LYCOPODIUM-ANNOTINUM AND LIGHT QUALITY - GROWTH-RESPONSES UNDER CANOPIES OF 2 VACCINIUM SPECIES

Lycopodium annotinum, a clonal pteridophyte, was grown under canopies formed by various combinations of deciduous Vaccinium myrtillus and ev ergreen V vitis-idaea. The canopies differed in red:far-red ratio, wit h V myrtillus giving the lowest ratio. The current year's horizontal s egments of L. annotinum had the same specific weight in all treatments , but the lengths of the segments were significantly increased when gr own under the canopy of V myrtillus compared with V vitis-idaea. The n umber of vertical apices was also increased. Both these responses incr eased the amount of assimilating structures of L annotinum when growin g under a V myrtillus canopy. This might be beneficial for the evergre en L annotinum, since it can then utilize spring and autumn periods wh en the deciduous V myrtillus has no leaves.