History and applications in controlled environments
- North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh, NC (United States)
The widespread application of electric (often called artificial) light in greenhouses, growing rooms, and plant growth chambers would presuppose that the role of phytochrome would be considered in the selection and use of such lighting systems. Part of the problem is that many students, and indeed an unfortunate number of senior scientists, seem to regard phytochrome as a laboratory phenomenon without much application in the real world. They simply have not grasped the concept that phytochrome is functioning through all stages of plant development, wherever plants are grown. It is certainly true, as Meijer (1971) stated, that one cannot compare experimental results obtained under very strict laboratory conditions with plant irradiation in glasshouses and in growth rooms. For example, the action spectrum for flowering of the long-day plant, Hyoscyamus niger, clearly shows that red radiation is the most efficient portion of the spectrum for promoting flower initiation, but in practical photoperiod control red or fluorescent lamps do not promote flowering nearly as well as the mixture of red and far-red in incandescent lamps. Nevertheless, much evidence exists that documents phytochrome control of plant growth and development in controlled environments and under natural conditions. When Karl Norris developed the first practical portable spectroradiometer about 1962 some of the first measurements were to determine the red/far-red ratios under tree canopies. These measurements showed clearly the predominance of far-red in the understory and suggested that far-red was contributing to the elongation exhibited by many species growing in the shade, and possibly was a factor in the induction of light requirements in seeds. Subsequently we used Catalpa leaves as far-red filters to make light-insensitive lettuce seed light requiring.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 62366
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9403214-; ON: DE95008170; TRN: 95:004109-0009
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: International lighting in controlled environments workshop, Madison, WI (United States), 27-30 Mar 1994; Other Information: PBD: [1994]; Related Information: Is Part Of International lighting in controlled environments workshop: Proceedings; PB: 393 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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