Effect of Light Spectrum on Gas Exchange, Growth and Biochemical Characteristics of Einkorn Seedlings

• Main Authors: Maria Luce Bartucca, Daniele Del Buono, Eleonora Ballerini, Paolo Benincasa, Beatrice Falcinelli, Marcello Guiducci
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-07-01
• Series: Agronomy
• Subjects: LED; net CO₂ assimilation; evapotranspiration; biomass; pigments; plant nutrition
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/7/1042

The use of Light Emitting Diode (LED) lights in microscale vegetable production is more and more widespread. In this context, the effect of light spectrum on photosynthesis, growth, shoot yield, pigment content, and nutritional status of einkorn seedlings (<i>Triticum monococcum</i> L. ssp. <i>monococcum</i>), germinated and grown in a nutrient solution, was investigated. Plants were subjected to six different LED light treatments, all having a photon flux density (PFD) of 200 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹. Two light treatments were monochromatic (red or blue), three dichromatic (blue and red in the proportion), and one of a wider spectrum (selected as a control). All the light treatments affected the morphological, biochemical, and nutritional status of einkorn seedlings. Overall, the dichromatic treatments were the most effective in stimulating biomass production, CO₂ assimilation, and evapotranspiration, as well as contents in chlorophyll a and b and carotenoids, and additionally nitrogen, phosphorous, manganese, iron, and zinc. These results are of relevance for the beneficial effects of dichromatic LED treatments in maximizing einkorn shoot yield and nutritional values, and in limiting energy consumption in indoor cultivation.