Optimized Light Management in Controlled-Environment Horticulture

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, controlled-environment horticulture (CEH) industry has experienced rapid expansion and, by integrating diverse horticultural facilities—including solar greenhouses, plant factories, and vertical farms—CEH has successfully transcended the inherent limitations of natural environments for horticultural crops. This innovation addresses a global challenge by enabling the year-round production of vegetables, flowers, fruits, and edible fungi, even under adverse seasons or extreme conditions, thereby significantly diversifying human product demands. Notably, CEH has demonstrated remarkable achievements in accelerating breeding innovation, which holds substantial implications for the future development of horticulture. However, the high-efficiency and intensive production paradigm of CEH inevitably entails substantial energy consumption to maintain optimal environmental conditions within confined spaces. Among all environmental variables, light management emerges as the primary factor requiring prioritized attention. Light serves a dual role in plant growth—it functions as an energy source for photosynthetic product synthesis and as a signaling agent regulating photomorphogenesis, developmental processes, and stress responses. Optimizing light management constitutes a critical strategy for achieving high-efficiency and low-carbon goals in CEH production systems. Regardless of whether solar or artificial lighting is utilized, effecting optimal light environments necessitates systematic understanding of (1) photobiological requirements during crop growth stages, (2) the characteristics of light environments in CEH, and (3) intelligent and energy-saving regulation through advanced control systems. This Special Issue will focus on recent advances in optimized light management in CEH and original research articles, reviews, mini reviews, and short communications are welcome.

Dr. Xiaolong Yang
Prof. Dr. Houcheng Liu
Prof. Dr. Xingan Liu
Guest Editors

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