Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 Department of Horticulture, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran, Postal Code: 4199613776
2 Photosynthesis Laboratory, Department of Horticulture, College of Agricultural Technology (Aburaihan), University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran, Postal Code: 1417935840
Abstract
Purpose: The use of supplementary light in regions with low natural sunlight is necessary to fulfill the increasing consumer requests for fresh vegetables. This study aimed to investigate the effect of different combinations of red and blue LEDs on yield and quality of greenhouse-grown sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) fruits during the growth period. Research method: The experiments were conducted in Rasht, Iran as split plots in the form of a completely randomized design in three repetitions (four plants per plot) on two cultivars of sweet pepper (Padra and Shadlin). With the appearance of the first flower buds, plants were exposed to different light treatments including: three combinations of red (R) and blue (B) LEDs (T1:R8B1, T2:R7B2, and T3:R6B3), with a same intensity of 200 μmolm-2s-1 as supplement light to the natural light, together with natural light as control treatment (CT). Sweet pepper fruits were harvested weekly over 27 weeks and fruit yield and quality were assessed. Findings: Supplemental light using LEDs significantly increased yield and fruit quality parameters (except titratable acidity and maturity index) compared to the control. Marketable yield was differed among the light treatments and plants exposed to T3 showed the highest marketable yield (14.58 kg/m2). The effect of supplemental light on total yield was more detectable when the average daily light integral was the lowest (for example, the difference between T3 and the control treatment in January was 1.27 kg/m2, while this difference was 0.68 kg/m2 in June). No significant difference was observed between cultivars and T3 was the best treatment in most parameters. Research limitations: No limitations were found. Originality/Value: In the northern regions of Iran, even in the months that do not seem to have light limitations, the use of supplementary light is recommended to increase the yield of sweet peppers in the greenhouse.
Keywords
Main Subjects
Aalifar, M., Aliniaeifard, S., Arab, M., Mehrjerdi, M.Z. & Serek, M. (2020a). Blue light postpones senescence of carnation flowers through regulation of ethylene and abscisic acid pathway-related genes. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 151, 103-112. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2020.03.018
Aalifar, M., Aliniaeifard, S., Arab, M., Zare Mehrjerdi, M., Dianati Daylami, S., Serek, M., Woltering, E. & Li, T. (2020b). Blue light improves vase life of carnation cut flowers through its effect on the antioxidant defense system. Frontiers in Plant Science, 11, 511. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2020.00511
Blekkenhorst, L.C., Sim, M., Bondonno, C.P., Bondonno, N.P., Ward, N.C., Prince, R.L., Devine, A., Lewis, J.R. & Hodgson, J.M. (2018). Cardiovascular health benefits of specific vegetable types: a narrative review. Nutrients, 10(5), 595. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10050595
Dąbrowski, P., Cetner, M.D., Samborska, I.A. & Kalaji, M.H. (2015). Measuring light spectrum as a main indicator of artificial sources quality. Journal of Coastal Life Medicine, 3(5), 400-406. https://doi.org/10.12980/jclm.3.2015j5-25
de Sá Mendes, N. & de Andrade Gonçalves, É.C.B. (2020). The role of bioactive components found in peppers. Trends in Food Science & Technology, 99, 229-243. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tifs.2020.02.032
Esmaeili, S., Aliniaeifard, S., Dianati Daylami, S., Karimi, S., Shomali, A., Didaran, F., Telesiński, A., Sierka, E. & Kalaji, H.M. (2022). Elevated light intensity compensates for nitrogen deficiency during chrysanthemum growth by improving water and nitrogen use efficiency. Scientific Reports, 12(1), 10002. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-14163-4
Ghasemi, A. & Zahediasl, S. (2012). Normality tests for statistical analysis: a guide for non-statisticians. International Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism, 10(2), 486. https://doi.org/10.5812/ijem.3505
Ghasemnezhad, M., Sherafati, M. & Payvast, G.A. (2011). Variation in phenolic compounds, ascorbic acid and antioxidant activity of five coloured bell pepper (Capsicum annum) fruits at two different harvest times. Journal of Functional Foods, 3(1), 44-49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2011.02.002
Gómez, C. & Mitchell, C. (2016). In search of an optimized supplemental lighting spectrum for greenhouse tomato production with intracanopy lighting. Acta Horticulturae, 1134, 57-62. https://doi.org/10.17660/actahortic.2016.1134.8
González-Real, M.M., Liu, H.-Q. & Baille, A. (2009). Influence of fruit sink strength on the distribution of leaf photosynthetic traits in fruit-bearing shoots of pepper plants (Capsicum annuum L.). Environmental and Experimental Botany, 66(2), 195-202. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envexpbot.2009.01.005
Guo, X., Hao, X., Khosla, S., Kumar, K., Cao, R. & Bennett, N. (2016). Effect of LED interlighting combined with overhead HPS light on fruit yield and quality of year-round sweet pepper in commercial greenhouse. Acta Horticulturae, 71-78. https://doi.org/10.17660/actahortic.2016.1134.10
Hao, X., Guo, X., Lanoue, J., Zhang, Y., Cao, R., Zheng, J., Little, C., Leonardos, D., Kholsa, S. & Grodzinski, B. (2017). A review on smart application of supplemental lighting in greenhouse fruiting vegetable production. Acta Horticulturae, 1227, 499-506. https://doi.org/10.17660/actahortic.2018.1227.63
Hernández, R. & Kubota, C. (2016). Physiological responses of cucumber seedlings under different blue and red photon flux ratios using LEDs. Environmental and Experimental Botany, 121, 66-74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envexpbot.2015.04.001
Hikosaka, S., Iyoki, S., Hayakumo, M. & Goto, E. (2013). Effects of light intensity and amount of supplemental LED lighting on photosynthesis and fruit growth of tomato plants under artificial conditions. Journal of Agricultural Meteorology, 69(2), 93-100. https://doi.org/10.2480/agrmet.69.2.5
Ignat, T., Schmilovitch, Z., Feföldi, J., Bernstein, N., Steiner, B., Egozi, H. & Hoffman, A. (2013). Nonlinear methods for estimation of maturity stage, total chlorophyll, and carotenoid content in intact bell peppers. Biosystems Engineering, 114(4), 414-425. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2012.10.001
Javadi Asayesh, E., Aliniaeifard, S., Askari, N., Roozban, M.R., Sobhani, M., Tsaniklidis, G., Woltering, E.J. & Fanourakis, D. (2021). Supplementary light with increased blue fraction accelerates emergence and improves development of the inflorescence in Aechmea, Guzmania and Vriesea. Horticulturae, 7(11), 485. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae7110485
Javanmardi, J. & Emami, S. (2013). Response of tomato and pepper transplants to light spectra provided by light emitting diodes. International Journal of Vegetable Science, 19(2), 138-149. https://doi.org/10.1080/19315260.2012.684851
Jokinen, K., Särkkä, L. & Näkkilä, J. (2012). Improving sweet pepper productivity by LED interlighting. Acta Horticulturae, 956, 59-66. https://doi.org/10.17660/actahortic.2012.956.4
Joshi, N.C., Ratner, K., Eidelman, O., Bednarczyk, D., Zur, N., Many, Y., Shahak, Y., Aviv-Sharon, E., Achiam, M. & Gilad, Z. (2019). Effects of daytime intra-canopy LED illumination on photosynthesis and productivity of bell pepper grown in protected cultivation. Scientia Horticulturae, 250, 81-88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2019.02.039
Kim, B.S., Lee, H.O., Kim, J.Y., Kwon, K.H., Cha, H.S. & Kim, J.H. (2011). An effect of light emitting diode (LED) irradiation treatment on the amplification of functional components of immature strawberry. Horticulture, Environment, and Biotechnology, 52, 35-39. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13580-011-0189-2
Kim, D. & Son, J.E. (2022). Adding far-red to red, blue supplemental light-emitting diode interlighting improved sweet pepper yield but attenuated carotenoid content. Frontiers in Plant Science, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2022.938199
Klamkowski, K., Treder, W., Wójcik, K., Puternicki, A. & Lisak, E. (2014). Influence of supplementary lighting on growth and photosynthetic activity of tomato transplants. Infrastruktura i Ekologia Terenów Wiejskich, IV/3), http://doi.org/10.14597/infraeco.2014.4.3.103
Lan, W., Changwei, Z. & Yongjun, W. (2022). Dry mass input into fruits can be predicted by fine root morphology of pepper cultivars exposed to varied lighting spectra. Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca, 50(4), 12930-12930. https://doi.org/10.15835/nbha50412930
Lanoue, J., Little, C., Hawley, D. & Hao, X. (2022). Addition of green light improves fruit weight and dry matter content in sweet pepper due to greater light penetration within the canopy. Scientia Horticulturae, 304, 111350. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2022.111350
Li, H., Tang, C., Xu, Z., Liu, X. & Han, X. (2012). Effects of different light sources on the growth of non-heading Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris L.). Journal of Agricultural Science, 4(4), 262. https://doi.org/10.5539/jas.v4n4p262
Lin, W. & Jolliffe, P. (1996). Light intensity and spectral quality affect fruit growth and shelf life of greenhouse-grown long English cucumber. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science, 121(6), 1168-1173. https://doi.org/10.21273/jashs.121.6.1168
Littell, R.C. (1989). Statistical analysis of experiments with repeated measurements. HortScience, 24(1), 37-40. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.24.1.37
Liu, C., Wan, H., Yang, Y., Ye, Q., Zhou, G., Wang, X., Ahammed, G.J. & Cheng, Y. (2022a). Post-harvest LED light irradiation affects firmness, bioactive substances, and amino acid compositions in chili pepper (Capsicum annum L.). Foods, 11(17), 2712. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods11172712
Liu, Y., Schouten, R.E., Tikunov, Y., Liu, X., Visser, R.G., Tan, F., Bovy, A. & Marcelis, L.F. (2022b). Blue light increases anthocyanin content and delays fruit ripening in purple pepper fruit. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 192, 112024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.postharvbio.2022.112024
Martínez-Zamora, L., Castillejo, N. & Artés-Hernández, F. (2021). Postharvest UV-B and photoperiod with blue + red LEDs as strategies to stimulate carotenogenesis in bell peppers. Applied Sciences, 11(9), 3736. https://doi.org/10.3390/app11093736
Maureira, F., Rajagopalan, K. & Stöckle, C.O. (2022). Evaluating tomato production in open-field and high-tech greenhouse systems. Journal of Cleaner Production, 337, 130459. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.130459
Navarro, J., Garrido, C., Carvajal, M. & Martinez, V. (2002). Yield and fruit quality of pepper plants under sulphate and chloride salinity. The Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology, 77(1), 52-57. https://doi.org/10.1080/14620316.2002.11511456
Naznin, M.T., Lefsrud, M., Gravel, V. & Azad, M.O.K. (2019). Blue light added with red LEDs enhance growth characteristics, pigments content, and antioxidant capacity in lettuce, spinach, kale, basil, and sweet pepper in a controlled environment. Plants, 8(4), 93. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants8040093
Nederhoff, E. & Marcelis, L. (2010). Calculating Light and Lighting. Practical Hydroponics and Greenhouses, 112, 43-51. https://edepot.wur.nl/156931
Olatunji, T.L. & Afolayan, A.J. (2018). The suitability of chili pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) for alleviating human micronutrient dietary deficiencies: A review. Food Science & Nutrition, 6(8), 2239-2251. https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.790
Papadopoulos, A.P. (1994). Growing greenhouse seedless cucumbers in soil and in soilless media. Ottawa, Ontario: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
Pattison, P., Tsao, J., Brainard, G. & Bugbee, B. (2018). LEDs for photons, physiology and food. Nature, 563(7732), 493-500. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-018-0706-x
Pepin, S., Fortier, E., Béchard-Dubé, S., Dorais, M., Ménard, C. & Bacon, R. (2013). Beneficial effects of using a 3-D LED interlighting system for organic greenhouse tomato grown in Canada under low natural light conditions. Acta Horticulturae, 1041, 239-246. https://doi.org/10.17660/actahortic.2014.1041.28
Prinzenberg, A.E., van der Schoot, H., Visser, R.G., Marcelis, L.F., Heuvelink, E. & Schouten, H.J. (2021). Genetic mapping of the tomato quality traits brix and blossom-end rot under supplemental LED and HPS lighting conditions. Euphytica, 217(12), 213. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-387667/v1
Sæbø, A., Krekling, T. & Appelgren, M. (1995). Light quality affects photosynthesis and leaf anatomy of birch plantlets in vitro. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture, 41, 177-185. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf00051588
Stadler, C. (2011). Effects of lighting time and lighting source on growth, yield and quality of greenhouse sweet pepper. 15/07/2009 – 31/12/2010 Agricultural University of Iceland.
Takahashi, M., Kaneko, S., Koike, O., Kanno, H., Umeda, H. & Iwasaki, Y. (2020). Temporal source strength estimation of sweet pepper for crop management and LED supplementation efficiency improvement. Engineering in Agriculture, Environment and Food, 13(3), 73-80. https://doi.org/10.37221/eaef.13.3_73
Wojciechowska, R., Długosz-Grochowska, O., Kołton, A. & Żupnik, M. (2015). Effects of LED supplemental lighting on yield and some quality parameters of lamb's lettuce grown in two winter cycles. Scientia Horticulturae, 187, 80-86. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2015.03.006
Yamori, W., Kondo, E., Sugiura, D., Terashima, I., Suzuki, Y. & Makino, A. (2016). Enhanced leaf photosynthesis as a target to increase grain yield: insights from transgenic rice lines with variable Rieske FeS protein content in the cytochrome b6/f complex. Plant, Cell & Environment, 39(1), 80-87. https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.12594
Zayed, M.S. (2012). Improvement of growth and nutritional quality of Moringa oleifera using different biofertilizers. Annals of Agricultural Sciences, 57(1), 53-62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aoas.2012.03.004
)