Dry mass input into fruits can be predicted by fine root morphology of pepper cultivars exposed to varied lighting spectra

Abstract

Many pepper cultivars can be raised under artificial lighting in a plant factory. An easily measured parameter is needed to fast predict fruit loading in pepper cultivars. In this study, four pepper cultivars with contrasting manners in growth and fruiting were cultured under three light-emitting diode (LED) spectra in comparison with a sunlight control. It was found that the red-light spectrum (71.7% red-, 13.7% green-, 14.6% blue-lights) increased over 40% of dry mass in fruits, while the green-light spectrum (26.2% red-, 56.4% green-, 17.4% blue-lights) induced no fruiting compared to the control. Only two cultivars responded by fine root morphology, which was characterized as smaller surface-area and fewer tip-number in the blue-light spectrum (7.8% red-, 33.7% green-, 48.5% blue-lights) than in red LED light. Tip-number showed a negative correlation with fruit dry-mass in three cultivars, while fine root diameter increased with dry mass in fruits. In conclusion, fine root tip-number can be used as a predictor of fruit dry-mass in pepper cultivars high in fruit quality or yield. The red-colour light was recommended for raising pepper cultivars in a plant factory with the purpose of greater fruit productivity.

Natural Bioactive Substances in Fruits of Aronia melanocarpa (Michx.) Elliott Exposed to Combined Light-Type, Chitosan Oligosaccharide, and Spent Mushroom Residue Treatments

“…Light emitting diode (LED) is an instrument that provides artificial illumination for greenhouse plants. It is flexible to change the spectra of LED light by adjusting the composition of wavelengths in red, green, and blue lights [ 19 , 25 , 28 , 29 , 30 ]. The effect of different types of LED spectra on bioactive compounds in NWFP plants is highly species-specific [ 23 , 24 , 31 , 32 ].…”

Light-Emitting Diodes Modify Medicinal Quality of Mown Rabdosia rubescens, with Changes in Growth, Physiology, and Antioxidant Activity, under Drought Stress

“…Three types of LED spectra were provided as visible colors: red, blue, and green [ 17 ]. Wavelength components were adopted from the regimes of Wang et al [ 57 ]. The red-light LED spectrum comprised red-, green-, and blue-light wavelengths at 71.7%, 13.7%, and 14.6%, respectively; the green-light LED spectrum comprised 26.2%, 56.4%, and 17.4% red-, green-, and blue-light wavelengths, respectively; the blue-light LED spectrum comprised wavelengths of 17.8% red light, 33.7% green light, and 48.5% blue light.…”