Controlling plant height without the use of plant growth retardants is one of the goals in future production of potted plants. Light quality with a low red to far-red ratio (R:FR) increases plant height. In this trial, the effects of light quality [R:FR ratio of 0.4, 0.7, and 2.4 (R = 600–700 nm, FR = 700–800 nm)] at the end of day were investigated on potted chrysanthemums using growth chambers. After a 9-h photoperiod, the 30-min end-of-day lighting was provided by light-emitting diodes at low irradiance by maintaining either red = 1 μmol·m−2·s−1 (Rcon) or far-red = 1 μmol·m−2·s−1(FRcon). After 3 weeks of end-of-day lighting, plants given the lowest end-of-day ratios (R:FR of 0.4 or 0.7) were taller than control plants (R:FR = 2.4). For low ratios of R:FR (0.4), the actual intensities of R and FR did not affect plant height, whereas for higher ratios of R:FR (0.7 and 2.4), plant height was greater for FRcon than for Rcon. Leaf area of the lateral side shoots was lower for plants treated with an R:FR of 0.4 compared with those of controls. Dry weight, stem diameter, number of internodes, and number of lateral branches were unaffected by the end-of-day ratio.
Production in a dynamic photosynthesis optimized climate (DC) was compared to production in a traditional and more stable climate (TC). Production of a tropical plant species (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L.) in a DC resulted in between 18% and 63% reduction in energy use, mainly due to lower temperatures and increased use of thermal screens. In high light periods, the average day temperatures (ADT) were virtually the same in the different treatments, while in low light periods both ADT and average night temperature (ANT) were lower in the DC. Differential use of the screens resulted in a higher cumulative light integral in the DC. The number of lateral breaks was either the same or higher in the DC. Dry weight at the end of the production period was not significantly different in six of the seven experiments, and in five out of seven replications, plants grown in the DC were shorter than plants in the TC. Production periods between 10 days shorter and 21 days longer, for the DC compared to the TC, could not be explained by temperature integration alone. In the DC, a high positive DIF (difference between ADT and ANT) does not seem to increase elongation growth. The study illustrates that it is possible to produce a heat-demanding plant and save energy using a DC.
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