Horticulturae

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25 pages, 3993 KB

Open AccessArticle

Growth and Fruit Quality of Watermelon Affected by Different Supplemental Light Sources in a Greenhouse

by Yumin Jeon, Cheolku Youn, Eun-Jeong Kim, Kyu-Hoi Lee, Myung-Min Oh and Ki-Ho Son

Horticulturae 2026, 12(3), 358; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12030358 - 14 Mar 2026

Viewed by 755

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of various LED spectra—white (W), red and blue (RB), W plus far-red (FR), and RB plus FR—on the growth, fruit quality, and phytochemical accumulation of greenhouse-grown hydroponic watermelon. Watermelons were cultivated with controlled temperature and humidity and subjected [...] Read more.

This study evaluated the effects of various LED spectra—white (W), red and blue (RB), W plus far-red (FR), and RB plus FR—on the growth, fruit quality, and phytochemical accumulation of greenhouse-grown hydroponic watermelon. Watermelons were cultivated with controlled temperature and humidity and subjected to four LED treatments at an equivalent PPFD of 200 ± 3 µmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹ and a 15 h light period for 43 days, with sunlight as a control. The photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance were significantly higher in the RB LEDs than in all other treatments. Fv/Fm and PIABS exhibited time-dependent differences among treatments after 13:00, with all LED treatments showing higher values than the control, except for the Fv/Fm of RB LEDs. SPAD, chlorophyll, and carotenoid contents were the highest in the RB LEDs, and 40%, 30%, and 19% higher than those in the control group, respectively. Growth characteristics, such as plant height and node and leaf number, were highest in the control group and were significantly higher than the RB LEDs. Petiole length tended to increase in LEDs treated with FR. Sweetness was the highest in W LEDs. Therefore, supplemental LED lighting can potentially improve the production and fruit quality of greenhouse watermelons. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue LED Lighting Effects on the Growth and Development of Fruits and Vegetables)

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25 pages, 5128 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of Additional Night and Pre-Harvest Blue and Red LEDs and White Lighting During the Day on the Morphophysiological and Biochemical Traits of Basil Varieties (Ocimum basilicum L.) Under Hydroponic Conditions

by Inna V. Knyazeva, Olga Panfilova, Oksana Vershinina, Ibrahim Kahramanoğlu, Alexander A. Smirnov and Andrey Titenkov

Horticulturae 2025, 11(7), 784; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11070784 - 3 Jul 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1902

Abstract

The effect of white and additional red and blue LED lighting at night (Blue-NLL, Red-NLL) and during the pre-harvest period (Blue-P-hLL, Red-P-hLL) on morphological and physiological parameters, elemental composition, content of polyphenols, and essential oils of purple basil cultivars ‘Ararat’ and green basil [...] Read more.

The effect of white and additional red and blue LED lighting at night (Blue-NLL, Red-NLL) and during the pre-harvest period (Blue-P-hLL, Red-P-hLL) on morphological and physiological parameters, elemental composition, content of polyphenols, and essential oils of purple basil cultivars ‘Ararat’ and green basil ‘Tonus’ grown in the hydroponic conditions of the climatic chamber was studied. The height of the plants was determined by the variety and the LED irradiation period. The highest purple basil plants were obtained in the variant with Blue-NLL illumination; the highest green basil plants were obtained under Blue-P-hLL and Red-P-hLL. The red spectrum, regardless of the lighting period and variety, increased the area and number of leaves, biomass, and vegetative productivity. Significant changes in the elemental composition of the vegetative mass of basil varieties were determined by the period of exposure to the red spectrum. Red-P-hLL stimulated the absorption and accumulation of Mg, Ca, S, and P from the nutrient solution, and Red-P-hLL reduced the nitrate content by more than 30.00%. Blue-NLL lighting increased the content of quercetin, rosmarinic acid, and essential oil and reduced the nitrate content in the vegetative mass by more than 40.00%. The effectiveness of the white LED was observed in increasing the vegetative mass of ‘Tonus’. The results of this study will be in demand in the real sector of the economy when improving resource-saving technologies for growing environmentally friendly leafy vegetable crops with improved chemical composition and high vegetative productivity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue LED Lighting Effects on the Growth and Development of Fruits and Vegetables)

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20 pages, 2168 KB

Open AccessArticle

Controlled Application of Far-Red Light to Improve Growth and Bioactive Compound Yield in Centella asiatica

by Yu Kyeong Shin, Jae Woo Song and Jun Gu Lee

Horticulturae 2025, 11(7), 728; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11070728 - 23 Jun 2025

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1534

Abstract

This study examined how far-red (FR) light supplementation influences triterpene glycoside accumulation in Centella asiatica grown under different light intensities (50–200 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹) over 5 weeks. Four major compounds—madecassoside, asiaticoside, madecassic acid, and asiatic acid—were quantified. Results from three-way ANOVA [...] Read more.

This study examined how far-red (FR) light supplementation influences triterpene glycoside accumulation in Centella asiatica grown under different light intensities (50–200 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹) over 5 weeks. Four major compounds—madecassoside, asiaticoside, madecassic acid, and asiatic acid—were quantified. Results from three-way ANOVA showed that light intensity and time significantly affected the accumulation of all compounds, with FR light selectively enhancing glycoside levels but not triterpene acids. Although total glycoside content declined over time, plants under 200FR conditions retained the highest levels by week 5. Principal component analysis suggested that FR light modulates resource allocation between growth and secondary metabolism. These findings advance our understanding of light-mediated regulation in phytochemical biosynthesis and offer a basis for optimizing cultivation strategies in controlled environments. Notably, the compound-specific responses to FR suggest differential regulation within the triterpene biosynthetic pathway, opening avenues for targeted enhancement of medicinally important compounds. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue LED Lighting Effects on the Growth and Development of Fruits and Vegetables)

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17 pages, 2887 KB

Open AccessArticle

Intermittent Blue Light Supplementation Affected Carbohydrate Accumulation and Sugar Metabolism in Red-Light-Grown Tomato Seedlings

by Xiangyu Gao, Lingzhi Li, Wenzhong Guo, Yifan Zhai, Xiaoming Wei and Xiaoli Chen

Horticulturae 2025, 11(6), 700; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11060700 - 17 Jun 2025

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1771

Abstract

According to previous studies, dynamic light regimes might enhance seedling development, survival rates, or economic efficiency in factory-based seedling production systems compared to continuous red and blue light irradiation. However, there have been few studies revealing the effects of discontinuous red and blue [...] Read more.

According to previous studies, dynamic light regimes might enhance seedling development, survival rates, or economic efficiency in factory-based seedling production systems compared to continuous red and blue light irradiation. However, there have been few studies revealing the effects of discontinuous red and blue light on the carbohydrate accumulation and metabolism of tomato seedlings. Therefore, we planted tomato seedlings in an artificial light plant factory under a red background light with intermittent blue light intervention, namely R (as the control), R/RB₃₂, R/RB₄₀, R/RB₆₄, and R/RB₈₀ at an equal daily light integral. The growth, carbohydrate accumulation, and sugar metabolism were analyzed to investigate the effects of dynamic lighting modes on tomato seedlings. The results demonstrated the following: (1) Pure red light induced spindling of tomato seedlings, while intermittent blue light treatments enhanced stem thickness, leaf number, and leaf area, resulting in greater biomass accumulation. Among these treatments, the highest antioxidant enzyme activity and the lowest reactive oxygen species (ROS) content, accompanied by the highest biomass, were all observed in tomato seedlings subjected to R/RB₈₀ (intermittent supplementation of 80 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹ blue light under red light background). (2) The carbohydrate accumulation in tomato seedlings was increased under all treatments relative to the control. The sucrose content, enzyme activity, and gene expression level of sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) were all up-regulated in tomato leaves treated with blue light irradiation compared with pure R. In addition, the highest soluble sugar content, along with the peak SPS activity and gene expression, was observed under the R/RB₈₀ treatment. Meanwhile, the lowest fructose content accompanied by the lowest activity and gene expression of sucrose synthase (SS) were observed in tomato leaves treated with R/RB₃₂. This implies that blue light supplementation may regulate sugar accumulation by modulating the activity or expression of enzymes involved in sucrose metabolism. (3) Moreover, shoot biomass, enzyme activity, and expression level of SPS were all found to increase with the increase in supplementary blue light intensity, indicating that short-duration high-intensity blue light was more effective in promoting carbohydrate accumulation in tomato seedlings than long-term low-intensity blue light based on the equal DLI. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue LED Lighting Effects on the Growth and Development of Fruits and Vegetables)

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16 pages, 614 KB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

A Rugulopteryx okamurae-Based Biostimulant Enhances Growth and Phytochemicals in Lettuce

by Tatiana P. L. Cunha-Chiamolera, Tarik Chileh-Chelh, Mohamed Ezzaitouni, Miguel Urrestarazu, Juan de Dios Carrillo Montalbán and José Luis Guil-Guerrero

Horticulturae 2025, 11(5), 558; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11050558 - 21 May 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1696

Abstract

This study investigates the potential of a biostimulant derived from the invasive brown alga Rugulopteryx okamurae (RoB) to enhance lettuce growth and improve its phytochemical profile. The extraction of the biostimulant was optimized through the implementation of a Box–Behnken design, and the resulting [...] Read more.

This study investigates the potential of a biostimulant derived from the invasive brown alga Rugulopteryx okamurae (RoB) to enhance lettuce growth and improve its phytochemical profile. The extraction of the biostimulant was optimized through the implementation of a Box–Behnken design, and the resulting extract was then compared with a commercial Ascophyllum nodosum-based product (AnB). This comparison was made under both optimal and suboptimal fertigation conditions in a controlled, soilless culture. Lettuce plants were monitored for water and nutrient uptake, growth parameters, and accumulation of key phytochemicals such as carotenoids, tocols, sterols, and squalene. RoB significantly increased fresh and dry biomass, with enhanced nitrate and potassium uptake, in comparison to standard nutrient solution controls (p < 0.05). Treatments incorporating RoB consistently resulted in higher concentrations of lutein, β-sitosterol, and squalene, particularly under suboptimal conditions (p < 0.05), thus suggesting a strong biostimulant effect that mitigates nutrient stress. Furthermore, principal component analysis demonstrated that biostimulant application induces distinct metabolic profiles, highlighting the coordinated regulation of antioxidant pigments and sterol compounds. The findings support the dual benefits of algae-derived biostimulants in promoting sustainable crop production by improving yield quality and increasing health-promoting phytochemicals, paving the way for innovative, eco-friendly fertilization practices in modern agriculture. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue LED Lighting Effects on the Growth and Development of Fruits and Vegetables)

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17 pages, 1459 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of Nighttime LED Lighting on Tomato Growth, Yield, and Nutrient Content of Fruits

by Inna V. Knyazeva, Olga Panfilova, Oksana Vershinina, Alexander A. Smirnov, Alexey S. Dorokhov and Ibrahim Kahramanoğlu

Horticulturae 2024, 10(12), 1259; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10121259 - 27 Nov 2024

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 5887

Abstract

Food insecurity is a top economic and national security concern in many countries, and scientists worldwide are working to increase crop productivity in order to address this issue. In line with this information, the present study aimed to test the possibility of improving [...] Read more.

Food insecurity is a top economic and national security concern in many countries, and scientists worldwide are working to increase crop productivity in order to address this issue. In line with this information, the present study aimed to test the possibility of improving the yield and fruit quality of two tomato cultivars, namely ‘Vspyshka’ and ‘Lyana’. The effect of LSL (light of sodium lamps—control) and the short additional 4 h treatment of nighttime LED lighting (LSL+night LED) with an increase in the proportion of red, blue, and far-red spectra on tomato fruit yield as well as its physiological, biochemical, and consumer attributes were compared in this study. The results suggested that LSL+night LED significantly increased soluble solids concentration, vitamin C content, and polyphenolic compounds of tomato fruits, taking into account the varietal characteristics. Moreover, a moderate to high relationship was also observed between the polyphenolic complex, vitamin C content, and antioxidant activity. It was concluded that the LSL+night LED could further enhance the relationship between polyphenols and antioxidants, as well as soluble solids concentration. LSL+night LED treatment also provided an increased accumulation of five essential amino acids associated with the taste characteristics of fruits, namely histidine, valine, threonine, licin, and the sum of isoleucine. In addition, the contents of lysine and methionine increased in the ‘Lyana’ cultivar. LSL+night LED treatment was also noted to have a less pronounced effect on the contents of aspartic acid and asparagine, as bio stimulators of plant growth processes, as well as the amino acids arginine, serine, glycine, and tyrosine, which were additionally consumed to restore photosynthesis. LSL+night LED treatment reduced the concentration of nitrates in fruits, which is a toxic element for human health. Overall, the results of the study are believed to be demanded in practical applications, with potential benefits in improving the elements of resource-saving technology for growing vegetable crops. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue LED Lighting Effects on the Growth and Development of Fruits and Vegetables)

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13 pages, 2410 KB

Open AccessArticle

Plant Growth Optimization Using Amber Light Supplemented with Different Blue Light Spectra

by Keli Trumpler, Bo-Sen Wu, Philip Wiredu Addo, Sarah MacPherson and Mark Lefsrud

Horticulturae 2024, 10(10), 1097; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10101097 - 16 Oct 2024

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2962

Abstract

Blue (400–500 nm) and red (600–700 nm) light regions have been investigated for their effects on photosynthesis and plant growth, yet evidence for specific blue light wavelengths in plant research is lacking. Investigations into amber (595 nm) light are similarly limited. To ‘shed [...] Read more.

Blue (400–500 nm) and red (600–700 nm) light regions have been investigated for their effects on photosynthesis and plant growth, yet evidence for specific blue light wavelengths in plant research is lacking. Investigations into amber (595 nm) light are similarly limited. To ‘shed light’ on these two important wavelengths, this study investigated the combined effects of blue and amber light on plant growth and development in two model plants: tomato (Solanum lycopersicum cv. Beefsteak) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa cv. Breen). Plant growth responses were determined with four light treatments: B+BA (blue + broad amber, 455–602 nm), RB-NA (royal blue + narrow amber, 430–602 nm), RB-BA (royal blue + broad amber, 423–595 nm), and high-pressure sodium at a PPFD of 250 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹. After 21 days, the highest fresh and dry mass for both plant species was obtained under the RB-BA light treatment. Shifting the blue wavelength from 430 nm to 455 nm with broad amber lighting led to 40% less fresh mass for tomatoes, whereas only an approximate 5% reduction in fresh mass was observed for lettuce plants. Our findings demonstrate that an alternate and combined blue + amber light spectrum is effective for optimizing plant productivity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue LED Lighting Effects on the Growth and Development of Fruits and Vegetables)

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Review

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37 pages, 2703 KB

Open AccessReview

Monochromatic Red Light Effects on Plants Under Optimal and Saline Environments: A Comprehensive Review of Photobiological Mechanisms and Adaptive Responses

by Chokri Zaghdoud, Yassine Yahia, Mohamed Debouba and Maria Del Carmen Martinez-Ballesta

Horticulturae 2026, 12(2), 153; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12020153 - 29 Jan 2026

Viewed by 820

Abstract

Light-emitting diode (LED) technology allows for precise spectral tailoring in controlled-environment agriculture, with red light (R; 600–700 nm) acting as a central regulator of plant photophysiology through phytochrome (PHY)-mediated control of photosynthesis, morphology, and metabolic adjustment. This review synthesizes the current knowledge of [...] Read more.

Light-emitting diode (LED) technology allows for precise spectral tailoring in controlled-environment agriculture, with red light (R; 600–700 nm) acting as a central regulator of plant photophysiology through phytochrome (PHY)-mediated control of photosynthesis, morphology, and metabolic adjustment. This review synthesizes the current knowledge of the benefits and limitations of monochromatic and multichromatic R-containing LED systems under both optimal and saline conditions. Monochromatic R light enhances chlorophyll biosynthesis, carbon assimilation, and biomass accumulation; however, its exclusive application can restrict stomatal regulation, photoprotection, and secondary metabolism due to the absence of blue (B)- and green (G)-light-dependent signaling pathways. In contrast, multichromatic spectra incorporating R—particularly R-B, R-far-red (R-FR), and R-centered multi-spectral combinations with white (W) or G wavelengths—provide broader physiological advantages. These include improved photosystem II efficiency, pigment stability, ion homeostasis, antioxidant defense, and metabolic quality, while also optimizing canopy light distribution and energy use efficiency. Under salinity stress, R-containing spectral combinations consistently outperform monochromatic R by enhancing osmotic adjustment, reducing oxidative damage, and maintaining photosynthetic integrity. Nevertheless, species-specific sensitivity, ratio-dependent responses, and potential risks such as excessive elongation under FR enrichment highlight the need for careful spectral optimization. Despite substantial progress, the mechanisms underlying the integration of PHY signaling with salinity-responsive networks remain insufficiently resolved. Advances in multi-omics approaches and dynamic spectral management will be critical for the development of R-based LED strategies that sustainably enhance crop performance and stress resilience in controlled environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue LED Lighting Effects on the Growth and Development of Fruits and Vegetables)

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