Improving plant survival and growth under-plant mirrors

The Plant Physiology Laboratory at the University of Guam has improved growth and survival of Serianthes seedlings through strategically placed mirrors beneath deeply shaded seedlings to increase available ambient light. “We combined several known facts to develop the protocols,” said author Thomas Marler, retired University of Guam professor. “First, the amount of sunlight that penetrates to the sub-canopy is minimal in Guam’s karst forest communities, and adding available light by installing lamps above Serianthes seedlings can increase longevity. Second, colored plastic mulch has been exploited for decades to reflect sunlight to improve crop production systems.”