scholarly journals Radiation Intensity and Quality Affect Indoor Acclimation of Blueberry Transplants

HortScience ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Celina Gómez ◽  
Megha Poudel ◽  
Matias Yegros ◽  
Paul R. Fisher

The objectives were to characterize and compare shrinkage (i.e., transplant loss) and growth of tissue-cultured blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) transplants acclimated in greenhouses or indoors under 1) different photosynthetic photon flux densities (PPFDs) (Expt. 1); or 2) spectral changes over time using broad-spectrum white (W; 400 to 700 nm) light-emitting diodes (LEDs) without or with red or far-red (FR) radiation (Expt. 2). In Expt. 1, ‘Emerald’ and ‘Snowchaser’ transplants were acclimated for 8 weeks under PPFDs of 35, 70, 105, or 140 ± 5 µmol·m‒2·s‒1 provided by W LED fixtures for 20 h·d−1. In another treatment, PPFD was increased over time by moving transplants from treatment compartments providing 70 to 140 µmol·m‒2·s‒1 at the end of week 4. Transplants were also acclimated in either a research or a commercial greenhouse (RGH or CGH, respectively). Shrinkage was unaffected by PPFD, but all transplants acclimated indoors had lower shrinkage (≤4%) than those in the greenhouse (15% and 17% in RGH and CGH, respectively), and generally produced more shoot and root biomass, regardless of PPFD. Growth responses to increasing PPFD were linear in most cases, although treatment effects after finishing were generally not significant among PPFD treatments. In Expt. 2, ‘Emerald’ transplants were acclimated for 8 weeks under constant W, W + red (WR), or W + FR (WFR) radiation, all of which provided a PPFD of 70 ± 2 μmol·m−2·s−1 for 20 h·d−1. At the end of week 4, a group of transplants from WR and WFR were moved to treatment compartments with W (WRW or WFRW, respectively) or from W to a research greenhouse (WGH), where another group of transplants were also acclimated for 8 weeks (GH). Shrinkage of transplants acclimated indoors was also low in Expt. 2, ranging from 1% to 4%. In contrast, shrinkage of transplants acclimated in GH or under WGH was 37% or 14%, respectively. Growth of indoor-acclimated transplants was generally greater than that in GH or under WGH. Although growth responses were generally similar indoors, plants acclimated under WFR had a higher root dry mass (DM) and longer roots compared with GH and WGH.

Plants ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 143
Author(s):  
Neringa Rasiukevičiūtė ◽  
Aušra Brazaitytė ◽  
Viktorija Vaštakaitė-Kairienė ◽  
Alma Valiuškaitė

The study aimed to evaluate the effect of different photon flux density (PFD) and light-emitting diodes (LED) wavelengths on strawberry Colletotrichum acutatum growth characteristics. The C. acutatum growth characteristics under the blue 450 nm (B), green 530 nm (G), red 660 nm (R), far-red 735 nm (FR), and white 5700 K (W) LEDs at PFD 50, 100 and 200 μmol m−2 s−1 were evaluated. The effect on C. acutatum mycelial growth evaluated by daily measuring until five days after inoculation (DAI). The presence of conidia and size (width and length) evaluated after 5 DAI. The results showed that the highest inhibition of fungus growth was achieved after 1 DAI under B and G at 50 μmol m−2 s−1 PFD. Additionally, after 1–4 DAI under B at 200 μmol m−2 s−1 PFD. The lowest conidia width was under FR at 50 μmol m−2 s−1 PFD and length under FR at 100 μmol m−2 s−1 PFD. Various LED light wavelengths influenced differences in C. acutatum colonies color. In conclusion, different photosynthetic photon flux densities and wavelengths influence C. acutatum growth characteristics. The changes in C. acutatum morphological and phenotypical characteristics could be related to its ability to spread and infect plant tissues. This study’s findings could potentially help to manage C. acutatum by LEDs in controlled environment conditions.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yongran Ji ◽  
Theoharis Ouzounis ◽  
Henk J. Schouten ◽  
Richard G. F. Visser ◽  
Leo F. M. Marcelis ◽  
...  

The recent development of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and their application in modern horticulture stimulated studies demonstrating that additional far-red (FR) radiation (700–800 nm) increases plant dry mass. This effect of FR has been explained by improved photosynthesis and/or plant architecture. However, the genotypic variation in this response is largely unknown. Here, we aim to explore and explain the genotypic variation in growth responses to additional FR. We expected the genotypic variation in the responses of plant dry mass to additional FR. Further, we hypothesized that a significant improvement of both net assimilation rate (NAR) and leaf area ratio (LAR) is responsible for a strong dry mass increase under additional FR, while some genotypes respond only marginally or even negatively in NAR or LAR under FR, thus resulting in a weak FR effect on plant dry mass. To test these hypotheses, we grew 33 different tomato genotypes for 21 days with 0, 25, or 100 μmol m–2 s–1 of FR added to a common white + red LED background lighting of 150 μmol m–2 s–1. Genotypes responded similarly with respect to plant height, stem dry mass, and shoot:root ratio; i.e., they all increased with increasing FR. However, the response of total plant dry mass varied among genotypes. We categorized the genotypes into three groups (strongly, moderately, and weakly responding groups) based on their relative response in total plant dry mass to FR. Growth component analysis revealed that the strongly responding genotypes increased strongly in NAR rather than LAR. The weakly responding genotypes, however, showed a substantial increase in LAR but not NAR. The increase in LAR was due to the increase in specific leaf area. Leaf mass fraction, which is the other component of LAR, decreased with FR and did not differ between groups. In conclusion, tomato genotypes that increased strongly in NAR in response to FR were able to achieve a more substantial increase in dry mass than did other genotypes. This is the first study to explain the differences in growth responses of a large number of tomato genotypes toward FR in their light environment.


1991 ◽  
Vol 116 (3) ◽  
pp. 435-438 ◽  
Author(s):  
David F. Graper ◽  
Will Healy

The increase in photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) and plant temperature associated with supplemental high pressure sodium (HPS) irradiation were investigated during Petunia × hybrids Villm. `Red Flash' seedling development. Seedlings were treated for 14 days following emergence or 5 days after the first true leaf had expanded to 1 mm. Treatments consisted of continuous infrared (IR) radiation (Ambient + IR), ambient conditions with spill-over radiation from adjacent treatments (Ambient - IR), root zone heating to 19.5C (RZ Heat), continuous HPS irradiation at 167 μmol·s-1.m-2 PPF (HPS + IR) or continuous HPS irradiation at 167 μmol-1·m-2 PPF filtered through a water bath to remove IR (HPS - IR). Linear regression of natural log-transformed fresh weights indicated that increasing ambient PPF 53% and elevating plant temperature 4.3C (HPS + IR) increased seedling relative growth rate (RGR) by 45% compared with the control (Ambient - IR). Elevating plant temperature with + IR by 4.8C without supplementing PPF (Ambient + IR) increased RGR by 31% but failed to increase fresh weight (FW) above controls and resulted in etiolated plants that were unsuitable for transplanting. Once plants were removed from supplemental treatment and returned to ambient conditions, RGR for all treatments was similar. The increased FW promoted by IR and HPS treatments was maintained for up to 7 days after treatment. Therefore, the increased seedling growth responses observed with HPS treatment were due primarily to an increase in RGR during HPS treatment that is not sustained beyond treatment.


HortScience ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 33 (6) ◽  
pp. 988-991 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshiaki Kitaya ◽  
Genhua Niu ◽  
Toyoki Kozai ◽  
Maki Ohashi

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. cv. Summer-green) plug transplants were grown for 3 weeks under 16 combinations of four levels (100, 150, 200, and 300 μmol·m-2·s-1) of photosynthetic photon flux (PPF), two photoperiods (16 and 24 h), and two levels of CO2 (400 and 800 μmol·mol-1) in growth chambers maintained at an air temperature of 20 ±2 °C. As PPF increased, dry mass (DM), percent DM, and leaf number increased, while ratio of shoot to root dry mass (S/R), ratio of leaf length to leaf width (LL/LW), specific leaf area, and hypocotyl length decreased. At the same PPF, DM was increased by 25% to 100% and 10% to 100% with extended photoperiod and elevated CO2 concentration, respectively. Dry mass, percent DM, and leaf number increased linearly with daily light integral (DLI, the product of PPF and photoperiod), while S/R, specific leaf area, LL/LW and hypocotyl length decreased as DLI increased under each CO2 concentration. Hypocotyl length was influenced by PPF and photoperiod, but not by CO2 concentration. Leaf morphology, which can be reflected by LL/LW, was substantially influenced by PPF at 100 to 200 μmol·m-2·s-1, but not at 200 to 300 μmol·m-2·s-1. At the same DLI, the longer photoperiod promoted growth under the low CO2 concentration, but not under the high CO2 concentration. Longer photoperiod and/or higher CO2 concentration compensated for a low PPF.


Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 121
Author(s):  
Xinglin Ke ◽  
Hideo Yoshida ◽  
Shoko Hikosaka ◽  
Eiji Goto

Dwarf tomatoes are advantageous when cultivated in a plant factory with artificial light because they can grow well in a small volume. However, few studies have been reported on cultivation in a controlled environment for improving productivity. We performed two experiments to investigate the effects of photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD; 300, 500, and 700 μmol m−2 s−1) with white light and light quality (white, R3B1 (red:blue = 3:1), and R9B1) with a PPFD of 300 μmol m−2 s−1 on plant growth and radiation-use efficiency (RUE) of a dwarf tomato cultivar (‘Micro-Tom’) at the vegetative growth stage. The results clearly demonstrated that higher PPFD leads to higher dry mass and lower specific leaf area, but it does not affect the stem length. Furthermore, high PPFD increased the photosynthetic rate (Pn) of individual leaves but decreased RUE. A higher blue light proportion inhibited dry mass production with the same intercepted light because the leaves under high blue light proportion had low Pn and photosynthetic light-use efficiency. In conclusion, 300 μmol m−2 s−1 PPFD and R9B1 are the recommended proper PPFD and light quality, respectively, for ‘Micro-Tom’ cultivation at the vegetative growth stage to increase the RUE.


HortScience ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 578d-578 ◽  
Author(s):  
Usha Palaniswamy ◽  
Richard McAvoy ◽  
Bernard Bible

Watercress plants were grown in growth chambers at 15°C or 25°C and either an 8- or 12-hour photoperiod (PP). The photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) was 265 μmol·m–2·s–1 in all chambers, but beginning 1 week before harvest, half of the plants in each chamber were subjected to a higher PPF (434 μmol·m–2·s–1). At harvest, watercress leaves and stems were analyzed for phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) content. Watercress grown at 25°C, the 12-hour PP, and 1 week of high PPF produced the highest PEITC concentration in leaves and stems, and plants grown at 15°C, the 8-hour PP, and the low PPF until harvest produced the lowest PEITC concentration. Plants grown at the 8-hour PP, then exposed to 1 week of high PPF, produced 57.3% and 45.9% greater PEITC at 25 and 15°C, respectively, then plants exposed to the low PPF until harvest. However, plants grown at the 12-hour PP and subjected to 1 week of high PPF produced PEITC levels similar to plants grown under the low PPF at 25 and 15°C. At 25°C, plants grown under the low PPF and the 12-hour PP produced 62% greater dry mass than plants exposed to 1 week of high PPF and the 8-hour PP, but did not differ in PEITC content. Thus, the effect of 1 week of high PPF on PEITC concentration depended on photoperiod.


Author(s):  
Aistė Bagdonavičienė ◽  
Aušra Brazaitytė ◽  
Julė Jankauskienė ◽  
Pavelas Duchovskis

The objective of our studies was to evaluate the assimilative indices of cucumber (‘Pasalimo F1’) and tomato (‘Marissa F1’) transplants, cultivated under various photosynthetic photon flux densities (PPFD) were provided by light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Experiment was performed in phytotron complex of Institute of Horticulture, LRCAF. A system of high-power, solid-state lighting modules with 92 % 638 nm (red) + 665 nm (red) + 731 nm (far red) and 8 % 447 nm (blue) was used in the experiments. The generated PPFD of each type of five solid-state modules was ~200 and ~400 μmol m-2 s-1. Our experiment revealed that increased net assimilation rate (NAR) depended on increased PPFD of cucumber and tomato hybrid. 400 μmol m-2 s-1 LED illumination had positive effect on relative growth rate (RGR). Cucumbers which were grown under 200 μmol m-2 s-1 had bigger leaf area ratio (LAR) and specific leaf area (SLA), their development has been bigger as compared to higher 400 μmol m-2 s-1 PPFD. High PPFD LED illumination had positive effect on leaf weight ratio (LWR), shoot root ratio (SRR) and tomato transplants development. These studies with various photosynthetic photon flux densities (PPFD) and LEDs light should be continued throughout plant vegetation.


HortScience ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 39 (6) ◽  
pp. 1293-1297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krishna S. Nemali ◽  
Marc W. van Iersel

To evaluate the effects of increasing photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) on optimal fertilizer concentrations, we grew wax begonia (Begonia semperflorens-cultorum Hort.) and petunia (Petunia ×hybrida Hort. Vilm-Andr.) seedlings in a soilless growing medium without starter fertilizer under three PPF treatments (high, medium, and low corresponding to an average daily PPF of 23.2, 15.6, and 9.8 mol·m-2.d-1, respectively) and subirrigated with six fertilizer concentrations [electrical conductivity (EC) of 0.12, 0.65, 1.18, 1.71, 2.24, and 2.77 dS·m-1]. Compared to low PPF, shoot dry mass of wax begonia and petunia seedlings increased 2- and 3-fold, respectively, at high PPF. Fertilizer EC resulting in maximum shoot dry mass was the same (1.28 and 1.87 dS·m-1 for wax begonia and petunia, respectively) in the three PPF treatments. Shoot dry mass and leaf area of petunias decreased little at higher than optimal fertilizer EC in the three PPF treatments, while growth of begonia was inhibited at high fertilizer EC. The optimal fertilizer range, calculated as the lower and upper limits of fertilizer EC within which plant growth was not reduced by >10% as compared to the optimum EC was 0.65 to 1.71 dS·m-1 in wax begonia and 1.18 to >2.77 dS·m-1 for petunia. Compared to those grown at 1.18 dS·m-1, wax begonias grown at 1.71 dS·m-1 had similar dry mass, but were shorter in all three PPF treatments (average height reduction of 6.5%). In general, EC of the top layer of the growing medium was higher than that of the bottom layer of the growing medium, and this difference increased with increasing EC.


HortScience ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 48 (12) ◽  
pp. 1478-1483 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heidi Marie Wollaeger ◽  
Erik S. Runkle

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are of increasing interest in controlled environment plant production because of their increasing energy efficiency, long lifetime, and colors can be combined to elicit desirable plant responses. Red light (600–700 nm) is considered the most efficient wavelength for photosynthesis, but little research has compared growth responses under different wavelengths of red. We grew seedlings of impatiens (Impatiens walleriana), petunia (Petunia ×hybrida), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), and marigold (Tagetes patula) or salvia (Salvia splendens) at 20 °C under six sole-source LED lighting treatments. In the first experiment, a photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) of 160 μmol·m−2·s–1 was provided for 18 h·d−1 by 10% blue (B; peak = 446 nm) and 10% green (G; peak = 516 nm) lights, with the remaining percentages consisting of orange (O; peak = 596 nm)–red (R; peak = 634 nm)–hyper red (HR; peak = 664 nm) of 20–30–30, 0–80–0, 0–60–20, 0–40–40, 0–20–60, and 0–0–80, respectively. There were no consistent effects of lighting treatment across species on any of the growth characteristics measured including leaf area, plant height, or shoot fresh weight. In a second experiment, seedlings were grown under two light intensities (low, 125 μmol·m−2·s–1 and high, 250 μmol·m−2·s–1) consisting of 10% B and 10% G light and the following percentages of R–HR: 0–80, 40–40, 80–0. Shoot fresh weight was similar in all light treatments, whereas shoot dry weight was often greater under the higher light intensity, especially under the 40–40 treatments. Leaf chlorophyll concentration under 40–40low, 80–0low, or both was often greater than that in plants under the high light treatments, indicating that plants acclimated to the lower light intensity to better use photons available for photosynthesis. We conclude that O, R, and HR light have generally similar effects on plant growth at the intensities tested when background G and B lights are provided and thus, selection of red LEDs for horticultural applications could be based on other factors such as economics and durability.


2010 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 950-956 ◽  
Author(s):  
James E. Altland ◽  
Charles Krause

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) biomass is being evaluated as a potential alternative to pine bark as the primary potting component in containerized nursery crops. Substrates composed entirely of switchgrass have higher pH than what is considered desirable in container substrates. The objective of this research was to evaluate the influence of elemental S, sphagnum moss, and municipal solid waste compost (MSC) as amendments for reducing substrate pH and buffering it against large changes over time. Three experiments were conducted; the first two experiments were conducted using annual vinca (Catharanthus roseus ‘Pacifica Blush’) to quickly assess how pH was affected by the three amendments, and the final experiment was conducted with blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Duke’) to assess the long-term effects of substrate amendments. Summarizing across the three experiments, elemental S was effective in reducing substrate pH; however, rates 1 lb/yard3 or greater reduced pH below the recommended level of 5.5 and lower S rates did not maintain lowered pH over time. Sphagnum moss and MSC together at 20% and 10% (v/v), respectively, were effective at reducing substrate pH and buffering against change. Sphagnum moss and MSC provided the additional benefit of improving physical properties of the switchgrass substrates.


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