Impact of Light on Horticultural Crops

• Other Authors: Koukounaras, Athanasios (Editor), Bantis, Filippos (Editor)
• Format: Electronic Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI - Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute 2023
• Subjects: Research & information: general; Biology, life sciences; Technology, engineering, agriculture; artificial lighting; chlorophyll fluorescence; gas exchange; indoor farming; soilless culture; light colour; LED; rooting cuttings; chrysanthemum; growth room; deep flow technique; glucosinolate; light-emitting diode; net photosynthesis; shoot biomass; watercress; broad spectrum; white plus red LED; red to blue ratio; daily light integral; photosynthetic capacity; seedling quality; hydroponics; Lactuca sativa var. longifolia; nitrogen balance index; tipburn; flavonol index; daily light integral (DLI) maps; LED grow lights; greenhouse integrated PV; adaptive lighting control; year-round cultivation; agrivoltaics; Solanum lycopersicon L.; scion; rootstock; light-emitting diodes; light quality; nursery; growth chamber; photomorphogenesis; root system architecture; antioxidant activity; Citrullus lanatus; healing chamber; transplantation; flowering; crop production; antioxidants; cytokinin content; supplementary light; net photosynthetic rate; ultraviolet; stem firmness; Capparis spinosa L.; darkness; gibberellic acid; light-emitting diodes (LEDs); light wavelength; soaking; greenhouse cover; leaf colour; UV radiation; antioxidant capacity; supplemental light; n/a
• Online Access: DOAB: download the publication; DOAB: description of the publication

Light is an essential factor for the growth and quality of horticultural plants and its effects depend upon parameters such as duration, intensity and quality. It is an energy source for photosynthesis as well as a signal triggering plant photomorphogenesis and physiological, biochemical and molecular responses. However, solar light strongly differs between winter and summer conditions, with excess light in open field cultivations imposing severe stress on plants, especially during summer months, while supplementary light sources are implemented in greenhouse crop production to complement natural light when it is insufficient. On the other hand, artificial lighting is used as the sole lighting source in plant factories and nurseries (i.e., healing chambers, plant tissue culture). In order to enhance sustainability and profitability, light must be studied and efficiently applied within horticultural crop production. Novel technologies such as light-emitting diodes, new transparent greenhouse covering materials, photoselective nettings, growth chambers and plant factories showcase the critical role of light interacting with plants from the level of seed germination to growth rate, product quality and postharvest storage. This Special Issue focuses on recent findings in horticultural crops with regard to light characteristics (i.e., quality, quantity etc.) presented as research papers, short communications and review articles.