Effect of LED supplementary light intensity on photosynthetic rate and yield in out-of-season glasshouse production of junebearer strawberry

Light emitting diode (LED) lighting is rapidly replacing traditional high pressure sodium (HPS) in horticultural glasshouse crop production.
LED lights are more efficient and produce less radiant heat allowing for positioning of the lamps closer to the plants and thus enabling plants to be exposed to higher light intensities.
Strawberries are a high-value crop that has the potential to be profitably grown under supplementary lighting.
The relationship between increased photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD), plant light-use efficiency, and yield needs to be explored to best utilize these technological advances in strawberry.
Here the effect of a range of PPFDs from LED lamps on plant photosynthetic rate and yield of a premium June bearer strawberry variety was explored using a novel light gradient approach.
A supplementary lighting gradient from 0 to 360 µmol m^‑2 s^‑1 was established using a bank of high intensity LED lamps.
Photosynthetic rate and yield per plant increased curvilinearly with increased light intensity up to 360 µmol m^‑2 s^‑1. The supplementary light intensity did not affect fruit ripening time.
Results are discussed in the context of optimising the economic use of LED lighting for out-of-season strawberry production.

XXXI International Horticultural Congress (IHC2022): International Symposium on Innovative Technologies and Production Strategies for Sustainable Controlled Environment Horticulture

K. Swann, P. Hadley, M.A. Else, C. Twitchen

photosynthesis, lighting gradient, ripening, production efficiency, LEDs, horticultural lighting

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2023.1377.48