A Stronger Photosynthetic Properties of Dark Leaf Color of Caladium than The Light Ones: Will be presented at Friday, 23 May 2025, 09.20 (GMT +7)

Rahmat Budiarto; Syariful Mubarok; Moh Haris Imron S Jaya; Muhamad Abdul Rofiq

Authors

Rahmat Budiarto Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Padjadjaran, 45363 Sumedang, Indonesia Author
Syariful Mubarok Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Padjadjaran, 45363 Sumedang, Indonesia Author
Moh Haris Imron S Jaya Doctoral Study Program of Agricultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Padjadjaran, 45363 Sumedang, Indonesia Author
Muhamad Abdul Rofiq Undergraduate Vocational Study Program of Agrotechnopreneur, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Padjadjaran, 45363 Sumedang, Indonesia Author

Keywords:

photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate

Abstract

Caladium is gaining popularity in Indonesia as a sun-loving ornamental plant, with notable vibrant color differences. This study aimed to comparatively analysis the physiological properties of dark and light caladium leaves by using a Licor portable photosynthesis instrument. The result showed that all tested caladiums possessed insignificant leaf temperature and incoming radiation. However, the dark red leaf color of ‘Wine’ caladium exhibited a significantly higher photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, intercellular CO₂, transpiration rate, water- and light-use efficiency than the white color of ‘Snow White’ and greenish white color of ‘Aaron’ caladium. It was implied that light caladium should be placed in less sunlight than the dark one.