Characteristics of photosynthetic behaviors and chlorophyll fluorescence in different vegetable species

This study investigated the variability in the various physiological characteristics of seven popular commercial vegetable seedlings such as cabbage, spinach, Chinese cabbage, eggplant cucumber, tomato and Chinese radish. The photosynthetic rate (Pn) was higher in cabbage seedlings followed by eggplant seedlings. Chinese cabbage and cabbage seedlings showed higher stomatal conductance (CS) than other vegetables studied. Cucumber seedlings had higher respiration rate followed by tomato, egg plant and Chinese radish. In the case of internal CO₂ concentration, all the species studied differ significantly. Chinese cabbage seedlings exhibited the highest transpiration rate (Tr) and Chinese radish had the lowest. There was little decrease in photochemical efficiency of PS II i.e., Fv/Fm value of chlorophyll fluorescence in all species, however cabbage and spinach seedling had the highest Fv/Fm value followed by cucumber, tomato and eggplant seedlings. Among all the physiological parameters, Pn was highly correlated with Fv/Fm value. The results may be useful in formulating efficient selection and breeding programs in improving desired quality characteristics of plant species.