Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

By year 2050 and beyond, the global population is projected to increase significantly, accompanied by climate changes. In this context indoor plant production, or plant factories, holds good promise for enhancing food security. Previous research highlights that green light can penetrate deeper into leaf tissues when compared to blue and red light, influencing photosynthesis. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of adding green light spectra to other light spectra. The previous research raised the hypothesis that supplementing green light with red-blue light possibly can enhance photosynthesis in higher plants.
The main hypothesis in this study was that the addition of green light would enhance the photosynthetic rates. Hence, this study’s aim is to optimise photosynthesis performance of plants produced in greenhouses or plant factories utilizing artificial light. The three different plant species were all separately analysed in photosynthesis measurements, the plant species bell pepper (Capsicum annuum), Pak Choi (Brassica rapa subsp. Chinensis) and Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris var. cicla) were used in this study that aimed to examine the potential of different wavelength of light and to optimise photosynthesis. The photosynthetic capacity, Amax and the gs, the stomatal conductance was together measured by the Infra-Red Gas Analyser (IRGA).
The analysation of the results of the photosynthesis measurements indicates that the addition of green light to a combined red-blue light spectra did not enhance the photosynthetic rates in the three plant species under given circumstances. The results from the chlorophyll fluorescence trials and the response from these specific plants show variability and were difficult to interpret.
In conclusion, comprehensive research can possibly identify patterns and trends, which in the future can lead to new practical recommendations for horticultural practices and provide insight into practical implications of light treatments.