Objective To find the best combination of LED light quality for Camellia oleifera cutting stock.

Method Effects of red LED, blue LED and their composite light on the growth and photosynthetic characteristics of C. oleifera were studied taking two-years-old cutting stocks of Changlin-4 C. oleifera as test materials and white LED as control.

Result Under the irradiation of L1 (red light), the height increment of C. oleifera stocks was the highest, but the apparent quantum efficiency, light compensation point and intercellular CO₂ concentration were the lowest. Treated with L7 (blue light), the C. oleifera stocks had the highest light compensation point, and the lowest height increment, dry matter content, sound stock index, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate. The diameter increment, dry matter content, sound stock index, photosynthetic pigment content, apparent quantum efficiency, maximum net photosynthetic rate, respiration rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, light energy conversion efficiency and relative electron transport rate of C. oleifera were the highest under the irradiation of L6 (10% red lights + 90% blue lights). While the diameter increment, photosynthetic pigment content, maximum net photosynthetic rate, light energy conversion efficiency and relative electron transfer rate of which all were the lowest with the treatment of L4 (50%red lights + 50%blue lights), furthermore, the non photochemical quenching coefficient was the highest.

Conclusion Compared with the control and other treatments, L6 (10% red lights + 90% blue lights) is the ideal light quality to cultivate sound cutting stocks of C. oleifera, which is more conducive to the growth and photosynthetic capacity of Changlin-4 C. oleifera stocks.