Growth Responses and Regrowth to Low Temperature of Nine Native Moss Species

Moss is used as an important material in indoor landscaping as well as outdoor landscaping. Moss is vivid green during growth and excellent in ornamental value. But when temperature drops, moss stops growth, turns brown or loses its ornamental value. In the present experiment, for the purpose of classifying native mosses according to the growth response to low temperature, the temperature of the plant growth chamber was set to 15℃/5℃ (16h/8h, day/night) and 5℃ (24h) for 8 weeks using nine native moss species. Thereafter, the temperature of the plant growth chamber was set to 20℃, and then the changes of moss block area and moss color were measured. The changes of moss block area and moss color were measured using a Photoshop program, after each moss block was photographed. As a result, Atrichum undulatum (Hedw.). Beauv., Etodon luridus (Griff.) A. Jaeger, Bachythecium plumosum (Hedw.) Schimp, Plagiomnium cuspidatum (Hedw.) T.J. Kop, and Hypnum plumaeforme Wilson showed a small decrease in moss block area at low temperature, and their recovery were the fastest at 20℃. These three species had higher green values at low temperature compared to other species, and the greenness increased rapidly at 20℃. On the other hand, Atrichum undulatum (Hedw.). Beauv., Marchantia polymorpha L., and Thuidium cymbifolium (Mitt.) A. Jaeger showed the smallest block area at low temperature and the lowest recovery even at 20℃. Their green values also decreased significantly at low temperature, and maintained low green value even at 20℃. These results showed that these three moss species are sensitive to low temperature. The remaining Myuroclada maximowiczii, Plagiomnium cuspidatum, and H. erectiusculum showed moderate responses to low temperature compared to other six species of mosses.