Root Architecture, Growth and Photon Yield of Cucumber Seedlings as Influenced by Daily Light Integral at Different Stages in the Closed Transplant Production System

Optimizing light conditions for vegetable seedling production in a closed transplant production system is critical for plant growth and seedling production. Additionally, energy use efficiency should be considered by growers when managing the light environment. In the present study, cucumber seedlin...

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Main Authors: Yifei Wang, Yangyang Chu, Ze Wan, Geng Zhang, Lei Liu, Zhengnan Yan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-09-01
Series:Horticulturae
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/7/9/328
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spelling doaj-2a22e1ec7e7845eab782933b81c291c32021-09-26T00:16:36ZengMDPI AGHorticulturae2311-75242021-09-01732832810.3390/horticulturae7090328Root Architecture, Growth and Photon Yield of Cucumber Seedlings as Influenced by Daily Light Integral at Different Stages in the Closed Transplant Production SystemYifei Wang0Yangyang Chu1Ze Wan2Geng Zhang3Lei Liu4Zhengnan Yan5College of Horticulture, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, ChinaCollege of Horticulture, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, ChinaCollege of Horticulture, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, ChinaDepartment of Agronomy and Horticulture, Jiangsu Vocational College of Agriculture and Forestry, Jurong 212400, ChinaKey Laboratory of Mollisols Agroecology, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130102, ChinaCollege of Horticulture, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, ChinaOptimizing light conditions for vegetable seedling production in a closed transplant production system is critical for plant growth and seedling production. Additionally, energy use efficiency should be considered by growers when managing the light environment. In the present study, cucumber seedlings (<i>Cucumis sativus</i> L. cv. Tianjiao No. 5) were grown under six different daily light integrals (DLIs) at 8.64, 11.52, 14.40, 17.28, 23.04, and 28.80 mol m<sup>−2</sup> d<sup>−1</sup> created by two levels of photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) of 200 and 400 μmol m<sup>−2</sup> s<sup>−1</sup> combined with photoperiod of 12, 16 and 20 h d<sup>−1</sup> provided by white light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in a closed transplant production system for 21 days. Results indicated that quadratic functions were observed between fresh and dry weights of cucumber seedlings and DLI at 6, 11, 16, and 21 days after sowing. Generally, higher DLI resulted in longer root length, bigger root volume and root surface area accompanied with shorter plant height and hypocotyl length; however, no significant differences were observed in root length, root volume, and root surface area as DLI increased from 14.40 to 28.80 mol m<sup>−2</sup> d<sup>−1</sup>. Photon yield based on fresh and dry weights decreased with increasing DLI. In conclusion, increased DLI resulted in compact and vigorous morphology but reduced photon yield of cucumber seedlings produced in a closed transplant production system. In terms of plant growth and energy use efficiency, DLI at 14.40–23.04 mol m<sup>−2</sup> d<sup>−1</sup> was suggested for cucumber seedling production in the closed production system. Additionally, different control strategies should be applied at different growth stages of cucumber seedlings.https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/7/9/328light quantitylight-emitting diodesphotoperiodspecific leaf area
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Yifei Wang
Yangyang Chu
Ze Wan
Geng Zhang
Lei Liu
Zhengnan Yan
spellingShingle Yifei Wang
Yangyang Chu
Ze Wan
Geng Zhang
Lei Liu
Zhengnan Yan
Root Architecture, Growth and Photon Yield of Cucumber Seedlings as Influenced by Daily Light Integral at Different Stages in the Closed Transplant Production System
Horticulturae
light quantity
light-emitting diodes
photoperiod
specific leaf area
author_facet Yifei Wang
Yangyang Chu
Ze Wan
Geng Zhang
Lei Liu
Zhengnan Yan
author_sort Yifei Wang
title Root Architecture, Growth and Photon Yield of Cucumber Seedlings as Influenced by Daily Light Integral at Different Stages in the Closed Transplant Production System
title_short Root Architecture, Growth and Photon Yield of Cucumber Seedlings as Influenced by Daily Light Integral at Different Stages in the Closed Transplant Production System
title_full Root Architecture, Growth and Photon Yield of Cucumber Seedlings as Influenced by Daily Light Integral at Different Stages in the Closed Transplant Production System
title_fullStr Root Architecture, Growth and Photon Yield of Cucumber Seedlings as Influenced by Daily Light Integral at Different Stages in the Closed Transplant Production System
title_full_unstemmed Root Architecture, Growth and Photon Yield of Cucumber Seedlings as Influenced by Daily Light Integral at Different Stages in the Closed Transplant Production System
title_sort root architecture, growth and photon yield of cucumber seedlings as influenced by daily light integral at different stages in the closed transplant production system
publisher MDPI AG
series Horticulturae
issn 2311-7524
publishDate 2021-09-01
description Optimizing light conditions for vegetable seedling production in a closed transplant production system is critical for plant growth and seedling production. Additionally, energy use efficiency should be considered by growers when managing the light environment. In the present study, cucumber seedlings (<i>Cucumis sativus</i> L. cv. Tianjiao No. 5) were grown under six different daily light integrals (DLIs) at 8.64, 11.52, 14.40, 17.28, 23.04, and 28.80 mol m<sup>−2</sup> d<sup>−1</sup> created by two levels of photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) of 200 and 400 μmol m<sup>−2</sup> s<sup>−1</sup> combined with photoperiod of 12, 16 and 20 h d<sup>−1</sup> provided by white light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in a closed transplant production system for 21 days. Results indicated that quadratic functions were observed between fresh and dry weights of cucumber seedlings and DLI at 6, 11, 16, and 21 days after sowing. Generally, higher DLI resulted in longer root length, bigger root volume and root surface area accompanied with shorter plant height and hypocotyl length; however, no significant differences were observed in root length, root volume, and root surface area as DLI increased from 14.40 to 28.80 mol m<sup>−2</sup> d<sup>−1</sup>. Photon yield based on fresh and dry weights decreased with increasing DLI. In conclusion, increased DLI resulted in compact and vigorous morphology but reduced photon yield of cucumber seedlings produced in a closed transplant production system. In terms of plant growth and energy use efficiency, DLI at 14.40–23.04 mol m<sup>−2</sup> d<sup>−1</sup> was suggested for cucumber seedling production in the closed production system. Additionally, different control strategies should be applied at different growth stages of cucumber seedlings.
topic light quantity
light-emitting diodes
photoperiod
specific leaf area
url https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/7/9/328
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