Abstract
This study was carried out to investigate the effects of light intensities on the growth and net photosynthesis of Piper kauzura under different shading levels : 0％, 50％, 70％ and 90％ of sunlight. Mortality rate was lowest under a 70％ shading level but 0％ and 90％ shading levels were about 46％ and 53％ each respectively. Plant height was shorter and leaf size was smaller and yellowish under a 0％ shading level but increased when light intensity was decreased. However, under a 90％ shading level, growth of Piper kauzura was inferior to other treatments. Top fresh weight was about 11.24g under a 50％ shading level and about two times higher than that observed in about 6.6g under a 90％ shading level. Root fresh weight was about 7.7g under a 0％ shading level and was about two times higher than that showed in about 3.84g and 3.64g under 90％ and 70％ respectively. Total chlorophyll content and chlorophyll a/b rate were increased when light intensity was decreased. Net Photosynthesis achieved the highest under a 70％ shading level and maximum photosynthetic photon flux density was 150 molㆍm/sup -2/ㆍs/sup -1/. Therefore, growth of Piper kauzura was good under 50∼70％ shading, Meaning that it is an indoor plant that could be highly utilized.