Figure 5.

Effects of light intensity fluctuation on leaf morphology, gas exchange, and chlorophyll a fluorescence quenching in maize leaves. (A) Leaf area (n = 5); (B) specific leaf weight (n = 5); (C) photosynthetic rate (n = 6); (D) stomatal conductance (n = 6); (E) the quantum yield of regulatory energy dissipation (n = 6). FL 1/300 min, maize seedlings were exposed alternately to high light (1,600 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹) for 300 min and then to weak light (50 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹) for 300 min (total 10 h); FL 1/30 min, maize seedlings were exposed alternately to high light and weak light every 30 min (total 10 h); FL 1/3 min, maize seedlings were exposed alternately to high light and weak light every 3 min (total 10 h). Data are means ± standard error. Different lowercase letters indicate statistically significant (1-way ANOVA and LSD test) differences between different treatments at the P < 0.05 level. P_n, net photosynthetic rate; G_s, stomatal conductance; Φ_NPQ, the quantum yield of regulatory energy dissipation.