Effects of different combinations of Hoagland’s solution and <i>Azolla filiculoides</i> on photosynthesis and chlorophyll content in <i>Beta vulgaris</i> subsp. <i>Cycla</i> ‘fordhook giant’ grown in hydroponic cultures

Abstract

The assessments of photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance,  evapotranspiration, intercellular CO₂ concentration and chlorophyll content in Beta vulgaris subsp. cycla ‘Fordhook Giant’ grown in hydroponic cultures containing different compositions of hydroponic solutions were evaluated in this study. The aim of the study was to quantify the effects of different combinations of Hoagland’s solution and Azolla filiculoides on photosynthesis processes and chlorophyll content in B. vulgaris grown in hydroponic cultures. The following treatments were evaluated in four replications: (1) Control (Hoagland’s solution minus N solution excluding Azolla; (2) Hoagland’s minus N solution including Azolla; (3) full Hoagland’s solution plus Azolla; and (4) full Hoagland’s solution excluding Azolla. Results show that photosynthetic rate, evapotranspiration, intercellular CO₂ concentration and chlorophyll were generally higher in full Hoagland’s solution. This was closely followed by full Hoagland’s solution plus Azolla, and Hoagland’s minus N solution plus Azolla treatments. The lowest photosynthetic rates and chlorophyll contents were found in the control (Hoagland’s minus N solution) treatment.

Keywords: Photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, evapotranspiration, intercellular CO₂ concentration, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b

African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(16), pp. 2006-2012