Density of photosynthetically active photons and its influence on the physiological aspects of Alternanthera brasiliana

Gisele Lopes dos Santos; João Everthon da Silva Ribeiro; Pablo Henrique de Almeida Oliveira; Ester dos Santos Coêlho; Antonio Gideilson Correia da Silva; Elania Freire da Silva; Anna Kézia Soares de Oliveira; Aurélio Paes Barros Júnior

doi:10.1590/1983-21252025v3812965rc

Authors

Gisele Lopes dos Santos Department of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, Mossoró, RN, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1134-4672
João Everthon da Silva Ribeiro Department of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, Mossoró, RN, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1937-0066
Pablo Henrique de Almeida Oliveira Department of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, Mossoró, RN, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9128-6179
Ester dos Santos Coêlho Department of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, Mossoró, RN, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5541-1937
Antonio Gideilson Correia da Silva Department of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, Mossoró, RN, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6403-5507
Elania Freire da Silva Department of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, Mossoró, RN, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7176-3609
Anna Kézia Soares de Oliveira Department of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, Mossoró, RN, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7063-9991
Aurélio Paes Barros Júnior Department of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, Mossoró, RN, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6983-8245

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/1983-21252025v3812965rc

Keywords:

Amaranthaceae. Gas exchange. Chlorophyll fluorescence. Light intensity. Photosynthesis.

Abstract

The photosynthetically active photon flux density plays a crucial role in regulating the photosynthetic performance and physiological processes of plants. However, its influence on the physiological aspects of Alternanthera brasiliana is not yet well understood. In this perspective, this study aimed to investigate the effects of different photon flux densities on gas exchange and chlorophyll a fluorescence and to identify the PPFD that promotes greater CO₂ assimilation and increased electron transport rate in A. brasiliana. The experimental design was completely randomized, with six replications. The treatments consisted of photosynthetically active photon flux densities (0, 25, 50, 75, 100, 125, 150, 175, 200, 400, 600, 800, 1,000, 1,200, 1,400, 1,600, 1,800, and 2,000 μmol m^-2 s^-1) evaluated at three times of the day (8:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.). The physiological processes of A. brasiliana exhibited significant variations in response to photon flux density and environmental conditions throughout the day. An increase in PPFD to 2,000 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹, observed at 8 a.m., resulted in the maximization of gas exchange and chlorophyll a fluorescence variables. At 12 p.m., a period characterized by the highest temperature (35.01 °C) and lowest relative humidity (44.95%), a PPFD of 1,800 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹ promoted higher CO₂ assimilation and an increase in the electron transport rate. These findings highlight the crucial role of photon flux density in regulating the physiological processes of the species.

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