Better Tomato Growth and Nutrients with Inside-the-Plant LED Lighting

Jim Crocker
17th August, 2024

Better Tomato Growth and Nutrients with Inside-the-Plant LED Lighting

Image Source: Natural Science News, 2024

Key Findings

  • The study by Isfahan University of Technology found that using LED lights in greenhouses with low daily light significantly improves tomato yield and nutritional value
  • Intra-canopy LED lighting alone increased tomato fruit yield by 28.46%, outperforming top lighting, which only showed a 12.12% increase
  • Combined top and intra-canopy lighting resulted in the highest overall tomato yield and a 123.4% boost in vitamin C content compared to no supplemental lighting
Greenhouses in high latitude regions and areas prone to cloudy weather often struggle with low light quality and quantity, particularly during autumn and winter. This low daily light integral (DLI) negatively impacts the production rate, quality, and nutritional value of many crops. A recent study conducted by Isfahan University of Technology aimed to evaluate the impact of LED lights on the growth and nutritional value of Sakhiya RZ F1 tomato plants in such challenging conditions[1]. The study tested three LED lighting modes: top lighting, intra-canopy lighting, and a combination of both. Results showed that combined lighting achieved the highest overall tomato yield. However, intra-canopy lighting alone resulted in a significant 28.46% increase in tomato fruit yield compared to no supplemental lighting, outperforming top lighting, which only showed a 12.12% increase. Intra-canopy lighting also had the most substantial effect on increasing lycopene content by 31.3%. Lycopene is an antioxidant linked to various health benefits, including reduced risk of certain diseases. The combined top and intra-canopy lighting saw the highest increase in vitamin C content, with an impressive 123.4% boost compared to the control group. The positive effects of LED lighting on tomato growth and nutritional value were linked to the expression of specific genes involved in metabolic cycles, such as Psy1, LCY-β, and VTC2. These genes showed a correlation with the increased tomato fruit production observed in the study. Previous research supports the findings of this study. For instance, a study on cucumber plants demonstrated that light quality significantly affects photosynthesis and plant growth[2]. Plants grown under blue and purple light had higher stomatal conductance and Rubisco activities, which are essential for photosynthesis, compared to those grown under green, yellow, and red light. This aligns with the current study's finding that intra-canopy lighting, which likely provides a more balanced light spectrum, improved tomato yield and quality. Another study on greenhouse crop production highlighted the importance of blue light in combination with red light for optimal plant development[3]. The addition of blue light to red light improved biomass, yield, and fruit number in tomatoes, similar to how the combined top and intra-canopy lighting in the current study enhanced tomato production. Furthermore, research on supplemental LED inter-lighting in greenhouses showed that this lighting method increased tomato fruit weight and enhanced plant growth by improving photosynthetic light use efficiency (PLUE)[4]. The intra-canopy lighting in the current study likely provided a similar benefit by delivering light more evenly throughout the plant canopy, leading to better overall growth and higher fruit yield. In summary, the study by Isfahan University of Technology demonstrates that LED lighting, especially intra-canopy lighting, can significantly improve tomato yield and nutritional value in greenhouses with low daily light. This is achieved through enhanced light distribution and the upregulation of key metabolic genes. The findings build on previous research that underscores the importance of light quality and distribution in optimizing plant growth and development.

AgricultureGeneticsPlant Science

References

Main Study

1) Intra-canopy LED lighting outperformed top LED lighting in improving tomato yield and expression of the genes responsible for lycopene, phytoene and vitamin C synthesis.

Published 16th August, 2024

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-69210-z

Related Studies

2) Effects of light quality on CO2 assimilation, chlorophyll-fluorescence quenching, expression of Calvin cycle genes and carbohydrate accumulation in Cucumis sativus.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2009.03.010

3) Adding Blue to Red Supplemental Light Increases Biomass and Yield of Greenhouse-Grown Tomatoes, but Only to an Optimum.

https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2018.02002

4) Supplemental Light-Emitting Diode Inter-Lighting Increases Tomato Fruit Growth Through Enhanced Photosynthetic Light Use Efficiency and Modulated Root Activity.

https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2019.01656


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