Luminescence of Agrotextiles Based on Red-Light-Emitting Organic Luminophore and Polypropylene Spunbond Enhances the Growth and Photosynthesis of Vegetable Plants

Abstract

The impact of a light-transforming covering on photosynthetic activity and growth processes in lettuce and white cabbage plants grown in a glass greenhouse was studied. Plants were covered with agrotextile, a polypropylene (PP) nonwoven spunbond coated with polylactide varnish containing a new organic luminophore (LUM), which absorbs sunlight mainly in the 460–560 nm region and efficiently reradiates it in the red spectral region with a maximum at 660 nm. For comparison, simultaneously two references agrotextiles without LUM or containing a non-luminescent chromophore (ABS) with an absorption spectrum close to that of LUM were as well investigated. The use of the agrotextile with LUM resulted in a significant increase in total crude aboveground biomass for 32-, 33-, and 43-day-old plants on the average by 20–40%, and the photosynthesis rate increased on the average by 30–40% compared to the agrotextile without LUM. The use of the agrotextile with ABS mimicking the absorption of LUM also did not reveal a significant impact on photosynthesis and biomass accumulation in the plants as compared to the reference agrotextile coated only with the polylactide varnish. At the same time, the photosystem II activity (Fv/Fm and F′v/F′m quantum yields) was nearly the same in all experiments. When plants were grown under the light-converting agrotextile, the luminescent component of the converted light in the red spectrum region led to an increase in plant growth and photosynthesis rate, which is a fundamentally new result. Possible reasons for the stimulation of growth and photosynthesis due to the redistribution of the light spectral composition were analyzed. The use of covering materials containing luminophores similar to LUM can be promising in agrobiotechnology not only for green and vegetable crops but also for other field and greenhouse crops and various fruit bushes and trees.

Photon spectra effects tested on the vegetal model Allium cepa

“…As shown in Figure 1B, the energy input at 450 and 635 nm stimulated root development, causing it to increase, except under 18 kJ cm −2 , the highest tested dose. The observed increase in root growth under red and blue spectral regions supports that light composition leads to different effects on plant development [4]. Assessing effects of blue and red is particularly important in vegetal PBM as these wavelengths are major drivers of photosynthesis, making them key light compositions for proliferation of plant cells [45], as confirmed by fundamental research.…”

“…Light inputs from artificial sources at different wavelengths, doses, and proportions have been explored in an array of plant cultivation systems [1][2][3]. Light quality and quantity are determining factors for the regulation of the many processes involved in photosynthesis, as they can cause significant modifications in vegetal development [4]. Signals received by phytochromes can detect possible difficulties that a plant may find during its growth [5], and this reception will further cause specific genetic responses that will lead to physiological alterations [6].…”

Design of highly efficient energy transfer phosphor Sr4Al14O25:Eu2+,Mn4+ with deep-red emission and application potential in plant growth

“…9 There also have been reports of the use of a novel composite light-converting agro-textile containing a photoluminescent composition on lettuces, with the results demonstrating that the quality and yield of the biomass are significantly higher than those with traditional agricultural films. 10…”

“…9 There also have been reports of the use of a novel composite light-converting agro-textile containing a photoluminescent composition on lettuces, with the results demonstrating that the quality and yield of the biomass are significantly higher than those with traditional agricultural films. 10 Many red phosphors have been studied, such as CaAlSi-N 3 :Eu 2+ , 11 Ba 2 Tb(BO 3 ) 2 Cl:Eu, 12 LaSc 3 (BO 3 ) 4 :Eu 3+ , 13 BaMgPO 7 : Eu 2+ -Mn 2+ , 14 and BaZnOS:Mn 2+ ; 15 however, their emission spectra and the absorption spectra of chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b do not really match. Therefore, it is necessary to select a suitable red phosphor.…”

Effect of Nano-TiO2 Composite on the Fertilization and Fruit-Setting of Litchi

“…The high photoreactivity of nTiO 2 may affect the crop’s photosynthesis and metabolism of sugars, amino acids, and fatty acids [ 23 , 24 ]. The crop can convert the light energy absorbed by photosynthesis into some chemical energy and then release it for growth and development [ 25 ]. Nanosized particles are more stable than large particles because they are less likely to be washed away by rainwater or to settle in the atmosphere naturally [ 26 ].…”