scholarly journals Growth of Impatiens, Petunia, Salvia, and Tomato Seedlings under Blue, Green, and Red Light-emitting Diodes

HortScience ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 49 (6) ◽  
pp. 734-740 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heidi Marie Wollaeger ◽  
Erik S. Runkle

Plant growth and architecture are regulated in part by light quality. We performed experiments to better understand how young plants acclimate to blue (B), green (G), and red (R) light and how those responses can be used to produce plants with desirable morphological characteristics. We grew seedlings of impatiens (Impatiens walleriana), salvia (Salvia splendens), petunia (Petunia ×hybrida), and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) under six sole-source light-emitting diode (LED) treatments or one cool-white fluorescent treatment that each delivered a photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) of 160 µmol·m−2·s–1 for 18 h·d−1. Leaf number was similar among treatments, but plants grown under 25% or greater B light were 41% to 57% shorter than those under only R light. Plants under R light had 47% to 130% greater leaf area and 48% to 112% greater fresh shoot weight than plants grown under treatments with 25% or greater B. Plants grown under only R had a fresh shoot weight similar to that of those grown under fluorescent light for all species except tomato. In impatiens, flower bud number at harvest generally increased with B light, whereas in tomato, the number of leaflets with intumescences decreased with B light. This research discusses how light quality can be manipulated for desired growth characteristics of young plants, which is important in the production of specialty crops such as ornamentals, herbs, and microgreens.

2000 ◽  
Vol 125 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Uulke van Meeteren ◽  
Annie van Gelder

When compared with exposure to darkness, exposing Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. `Nairobi' plants to red light (635 to 685 nm, 2.9 μmol·m-2·s-1) delayed flower bud abscission, while exposure to far-red light (705 to 755 nm, 1.7 μmol·m-2·s-1) accelerated this process. Flower bud abscission in response to light quality appears to be controlled partly by the presence of leaves. The delay of bud abscission was positively correlated to the number of leaves being exposed to red light. Excluding the flower buds from exposure to red or far-red light, while exposing the remaining parts of the plants to these light conditions, did not influence the effects of the light exposure on bud abscission. Exposing only the buds to red light by the use of red light-emitting diodes (0.8 μmol·m-2·s-1) did not prevent dark-induced flower bud abscission. Exposing the whole plants, darkness or far-red light could only induce flower bud abscission when leaves were present; bud abscission was totally absent when all leaves were removed. To prevent flower bud abscission, leaves had to be removed before, or at the start of, the far-red light treatment. These results suggest that in darkness or far-red light, a flower bud abscission-promoting signal from the leaves may be involved.


Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 2483
Author(s):  
Alain Fortineau ◽  
Didier Combes ◽  
Céline Richard-Molard ◽  
Ela Frak ◽  
Alexandra Jullien

Plasticity of plant architecture is a promising lever to increase crop resilience to biotic and abiotic damage. Among the main drivers of its regulation are the spectral signals which occur via photomorphogenesis processes. In particular, branching, one of the yield components, is responsive to photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) and to red to far-red ratio (R:FR), both signals whose effects are tricky to decorrelate in the field. Here, we developed a device consisting of far-red light emitting diode (LED) rings. It can reduce the R:FR ratio to 0.14 in the vicinity of an organ without changing the PPFD in outdoor high irradiance fluctuating conditions, which is a breakthrough as LEDs have been mostly used in non-fluctuant controlled conditions at low irradiance over short periods of time. Applied at the base of rapeseed stems during the whole bolting-reproductive phase, LightCue induced an expected significant inhibitory effect on two basal targeted axillary buds and a strong unexpected stimulatory effect on the overall plant aerial architecture. It increased shoot/root ratio while not modifying the carbon balance. LightCue therefore represents a promising device for progress in the understanding of light signal regulation in the field.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 564-569
Author(s):  
Claudia Elkins ◽  
Marc W. van Iersel

Seedlings may be grown indoors where environmental conditions can be precisely controlled to ensure consistent and reliable production. The optimal spectrum for production under sole-source lighting is currently unknown. Far-red light (λ = 700–800 nm) typically is not a significant part of the spectrum of light-emitting diode (LED) grow lights. However, far-red light is photosynthetically active and can enhance leaf elongation, which may result in larger leaves and increased light interception. We hypothesized that adding far-red light to sole-source lighting would increase the growth of ‘Dalmatian Peach’ foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) seedlings grown under white LED lights, potentially shortening production times. Our objective was to evaluate the effect of far-red light intensities, ranging from 4.0 to 68.8 µmol·m−2·s−1, on the growth and morphology of foxglove seedlings. Foxglove seedlings were grown in a growth chamber with a photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) of 186 ± 6.4 μmol·m−2·s−1 and supplemental far-red light intensities ranging from 4.0 to 68.8 µmol·m−2·s−1. As far-red light increased, shoot dry weight, root dry weight, plant height, and plant height/number of leaves increased by 38% (P = 0.004), 20% (P = 0.029), 38% (P = 0.025), and 34% (P = 0.024), respectively, while root weight fraction decreased 16% (P = 0.034). Although we expected supplemental far-red light to induce leaf and/or stem expansion, specific leaf area and compactness (two measures of morphology) were unaffected. Because a 37% increase in total photon flux density (PPFD plus far-red light) resulted in a 34.5% increase in total plant dry weight, the increased growth likely was due to increased photosynthesis rather than a shade-acclimation response. The growth response was linear across the 4.0 to 68.8 µmol·m−2·s−1 range of far-fed light tested, so we were unable to determine a saturating far-red photon flux density.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Augusto Peixe ◽  
Hugo Ribeiro ◽  
Augusto Ribeiro ◽  
Marco Soares ◽  
Rui Machado ◽  
...  

Several physiological and yield parameters were evaluated in lettuce plants, cv. ‘Trocadero’, while growing at four different photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) (70, 120, 250 and 400 ± 10 µmol m-2 s-1), under four light spectra, white (W), red (R) and blue (B) Light-Emitting Diode (LED) lamps and cool white fluorescent tubes (FL). Yield parameters were also evaluated on spinach, turnip and radish, growing under identical light spectra but using a single PPF (340 ± 10 µmol m-2 s-1). Lettuce development was impaired at PPFs below 250 µmol m-2 s-1 for all tested spectra. At higher PPFs (250 and 400 ± 10 µmol m-2 s-1), for the two broad spectra tested (W LEDs and FL light), no significant differences were registered on all physiological and yield parameters evaluated. On all situations W LEDs performed, at least, as good as the FL light, indicating that actual W LEDs can efficiently replace traditional light sources, with all the inherent benefits, which include significant lower power consumption. For all species, narrow light spectra (R and B LEDs) proved not being able to provide normal plant development. Plants under R LEDs, although presenting, in some situations, a fresh weight higher than those achieved with the broad light spectra, always led to abnormal plant morphology, characterized by expanded petioles and leaf curling. B LEDs, in spite of promoting plant growth with normal morphology, frequently led to a lower number of leaves and consequently to a lower fresh weight.


HortScience ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 44 (5) ◽  
pp. 1494-1497 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroshi Hamamoto ◽  
Keisuke Yamazaki

We investigated the reproductive responses of three cultivars of short-day plants to day-extension and night-break treatment with red, blue, and green light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The plants examined were all Malvaceae species: two cultivars of okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench.] and a cultivar of native rosella [Abelmoschus moschatus ssp. tuberosus (Span.) Borss.]. To create day extension or night break, we provided supplemental light from LED panels with peak photon emissions of 470 (blue), 520 (green), or 650 (red) nm. Day-extension treatment using red or blue LEDs inhibited flower and bud appearances; the response was especially pronounced with red LEDs. Night-break treatment with red LEDs also delayed flower bud appearance, but night break with blue LEDs did not produce a clear effect. Night break with green light delayed flowering more strongly than blue light but a little less than red light. We concluded that the dark period-regulated reproductive processes of these plants are most sensitive to disruption by red light, closely followed by green light, but that they are insensitive to blue light, especially when the exposure period is short.


HortScience ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 522-529 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heidi M. Wollaeger ◽  
Erik S. Runkle

Plant growth is plastic and adaptive to the light environment; characteristics such as extension growth, architecture, and leaf morphology change, depending on the light spectrum. Although blue (B; 400–500 nm) and red (R; 600–700 nm) light are generally considered the most efficient wavelengths for eliciting photosynthesis, both are often required for relatively normal growth. Our objective was to quantify how the B:R influenced plant seedling growth and morphology and understand how plants acclimated to these light environments. We grew seedlings of three ornamental annuals and tomato under six sole-source light-emitting diode (LED) lighting treatments or one cool-white fluorescent treatment that each delivered a photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) of 160 µmol·m−2·s–1 for 18 h·d−1. The following treatments were provided with B (peak = 446 nm) and R (peaks = 634 and 664 nm) LEDs: B160 (160 µmol·m−2·s−1 of B light only), B80+R80, B40+R120, B20+R140, B10+R150, and R160. Seedlings of impatiens (Impatiens walleriana), salvia (Salvia splendens), petunia (Petunia ×hybrida), and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) were grown for 31 to 37 days at a constant 20 °C. Plants with as little as 10 µmol·m−2·s−1 of B light were 23% to 50% shorter and had 17% to 50% smaller leaves than plants under only R light. Impatiens and salvia had 53% to 98% greater fresh shoot weight under treatments without B light than with ≥80 µmol·m−2·s−1. Plants grown under fluorescent lamps had the greatest chlorophyll content but also had among the thinnest leaves of treatments. Blue-rich light increased flowering in impatiens and reduced incidence of intumescences on tomato. We conclude that, in sole-source lighting of propagules, B light inhibits leaf and stem expansion, which subsequently limits photon capture and constrains biomass accumulation. As little as 10 µmol·m−2·s−1 of B light in an R-dominant background can elicit desirable growth responses for the production of young plants and for other situations in which compact growth is desired.


HortScience ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 55 (9) ◽  
pp. 1399-1405
Author(s):  
Qinglu Ying ◽  
Yun Kong ◽  
Youbin Zheng

To investigate plant growth and quality responses to different light spectral combinations, cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata f. rubra), kale (Brassica napus L. ‘Red Russian’), arugula (Eruca sativa L.), and mustard (Brassica juncea L. ‘Ruby steak’) microgreens were grown in a controlled environment using sole-source light with six different spectra: 1) FL: cool white fluorescent light; 2) BR: 15% blue and 85% red light-emitting diode (LED); 3) BRFRL: 15% blue, 85% red, and 15.5 µmol·m−2·s−1 far-red (FR) LED; 4) BRFRH: 15% blue, 85% red, and 155 µmol·m−2·s−1 FR LED; 5) BGLR: 9% blue, 6% green, and 85% red LED; and 6) BGHR: 5% blue, 10% green, and 85% red LED. For all the light treatments, the total photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) was set at ≈330 µmol·m−2·s−1 under a 17-hour photoperiod, and the air temperature was ≈21 °C with 73% relative humidity (RH). At harvest, BR vs. FL increased plant height for all the tested species except arugula, and enlarged cotyledon area for kale and arugula. Adding high-intensity FR light to blue and red light (i.e., BRFRH) further increased plant height for all species, and cotyledon area for mustard, but it did not affect the fresh or dry biomass for any species. Also, BRFRH vs. BR increased cotyledon greenness for green-leafed species (i.e., arugula, cabbage, and kale), and reduced cotyledon redness for red-leafed mustard. However, BGLR, BGHR, and BRFRL, compared with BR, did not affect plant height, cotyledon area, or fresh or dry biomass. These results suggest that the combination of 15% blue and 85% red LED light can potentially replace FL as the sole light source for indoor production of the tested microgreen species. Combining high-intensity FR light, rather than low-level (≤10%) green light, with blue and red light could be taken into consideration for the optimization of LED light spectral quality in microgreen production under environmental conditions similar to this experiment.


HortScience ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 323-327 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mengzi Zhang ◽  
Erik S. Runkle

Manipulating light quality is a potential alternative method of regulating plant height in the commercial production of ornamental crops. In particular, end-of-day (EOD) lighting with a high red (R; 600–700 nm) to far-red (FR; 700–800 nm) ratio (R:FR) can suppress extension growth, whereas a low R:FR can promote it. We investigated the effects of the R:FR and duration of EOD lighting in regulating extension growth and flowering of two poinsettia cultivars, White Glitter and Marble Star. Plants were grown at 20 °C under 9-hour days with or without EOD lighting provided by two types of light-emitting diode bulbs: R+white+FR (subsequently referred to as R+FR) and FR only. The R:FR ratios were 0.73 and 0.04, respectively, and the photon flux density between 400 and 800 nm was adjusted to 2 to 3 μmol·m−2·s–1 at plant canopy. The six EOD lighting treatments were R+FR or FR for 2 or 4 hours, 2 hours of R+FR followed by 2 hours of FR, and 4 hours of R+FR followed by 2 hours of FR. We also investigated the impact of a 4-hour moderate-intensity (13 μmol·m−2·s–1) EOD FR treatment in the second replication. EOD lighting generally increased poinsettia extension growth, with the greatest promotion under the longest lighting periods. There were no differences in days to first bract color and days to anthesis when the 9-hour day was extended by 2 hours, but flowering was delayed under 4- or 6-hour EOD treatments, except for the 2-hour R+FR + 2-hour FR and 4-hour FR treatments. Four hours of moderate-intensity EOD FR greatly promoted extension growth and delayed or prevented bract coloration in both cultivars. We conclude that EOD lighting promotes extension growth of poinsettia, and specifically, EOD FR at a low intensity (2–3 μmol·m−2·s–1) is not perceived as long-day signal, whereas a higher intensity (13 μmol·m−2·s–1) of FR delays flowering.


HortScience ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 47 (10) ◽  
pp. 1490-1494 ◽  
Author(s):  
How-Chiun Wu ◽  
Chun-Chih Lin

The effects of light quality emitted by light-emitting diodes (LEDs) on the growth and morphogenesis, and concentrations of endogenous phenolic compounds of Protea cynaroides L. plantlets in vitro, were investigated. Plantlets were cultured under four light treatments: conventional fluorescent lamps (control), red LEDs (630 nm), blue LEDs (460 nm), and red + blue LEDs (1:1 photosynthetic photon flux). Four phenolic compounds extracted from the plantlets were analyzed: 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, gallic acid, caffeic acid, and ferulic acid. The highest rooting percentage was observed in plantlets cultured under red LEDs (67%) compared with 7% under conventional white fluorescent light, 13% under blue LEDs, and 13% under red + blue LEDs. The highest number of roots per plantlet was also found under red LEDs, whereas a significantly lower number of roots per plantlet was obtained under the other light treatments. Furthermore, red light promoted the formation of new leaves in P. cynaroides plantlets. However, the highest leaf dry weight (53.8 mg per plantlet) was found in plantlets irradiated by the combination of red and blue LEDs. Phenolic analyses showed that the lowest concentrations of 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (4.3 mg·g−1), gallic acid (7.0 mg·g−1), and ferulic acid (7.4 mg·g−1) were detected in plantlets exposed to red light, whereas those irradiated by white fluorescent light contained the highest concentration. A significant inverse correlation (r = –0.419) was established between 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid and rooting percentage. Strong inverse correlations were also established between 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid and number of roots per plantlet (r = –0.768) as well as between ferulic acid and number of roots per plantlet (r = –0.732). These results indicate that the stimulation of root formation in P. cynaroides plantlets under red LEDs is the result of the low endogenous concentrations of 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid and ferulic acid.


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