Degree Type

Dissertation

Date of Award

2019

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Horticulture

Major

Horticulture

First Advisor

Christopher J. Currey

Abstract

Lighting influences plant growth and development on a quantity and quality basis, promoting the production of both primary and secondary metabolites. While the amount of light necessary for culinary herb production is species-specific, with growth curves for increasing daily light integrals (DLI), the specific spectra of incidental light absorbed plays a role in photosynthetic efficiency, biomass partitioning, and secondary metabolites related health and nutrition. The two primary objectives of this research were to 1) Quantify morphological growth of culinary herbs under increasingly higher DLI, and 2) Identify the morphological, physiological, and phytochemical responses of selected herbs to the spectral composition of light sources and blue light fraction from either supplemental or sole-source lighting. Biomass increased with increasing DLI, and the relationship was either linear or quadratic, depending upon saturating DLI. Additionally, the proportions of light spectra affected plant height, biomass, gas exchange, photosynthetic efficiency, and phenolic accumulation by alteration of blue light fraction, or use of broad-spectrum lighting. By identifying responses of plants to light quantity and quality, the goal of this research was to 1) Provide information on light quantity optimization in food crop production, and 2) Improve the quality of food crops produced by emphasizing the promotion of plant photoprotective compounds that increase both production efficiency and food nutrition.

Copyright Owner

Alexander Gaston Litvin-Zabal

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

File Size

131 pages

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