phs-201601-0018 ArticleInAPeriodical 2016 Photosynthetica 54 1 https://ps.ueb.cas.cz/artkey/phs-201601-0018.php https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-015-0173-7 138-142 GuptaS. M. AgarwalA. DevB. KumarK. PrakashO. AryaM. C. NasimM. Assessment of photosynthetic potential of indoor plants under cold stress Photosynthetic parameters including net photosynthetic rate (P _N), transpiration rate (E), water-use efficiency (WUE), and stomatal conductance (g _s) were studied in indoor C₃ plants Philodendron domesticum (Pd), Dracaena fragans (Df), Peperomia obtussifolia (Po), Chlorophytum comosum (Cc), and in a CAM plant, Sansevieria trifasciata (St), exposed to various low temperatures (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25°C). All studied plants survived up to 0°C, but only St and Cc endured, while other plants wilted, when the temperature increased back to room temperature (25°C). The P _N declined rapidly with the decrease of temperature in all studied plants. St showed the maximum P _N of 11.9 μmol m^-2 s^-1 at 25°C followed by Cc, Po, Pd, and Df. E also followed a trend almost similar to that of P _N. St showed minimum E (0.1 mmol m^-2 s^-1) as compared to other studied C₃ plants at 25°C. The E decreased up to ≍4-fold at 5 and 0°C. Furthermore, a considerable decline in WUE was observed under cold stress in all C₃ plants, while St showed maximum WUE. Similarly, the g _s also declined gradually with the decrease in the temperature in all plants. Among C₃ plants, Pd and Po showed the maximum g _s of 0.07 mol m^-2 s^-1 at 25°C followed by Df and Cc. However, St showed the minimum g _s that further decreased up to ∼4-fold at 0°C. In addition, the content of photosynthetic pigments [chlorophyll a, b, (a+b), and carotenoids] was varying in all studied plants at 0°C. Our findings clearly indicated the best photosynthetic potential of St compared to other studied plants. This species might be recommended for improving air quality in high-altitude closed environments.