Farzaneh Bekhradi is PhD graduate from the University of Tehran, Iran. After graduation she joined the Sepahan Rooyesh Company in Iran as a Research & Development manager. Her research concerns innovative and environmentally friendly projects such as grafting and vertical farming in addition to the effect of different LEDs lights. She collaborates in many research projects with colleagues at universities in Iran, and has participated in many national and international symposia. Recently, at the IHC2022, in Angers, France, she received an ISHS Young Minds Award for her presentation on seed and transplant quality for horticultural crops and restorative species. She researched the effects of light spectra and intensities on the performance of grafted cucumber seedlings. She examined red, blue, green, white, red:far red, red:blue light spectra under four intensities [25, 50, 100, and 200 µmol m-2 s-1 photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD)] in addition to white light and darkness. Results showed that survival rate of the grafted seedlings was not significantly different among PPFDs lower than 200 µmol m-2 s-1 except for white light and darkness. The lowest survival rate was obtained under 200 µmol m-2 s-1 and the lowest maximum quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) was obtained in grafted seedlings exposed to the highest light intensity (200 µmol m-2 s-1). The maximum Fv/Fm was detected in grafted seedlings under lighting regimes that had blue light in their overall spectrum. In conclusion, since elongated seedlings are not desirable and sufficient leaf areas are desirable for the grafted seedling production, spectra containing a combination of blue and red spectrum yielded better results. Because negative effects of high PPFDs were detected, and due to energy saving needs, 50 µmol m-2 s-1 PPFDs was recommended for production of grafted cucumber seedlings.
Farzaneh Bekhradi won the ISHS Young Minds Award for the best poster presentation at the International Symposium on Quality Seeds and Transplants for Horticultural Crops and Restorative Species at IHC2022 in France in August 2022.
Farzaneh Bekhradi, Sepahan Rooyesh Agicultural and Trading Co., 942 Kashani Ave., Isfahan, Iran, e-mail: farzaneh.bekhradi@srooyesh.com
The article is available in Chronica Horticulturae