APPROACH
ABSTRACT: Growth responses of
palm seedlings to different light intensities stimulating canopy gaps with an
ecophysiological approach. Reinwardtia 15(2): 81 – 98. — Palms (Arecaceae)
mainly grow in rainforests and many occur in disturbed areas like canopy gaps
created by natural disturbances such as cyclones in Australia. Knowledge of
seedling growth in different light intensities is essential to assist
rainforest restoration in disturbed or marginal lands. The aim of this research
was to investigate the effects of different light intensities on the seedling
growth of Arenga australasica (H. Wendl. & Drude) S. T. Blake ex H. E. Moore,
Calamus australis Mart., C. moti F. M. Bailey, Hydriastele wendlandiana (F.
Muell.) H. Wendl. & Drude and Licuala ramsayi (F. Muell.) H. Wendl. &
Drude. Seedling growth experiments (pot trials) were conducted in a glass house
using shade cloth providing four different levels of shading: 59, 29, 17 and 6%
sunlight. The growth rate, leaf turnover, leaf area, total chlorophyll,
chlorophyll a:b ratio, vigor, above-ground and below-ground biomass and growth
indices (LAR, SLA and LWR) of palm seedlings were measured. As a result of
these measurements the relative shade tolerance of the five species was
determined. The seedlings of Arenga australasica were classified as intermediate-shade
intolerant species. Hydriastele wendlandiana seedlings were shade-intolerant.
Calamus australis and C. moti seedlings are intermediate-shade intolerant.
Licuala ramsayi seedlings were found to be a shade-tolerant.
Author: DIAN LATIFAH
Journal Code: jpbiologigg160009
