Growth, leaf quality and epidermal bladder cell size of ice plant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L.) under different concentrations of nutrient treatment and led height treatment


Citation

Hoe, Yin Chen and Tan, Peck Yen and Tan, Hui Yin and Nur Syazwani Binti Abdullah, . and Chia, Meow Lin and Ng, Swee Chin (2023) Growth, leaf quality and epidermal bladder cell size of ice plant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L.) under different concentrations of nutrient treatment and led height treatment. International Journal of Agriculture, Forestry and Plantation (Malaysia), 13. pp. 22-31. ISSN 2462-1757

Abstract

This study investigates the effect of nutrient treatment and LED height treatment on the growth, leaf quality and epidermal bladder cells size of ice plant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L.). The objectives of this study were to investigate the maximum growth, the ideal plant pigments quality and the maximum epidermal bladder cells size produced in the plants. Plant growths were maintained in an enclosed plant system – Farm Box under 13-h photoperiod of LED light using nutrient film technique systems. Environmental conditions such as air temperature, relative humidity and CO2 were controlled. Cultivation experiments were carried out in a control (EC = 0%) and four different nutrient concentration treatment (EC = 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%), under three different LED height treatment (mean light intensity 222, 213, 198 PPFD for 30cm, 35cm and 40cm height from planting tray) for 40 days of cultivation. From the results of the plant growth among different nutrient concentration treatments, the 100% nutrient concentration showed the highest growth (leaf number, shoot number, plant height, leaf width, total fresh weight, leaf fresh weight, root fresh weight, stem fresh weight, total dry weight, leaf dry weight, root dry weight, stem dry weight and leaf area). The root length was the longest in 75% nutrient concentration (30cm LED height). At 100% nutrient concentration, the total fresh weight, leaf fresh weight and stem fresh weight were significantly (P<0.05) higher than all nutrient concentration in both 30cm and 35cm LED height. Among different LED height treatments, 30cm LED height has the highest growth (leaf number, shoot number, plant height, leaf width, leaf length, total fresh weight, leaf fresh weight, root fresh weight, stem fresh weight, total dry weight, leaf dry weight, root dry weight and stem dry weight) and was significantly (P<0.05) higher than 40cm LED height for total fresh weight, stem fresh weight, stem dry weight and leaf area (25% concentration nutrient). In plant pigment, among different nutrient concentration treatments, plants cultivated using 50% nutrient concentration has the highest chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoid in all LED height treatments. Chlorophyll a is significantly (P<0.05) higher than the 100% nutrient concentration (30cm LED height); chlorophyll b is significantly higher than the 25% nutrient concentration (all LED height); carotenoid is significantly higher than the 75% and 100% nutrient concentration (30cm and 35cm LED height). In epidermal bladder cells size, among different nutrient concentration treatments, 75% nutrient concentration has largest EBC size on surface of abaxial leaf, adaxial leaf and stem. 75% nutrient concentration abaxial leaf’s EBC (30cm LED height) and adaxial leaf’s EBC (30cm and 35cm LED height) was significantly (P<0.05) larger than all other nutrient concentrations. This study recommended the use of the 100% nutrient concentration and 30cm LED height treatment as the optimum growth condition for M. crystallinum, in the early planting stages (40 days) of M. crystallinum.


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Abstract

This study investigates the effect of nutrient treatment and LED height treatment on the growth, leaf quality and epidermal bladder cells size of ice plant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L.). The objectives of this study were to investigate the maximum growth, the ideal plant pigments quality and the maximum epidermal bladder cells size produced in the plants. Plant growths were maintained in an enclosed plant system – Farm Box under 13-h photoperiod of LED light using nutrient film technique systems. Environmental conditions such as air temperature, relative humidity and CO2 were controlled. Cultivation experiments were carried out in a control (EC = 0%) and four different nutrient concentration treatment (EC = 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%), under three different LED height treatment (mean light intensity 222, 213, 198 PPFD for 30cm, 35cm and 40cm height from planting tray) for 40 days of cultivation. From the results of the plant growth among different nutrient concentration treatments, the 100% nutrient concentration showed the highest growth (leaf number, shoot number, plant height, leaf width, total fresh weight, leaf fresh weight, root fresh weight, stem fresh weight, total dry weight, leaf dry weight, root dry weight, stem dry weight and leaf area). The root length was the longest in 75% nutrient concentration (30cm LED height). At 100% nutrient concentration, the total fresh weight, leaf fresh weight and stem fresh weight were significantly (P<0.05) higher than all nutrient concentration in both 30cm and 35cm LED height. Among different LED height treatments, 30cm LED height has the highest growth (leaf number, shoot number, plant height, leaf width, leaf length, total fresh weight, leaf fresh weight, root fresh weight, stem fresh weight, total dry weight, leaf dry weight, root dry weight and stem dry weight) and was significantly (P<0.05) higher than 40cm LED height for total fresh weight, stem fresh weight, stem dry weight and leaf area (25% concentration nutrient). In plant pigment, among different nutrient concentration treatments, plants cultivated using 50% nutrient concentration has the highest chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoid in all LED height treatments. Chlorophyll a is significantly (P<0.05) higher than the 100% nutrient concentration (30cm LED height); chlorophyll b is significantly higher than the 25% nutrient concentration (all LED height); carotenoid is significantly higher than the 75% and 100% nutrient concentration (30cm and 35cm LED height). In epidermal bladder cells size, among different nutrient concentration treatments, 75% nutrient concentration has largest EBC size on surface of abaxial leaf, adaxial leaf and stem. 75% nutrient concentration abaxial leaf’s EBC (30cm LED height) and adaxial leaf’s EBC (30cm and 35cm LED height) was significantly (P<0.05) larger than all other nutrient concentrations. This study recommended the use of the 100% nutrient concentration and 30cm LED height treatment as the optimum growth condition for M. crystallinum, in the early planting stages (40 days) of M. crystallinum.

Additional Metadata

[error in script]
Item Type: Article
AGROVOC Term: chlorophylls
AGROVOC Term: carotenoids
AGROVOC Term: cultivation
AGROVOC Term: growth
AGROVOC Term: nutrient solutions
AGROVOC Term: nutrient film technique
AGROVOC Term: plant growth
AGROVOC Term: dry weight
AGROVOC Term: leaf area
Geographical Term: Malaysia
Depositing User: Mr. Khoirul Asrimi Md Nor
Date Deposited: 26 May 2026 03:46
Last Modified: 26 May 2026 03:46
URI: http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/3952

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