Far-red LEDs affect on strawberry production
Citation
Naznin, M. T., Hao, X., Khosla, S, Little, C., Zheng, J., and Alsanius, B. 2019. Far-red LEDs affect on strawberry production. Poster Presention (Abstract).
Plain language summary
Strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa) are grown in greenhouses in many parts of the world. Strawberries are an
important fruit for human health because of their high content of essential nutrients and beneficial phytochemicals. Strawberry plants are very sensitive to light environments. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of different far-red LEDs light on vegetative growth and fruit yield of strawberry grown during winter season in a greenhouse. In this study, we examined without and with far-red LEDs light those were 0 (control) and 8 mmoles respectively. Strawberry (cv. Albion) plug transplants were received from Carther Plants (Thamesville, ON, Canada) and kept for 4 weeks in greenhouse (23 °C day/19 °C night temperatures, 10-h photoperiod) prior to planting in the experimental greenhouse. Strawberry plug transplants were planted on rockwool (50 × 20 × 7 cm3) slabs for hydroponic culture in greenhouse at a plant density of 60 plant m-2. The plants were drip-irrigated using complete nutrient solutions based on standardized recommendations. The initial EC and pH was set at 2.2 mS cm-1 and 5.5, respectively. The greenhouse day/night heating temperatures were set at 17/15°C while ventilation temperature was set at 21°C. Greenhouse humidity was maintained between 65 and 85%. The supplemental lighting was left on for 10 hours a day, from 07:30 to 17:30. Supplemental lighting was used when outside global solar radiation was below 500 mmol m-2 s-1. Vegetative growth, fruit and flower numbers were counted at three week intervals. The lower growth, flower and fruit number were observed at control. Strawberry plants cultured under far-red LEDs light showed the higher yield per plant. This research will help better understand of far red light for commercial greenhouse production.
Abstract
Strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa) are grown in greenhouses in many parts of the world. Strawberries are an
important fruit for human health because of their high content of essential nutrients and beneficial phytochemicals.
Strawberry plants are very sensitive to light environments. The aim of this study was to examine the effect
of different far-red LEDs light on vegetative growth and fruit yield of strawberry grown during winter season
in a greenhouse. In this study, we examined without and with far-red LEDs light those were 0 (control) and 8
mmoles respectively. Strawberry (cv. Albion) plug transplants were received from Carther Plants (Thamesville,
ON, Canada) and kept for 4 weeks in greenhouse (23 °C day/19 °C night temperatures, 10-h photoperiod)
prior to planting in the experimental greenhouse. Strawberry plug transplants were planted on rockwool (50
× 20 × 7 cm3) slabs for hydroponic culture in greenhouse at a plant density of 60 plant m-2. The plants were
drip-irrigated using complete nutrient solutions based on standardized recommendations. The initial EC and
pH was set at 2.2 mS cm-1 and 5.5, respectively. The greenhouse day/night heating temperatures were set at
17/15°C while ventilation temperature was set at 21°C. Greenhouse humidity was maintained between 65 and
85%. The supplemental lighting was left on for 10 hours a day, from 07:30 to 17:30. Supplemental lighting
was used when outside global solar radiation was below 500 mmol m-2 s-1. Vegetative growth, fruit and flower
numbers were counted at three week intervals. The lower growth, flower and fruit number were observed at
control. Strawberry plants cultured under far-red LEDs light showed the higher yield per plant. This research
will help better understand of far red light for commercial greenhouse production.