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Title: General lighting requirements for photosynthesis

Conference ·
OSTI ID:62358
 [1]
  1. Univ. of Dayton, OH (United States)

A review of the general lighting requirements for photosynthesis reveals that four aspects of light are important: irradiance, quality, timing and duration. These properties of light affect photosynthesis by providing the energy that drives carbon assimilation as well as by exerting control over physiology, structure and morphology of plants. Irradiance, expressed as energy flux, W m{sup -2}, or photon irradiance, {mu}mol m{sup -2} s{sup -1}, determines the rate at which energy is being delivered to the photosynthetic reaction centers. Spectral quality, the wavelength composition of light, is important because photons differ in their probability of being absorbed by the light harvesting complex and hence their ability to drive carbon assimilation. Also the various light receptors for light-mediated regulation of plant form and physiology have characteristic absorption spectra and hence photons differ in their effectiveness for eliciting responses. Duration is important because both carbon assimilation and regulation are affected by the total energy or integrated irradiance delivered during a given period. Many processes associated with photosynthesis are time-dependent, increasing or decreasing with duration. Timing is important because the effectiveness of light in the regulation of plant processes varies with the phase of the diumal cycle as determined by the plant`s time-measuring mechanisms.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States)
OSTI ID:
62358
Report Number(s):
CONF-9403214-; ON: DE95008170; TRN: 95:004109-0001
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