Project

Light quality effects on hydraulic characteristics and anatomy of ornamentals differing in their photosynthetic pathways (C3 versus CAM)

Code
01SC1214
Duration
01 March 2014 → 30 September 2017
Funding
Regional and community funding: Special Research Fund
Research disciplines
  • Natural sciences
    • General biology
    • Plant biology
  • Agricultural and food sciences
    • Agricultural plant production
    • Horticultural production
Keywords
hydraulic characteristics gas exchanges C3 Light emitting diodes (LED) CAM plant-water relations
 
Project description

LED as light source will be introduced in high-technology greenhouses or related plant factories. Effects on plant physiological processes are however hardly studied. This study addresses the differential effect of light wavelengths on leaf and shoot hydraulic efficiency and how this affects assimilation and growth performance of ornamental plants. Effects of hydraulic conductance and stomatal morphology/density in a range of light qualities are studied as both parameters have consequences on stomatal conductance and therefore photosynthetic capacity. Different photosynthetic pathways exist among the produced ornamentals so we will study both types of photosynthetic pathway (C3 versus CAM). Secondly, the adaptation of the plants when they are transferred from (combined) monochromatic light to a full-spectrum sunlight in the greenhouse is investigated.