AUTHOR=Francini Alessandra , Toscano Stefania , Ferrante Antonio , Romano Daniela 

TITLE=Method for selecting ornamental species for different shading intensity in urban green spaces

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=Volume 14 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2023.1271341

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2023.1271341

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=In urban areas, ornamental plants face different constraints, such as the shading of buildings and trees. Therefore, the selection of suitable species and their integration or combination with pre-existing plants is very important. Trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plant species must be distributed according to plant light requirements and shading intensity. According to their light intensity or shade tolerance, ornamental plants are classified into two groups: sun species and shade species. To properly position the plants, especially in the immediate vicinity of buildings, it is necessary to study the projection of shadows during the year and during the most critical periods, such as July and August. The positioning of ornamental species a different shading tolerance can be obtained by characterising leaf gas exchange for each species. Among physiological parameters, the most important is the light compensation point, which is the light intensity corresponding to a net photosynthesis equal to zero. This means that the assimilation of carbon dioxide through photosynthesis is equal to the carbon dioxide emitted by respiration. This steady state represents the most critical condition that the plant can endure during the summer period. The distribution of the species inside a green area should be determined by considering the minimum light intensity that allows sufficient photosynthesis to compensate for the respiration rate. In this context, non-destructive leaf gas exchange, chlorophyll a fluorescence, and chlorophyll content can be useful tools for the selection of suitable ornamental plants under diverse shading conditions.