Effects of elevated temperature on the vegetative growth and flowering of lace plant (APONOGETON MADAGASCARIENSIS)

Lace plant (Aponogeton madagascariensis) an aquatic plant, belongs to the family Aponogetonaceae. Under controlled experimental conditions, the effects of temperature on morphological and physiological parameters of lace plants were studied. Lace plants were grown under two temperature treatments (24 degree C and 30 degree C) in aquariums, and their morphological and physiological characteristics, such as leaf number and flowering percentage, plastid density and photosynthetic pigments, were measured. Results indicated that leaf number was negatively affected by the high temperature condition. The percentage of flowering was higher in lace plants grown under high temperature compared with plants grown under low temperature. On the other hand, chlorophyll content and plastid density was increased grown under high temperature. This study indicated that high temperature stimulated flowering process and chlorophyll synthesis, but reduced leaf number. This is an unprecedented finding on the effect of high temperature on flowering in lace plants. Our findings demonstrated a phenotypic plasticity in response to high temperature, suggesting evolved adaptations in lace plants to high temperature in the aquatic environment. (author)