COTTON SEEDLING MORPHOGENIC RESPONSES TO FR/R RATIO REFLECTED FROM DIFFERENT COLORED SOILS AND SOIL COVERS

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) seedlings were morphologically responsive to red (R) and far-red (FR) light (low and high FR/R photon ratios, respectively) from time of emergence. Controlled environment R and FR treatments confirmed phytochrome involvement in biomass allocation among new leaf, stem and root growth. Seedlings that received the high FR/R photon ratio developed longer and heavier stems, leaves with lower specific weights, less massive roots and higher shoot/root biomass ratios. Other cotton seedlings were grown in sunlight over different colored soils or painted panels to measure morphological effects of FR/R photon ratio in upwardly reflected light. Morphological responses to a given FR/R ratio were the same whether the reflection was from natural soil or from a painted surface. Seedlings that received the higher FR/R photon ratios in upwardly reflected light developed longer stems, leaves with lower specific weights, less massive roots and higher shoot/root biomass ratios. The potential use of colored mulches in agriculture was discussed.