Search Results (52)

Integrating semi-transparent photovoltaics (STPV) into greenhouse structures offers an effective approach to optimizing the Food–Energy Nexus and maximizing sustainable land-use efficiency. However, a knowledge gap remains regarding how specific STPV spectral signatures drive plant morpho-physiological acclimation across multiple cultivation cycles. This study presents a 19-month multi-cycle, proof-of-concept evaluation of the structural growth dynamics and physiological responses of generative (tomato) and vegetative (lettuce) crops under greenhouse prototypes with two distinct thin-film STPV technologies: Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) and amorphous Silicon (a-Si), compared to an unshaded transparent control. Biometric monitoring revealed that morphological acclimation (Shade-Avoidance Syndrome) was highly plastic, driven by the interplay between spectral filtering and seasonal irradiance limits. While structural adaptations, such as foliar expansion and stem elongation under the a-Si spectrum, were pronounced during specific transitional seasons (e.g., early spring), these morphological differences largely homogenized across treatments during periods of extreme high or low natural irradiance. Despite the shading penalty, this morphological acclimation successfully sustained agronomic fresh mass. Systemic efficiency, quantified by the Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) as a relative biophysical synergy index, demonstrated notably crop-specific synergies. Under an extended single fruiting cycle, the CdTe prototype showed potential to improve yield, achieving a maximum LER of 1.66 for the high-light-demanding tomato (Y_crop = 1.40). Conversely, the a-Si module excelled with the shade-tolerant lettuce during early vegetative stages in high-radiation periods, achieving peak LERs up to 1.55. These findings provide a biophysical baseline to help guide future scalability assessments prior to full-scale commercial agrivoltaic (APV) implementation for sustainable food systems. Full article

Light intensity and spectral composition regulate plant physiological processes and productivity, particularly under low-light greenhouse conditions. This study was designed to address two main objectives in aeroponically grown potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Agria). First, we evaluated the effects of supplemental light quality, focusing on different red (R), blue (B), and white (W) combinations at a constant intensity of 100 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹. Second, we assessed the specific effects of far-red (FR) light on plant performance and biomass allocation patterns. Potato plants were grown under greenhouse conditions in a completely randomized design consisting of eight supplemental LED spectral treatments and a natural-light control. Supplemental lighting increased net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, chlorophyll content, and biomass compared to the control, demonstrating that moderate increases in light intensity improved plant performance under low-light conditions. Among the spectral treatments, W light and balanced R–B combinations increased net photosynthetic rate by 93.7–198.7% and total biomass by 23.8–132.1% relative to the control, suggesting improved coordination of stomatal activity, electron transport, and chlorophyll biosynthesis under the experimental light environment. In contrast, FR inclusion reduced the net photosynthetic rate and mini-tuber biomass by 15.0–38.6% relative to the corresponding FR-free treatments, particularly under treatments with lower red proportions, suggesting that FR effects are more likely associated with phytochrome-mediated regulation of photosynthetic efficiency and assimilate partitioning under modified red to far-red spectral balance rather than classical shade-avoidance responses. Mini-tuber yield was strongly affected by light treatments. White light and balanced R:B spectra produced the highest tuber number and biomass, increasing mini-tuber number and biomass by 26.6–62.5% and 15.4–87.7%, respectively, compared with the control, whereas FR reduced yield. Although FR appeared to increase the relative allocation of biomass to tubers, overall photosynthetic performance and biomass accumulation remained lower, resulting in lower productivity. Overall, mini-tuber production appeared to be associated with source–sink relationships, where light intensity enhanced photosynthetic performance and biomass production, light quality optimized photosynthetic performance, and FR light appeared to modify biomass allocation patterns. These findings highlight the importance of optimizing spectral composition and FR management in aeroponic seed potato production under low-light greenhouse conditions. Full article

Cultivated lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is a major leafy crop and an emerging model for functional genomics within the Asteraceae family, supported by high-quality reference genomes and efficient transformation systems. Although CRISPR/Cas technology offers powerful opportunities for crop improvement, editing efficiency depends on optimized construct architecture and reliable guide RNA (gRNA) validation. However, a rapid platform for evaluating CRISPR reagents in lettuce is still lacking. Here, we developed an efficient hairyroot-based system to accelerate CRISPR/Cas genome editing optimization in L. sativa. Four Agrobacterium rhizogenes strains were compared for hairy root induction in two cultivars, ‘Saladin’ and ‘Osiride’, identifying strain ATCC15834 as the most effective based on transformation frequency and root production. Using this platform, we evaluated multiple CRISPR construct configurations, including alternative promoters for nuclease and gRNA expression. A plant-derived promoter combined with At-pU6-26 variant significantly improved editing efficiency. As a proof of concept, we targeted LsHB2, the putative ortholog of Arabidopsis thaliana ATHB2, a key regulator of the shade avoidance response using SpCas9, SaCas9, and LbCas12a nucleases. The system enabled rapid genotyping and quantitative indel profiling. Overall, this workflow provides a robust framework for efficient guide selection and construct optimization in lettuce genome editing. Full article

Light quality plays a decisive role in controlled-environment agriculture, shaping plant morphology, physiology, and productivity. This study investigated the impact of far-red (FR) light on Cannabis sativa L. by comparing two different application strategies: continuous FR supplementation throughout 12 h of the photoperiod and end-of-day (EOD) FR exposure applied only at the end of the light period. In both treatments, FR was added to a background spectrum of red and blue (RB) light, while a control group grown under RB light alone was included to assess the specific effects of FR on plant growth, physiological responses, and flowering. Continuous FR exposure induced pronounced shade-avoidance traits, increasing plant height by 9% and petiole length by 17% relative to the control, and raised leaf dry weight to 12.9 g, 9% higher than under EOD (11.7 g) and 16.3% higher than under RB alone (10.8 g). Besides plant height and petiole length, both FR and EOD treatment induced limited morphological adjustments but increased chlorophyll content by 9%, resulting in greater canopy expansion and photosynthetic potential. However, flowering time was unaffected by spectral treatment, confirming that Cannabis floral induction is tightly regulated by photoperiod rather than light quality. Energy-use analysis revealed that EOD supplementation achieved many of the benefits of continuous FR while reducing overall consumption, but energy-use efficiency analysis proved FR as the more efficient treatment. These findings highlight the potential of FR light, particularly when applied continuously, to optimize vegetative growth and canopy physiology in controlled-environment Cannabis cultivation, while EOD strategies offer a practical compromise between cost savings and physiological benefits. Full article

Perennial groundcover (PGC) systems integrate perennial grasses with annual crops such as corn (Zea mays L.) to provide continuous soil cover and enhance soil health. However, the proximity to groundcover vegetation can alter light quality perceived by developing seedlings, inducing shade avoidance response (SAR), a phytochrome-mediated developmental response that modifies plant architecture and may compromise yield. Identifying the distance at which SAR is initiated and the extent to which management practices modulate this response is critical for optimizing PGC systems. This growth chamber study aimed to (1) identify the distance at which SAR occurs in corn seedlings, (2) determine whether the thiamethoxam seed treatment mitigates SAR expression, and (3) compare hybrid physiological responses to PGC-induced SAR. The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications across three periods and included two corn hybrids (P1185, P1197), two seed treatments (untreated and thiamethoxam at 0.25 mg seed⁻¹), and four perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) distances [0, 6, 25 cm, and a control (no-grass)]. Reduced red to far-red light ratios associated with closer proximity to ryegrass induced SAR responses. Corn plants at 6 cm from PGC exhibited significant stem and height elongation beginning at 8 days after planting (DAP), followed by reduced growth by 14 DAP, confirming an early SAR response. Plants grown at 0 cm exhibited reduced height and growth compared to other distances at all growth stages. Hybrid responses differed, and Hybrid P1197 showed enhanced stem elongation, a characteristic SAR response. The thiamethoxam seed treatment did not mitigate SAR. These results indicate that SAR causes stem elongation without altering root or shoot biomass. Full article

The FAR1-RELATED SEQUENCES (FRS) gene family plays a crucial role in light signaling, stress adaptation, and developmental regulation processes directly impacting crop growth and yield. This study identified 49 GmFRS genes unevenly distributed across 17 soybean chromosomes, phylogenetically classified into seven subgroups (I–VII), with subgroup VII forming an exclusive evolutionary subgroup alongside orthologs from Poaceae and Solanaceae. Members within each subfamily share conserved motif compositions and similar exon/intron structures. Gene duplication and selection pressure analyses revealed that the GmFRS family expanded primarily through WGD duplication events and then non-syntenic gene duplication, with all members evolving under purifying selection. Promoter analysis identified abundant cis-acting elements implicated in responses to light, phytohormones and other abiotic stimuli. Organ-/tissue-specific expression profiling demonstrated organ-preferential expression for family members, with the highest transcript levels observed in flowers (32.7%). Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis further indicated that the expression of most GmFRS genes is light-inducible and exhibits marked sensitivity to far-red light. This study may elucidate soybean FRS family functions in light signaling, development, and stress adaptation, while also providing foundational insights for molecular breeding in Glycine max. Full article

Brassica juncea is a widely cultivated leafy vegetable species in Northeast Asia, including Korea, Japan, and China. Under shade conditions, B. juncea exhibits shade avoidance syndrome (SAS), which negatively impacts its market quality. However, B. juncea is cultivated in diverse climates worldwide, including regions with frequent foggy days, highlighting the need to understand its adaptation to shade conditions to improve cultivation quality. To investigate the relationship between SAS phenotypes and environmental factors, including daylength, precipitation, and temperature, we analyzed 30 clones and six commercial cultivars of B. juncea. After 7 days of growth, all six commercial cultivars exhibited a canonical SAS response, with hypocotyl length increasing by 3.25- to 5.18-fold under dim light compared to white light conditions. Among the 30 clones, shade responsiveness varied widely, with hypocotyl elongation ranging from 1.42- to 8.54-fold change. A simple correlation analysis revealed that environmental factors were not highly correlated with shade responsiveness due to their complex interactions. To address this, we applied six machine learning models and found that the random forest algorithm provided the most accurate predictions of environmental influences on hypocotyl length. Using this model, we identified daylength, precipitation, and temperature as key environmental factors contributing to SAS phenotypes in B. juncea. Our findings not only identify clones that can be cultivated under low-light conditions with reduced SAS effects but also establish a link between SAS phenotypes and natural environmental conditions. These insights provide a foundation for future breeding strategies to improve shade adaptation in B. juncea. Full article

Microclimate and built environment jointly influence outdoor activities among the elderly. However, existing studies largely focus on a single season or environmental factor, lacking a comprehensive analysis of seasonal variation and multi-factor coupling effects. This paper investigates the seasonal interaction effects of microclimate and built environment on elderly outdoor activities, with implications for elderly-friendly urban design. Using a typical residential neighbourhood in Xi’an as a case, we constructed a multi-source spatio-temporal dataset through high-density microclimate monitoring in winter and summer, fine-grained POI mapping, and computer-vision-based behavioural annotation. Generalised Additive Models (GAM) and SHAP analysis were employed for modelling and mechanism exploration. The results show that: (1) Elderly activity patterns exhibit a fundamental seasonal reversal—characterised as “sun-seeking and wind-avoiding” in winter and “shade-seeking and wind-pursuing” in summer; (2) Environmental factors exhibit marked nonlinear and threshold-dependent influences that vary by season; (3) Microclimate and built environment elements demonstrate synergistic interaction effects, especially pronounced in summer. Quantitatively, GAM and SHAP analyses indicate that the “effective service radius” of Elderly-Friendly POIs (defined as the threshold where positive influence approaches zero) contracted from approximately 45–50 m in winter to 35–40 m in summer, while their peak promotional effect occurred at 20–25 m. Positive POIs exhibited a significantly shorter influence range, and Negative POIs demonstrated negligible distance-dependent effects. This study confirms a “seasonal dynamic interaction” mechanism and proposes the adaptive design strategy of “sunlight and wind-shelter pockets—shade and ventilation corridors,” offering empirical and methodological support for climate-responsive elderly-friendly community planning. Full article

Plants can sense light signals using specific photoreceptors, activating light signaling pathways to precisely regulate photomorphogenesis and shade-avoidance responses. This study examines the molecular responses of Arabidopsis thaliana to the CoeLux^® lighting system, a unique LED-based light source designed to simulate natural sunlight. Previous studies found that the CoeLux^® light type, characterized by a higher blue-to-green ratio and reduced blue light levels, stimulates responses in plants comparable to those displayed in shade conditions. This research compared the effects of CoeLux^® lighting to conventional high-pressure sodium (HPS) lamps, focusing on the expression of critical photomorphogenesis-related genes under both long- and short-term light treatments. Lower HY5 and elevated HFR1 expression levels were observed under the CoeLux^® light type and low-intensity light conditions. On the contrary, the influence of the CoeLux^® light type on COP1 and PIFs expression levels seems more marginal. These responses suggest a complex regulation involving both gene expression and protein-level adjustments. Additionally, mutant plants lacking these essential regulatory genes displayed altered morphologies under CoeLux^® light, underscoring the functional contribution of these genes in the adaptation to light. Our findings are twofold, advancing the understanding of plant–light relationships and plant adaptation to artificial light environments. These may foster strategies for optimizing indoor plant growth under simulated sunlight conditions. Full article

The Western Reef Heron (Egretta gularis) has a wide geographic distribution, ranging from the coasts of West Africa to Southwest Asia, including the Arabian Peninsula. Despite this extensive range, detailed information on its incubation behavior remains scarce. To address this gap, we investigated the 24 h incubation behavior of Western Reef Herons on Al-Fanateer Island, Eastern Saudi Arabia, during early summer—a period characterized by pronounced diurnal fluctuations in ambient temperature. Using trail cameras and temperature loggers, we found that adults maintained nearly continuous attendance at the nest throughout the day, with incubation coverage exceeding 97% across all two-hour intervals. A slight reduction in nest attendance was observed during nighttime (lowest at 86.8% between 20:00–21:59). Incubating adults exhibited behavioral plasticity in response to ambient temperature: a sitting posture was predominant during cooler periods, while a shading posture was more frequent during peak heat. Incubating adults also adjusted their orientation with the solar angle, actively avoiding southern and western exposures during the hottest parts of the day. Despite substantial variation in ambient temperature, the temperature beneath the clutch ranged from 29.4 to 37.8 °C, which may indicate effective thermoregulation. These findings suggest that a combination of near-continuous nest attendance, posture adjustment, and solar orientation avoidance allows Western Reef Herons to mitigate thermal stress and maintain optimal conditions for embryo and chick development. We recommend long-term monitoring of incubation behavior in this species to further evaluate its adaptability to environmental changes, particularly those driven by climate variability. Full article

This paper presents an adaptive Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) strategy for grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) systems that uses an Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) optimized by Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) to enhance energy extraction efficiency under diverse environmental conditions. The proposed ANFIS-PSO-based MPPT controller performs dynamic adjustment Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) switching to minimize Total Harmonic Distortion (THD); this will ensure rapid convergence to the maximum power point (MPP). Unlike conventional Perturb and Observe (P&O) and Incremental Conductance (INC) methods, which struggle with tracking delays and local maxima in partial shading scenarios, the proposed approach efficiently identifies the Global Maximum Power Point (GMPP), improving energy harvesting capabilities. Simulation results in MATLAB/Simulink R2023a demonstrate that under stable irradiance conditions (1000 W/m², 25 °C), the controller was able to achieve an MPPT efficiency of 99.2%, with THD reduced to 2.1%, ensuring grid compliance with IEEE 519 standards. In dynamic irradiance conditions, where sunlight varies linearly between 200 W/m² and 1000 W/m², the controller maintains an MPPT efficiency of 98.7%, with a response time of less than 200 ms, outperforming traditional MPPT algorithms. In the partial shading case, the proposed method effectively avoids local power maxima and successfully tracks the Global Maximum Power Point (GMPP), resulting in a power output of 138 W. In contrast, conventional techniques such as P&O and INC typically fail to escape local maxima under similar conditions, leading to significantly lower power output, often falling well below the true GMPP. This performance disparity underscores the superior tracking capability of the proposed ANFIS-PSO approach in complex irradiance scenarios, where traditional algorithms exhibit substantial energy loss due to their limited global search behavior. The novelty of this work lies in the integration of ANFIS with PSO optimization, enabling an intelligent self-adaptive MPPT strategy that enhances both tracking speed and accuracy while maintaining low computational complexity. This hybrid approach ensures real-time adaptation to environmental fluctuations, making it an optimal solution for grid-connected PV systems requiring high power quality and stability. The proposed controller significantly improves energy harvesting efficiency, minimizes grid disturbances, and enhances overall system robustness, demonstrating its potential for next-generation smart PV systems. Full article

This paper proposes an improved Harris Hawks Optimization (IHHO) algorithm to enhance maximum power point tracking (MPPT) performance in photovoltaic (PV) systems operating under various conditions. The IHHO introduces Tent chaotic mapping to improve population diversity and avoid premature convergence, a nonlinear decreasing inertia weight to dynamically balance exploration and exploitation, and a hybrid perturbation mechanism based on differential evolution to enhance local refinement. Additionally, a dynamic step-size adjustment and an escape energy mechanism responsive to irradiance changes improve real-time tracking adaptability. Parallel computing is employed to accelerate fitness evaluations and improve computational efficiency. Simulation results under multiple static and dynamic shading scenarios demonstrate that the proposed IHHO algorithm consistently achieves faster convergence, higher tracking accuracy, and stronger robustness than conventional methods such as particle swarm optimization (PSO) and Jaya. These results confirm the effectiveness of IHHO for reliable MPPT control in practical PV applications under diverse and challenging environmental conditions. Full article

In this study, red–blue light (7R3B) was used as the control (CK), while far-red (FR) and ultraviolet-A (UVA) light were supplemented to evaluate their effects on basil growth. The results showed that the FR treatment promoted plant height, stem diameter, and biomass, but reduced chlorophyll and carotenoid content, while the UVA treatment increased stem diameter and chlorophyll b content. Meanwhile, transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses were employed to examine changes in gene expression and metabolite accumulation in basil. The FR treatment reduced the levels of differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) in the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway, potentially contributing to the observed decrease in chlorophyll. The FR treatment upregulated the levels of five DAMs (gibberellin, cytokinin, brassinosteroid, jasmonic acid, and salicylic acid) and altered the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) such as gibberellin receptor (GID1) and jasmonate ZIM domain-containing protein (JAZ) in the plant hormone signal transduction pathway, thereby promoting plant growth and shade avoidance responses. The UVA treatment upregulated the 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase (NCED) expression in the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway, possibly indirectly promoting flavonoid synthesis. In the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway, the UVA treatment also promoted flavonoid accumulation by upregulating DEGs including flavonol synthase (FLS), anthocyanidin synthase (ANS), 5-O-(4-coumaroyl)-D-quinate 3′-monooxygenase (CYP98A), and flavanone 7-O-glucoside 2″-O-beta-L-rhamnosyltransferase (C12RT1), as well as increasing the levels of DAMs such as kaempferol, luteolin, apigenin, and leucopelargonidin. The accumulation of flavonoids improved antioxidant capacity and nutritional value in basil. Through a Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis, this study provided valuable insights into the molecular and metabolic mechanisms of the FR and UVA regulation of basil growth, providing guidance for optimizing supplementary lighting strategies in plant factories. Full article

Supplementation with far-red light in controlled environment agriculture production can enhance yield by triggering the shade avoidance syndrome. However, the effectiveness of this yield enhancement can be further improved through intermittent far-red light supplementation. In this study, the effects are explored of varying far-red light photon intensities and intermittent exposure durations—specifically at 5, 15, 30, and 45 min intervals—on the growth and development of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) in plant factories, while maintaining a constant red light photon flux and daily light integral. The results showed that compared to constant far-red light, 30 min intermittent far-red light increased yield by 11.7% and the number of leaves and buds by 2.66. Furthermore, the various metrics demonstrated that intermittent far-red light supplementation enhanced the overall effectiveness of the far-red light treatment. This was validated by analyzing phytohormone content and the expression of genes related to hormone metabolism and transport at the tip of the lettuce stems. Transcriptome analysis revealed that the differences in gene expression between treatments were primarily concentrated in genes related to signaling, hormone metabolism, and transport. Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis identified the co-expression modules associated with yield and quality. Additionally, dynamic expression analysis showed genes involved to far-red photoreception, response, and hormone metabolism and transport exhibited optimal rhythmic responses only under 30 min intermittent far-red light supplementation. This suggests that intermittent far-red light irradiation at 30 min intervals is the most effective for activating far-red light signaling influencing hormone metabolism and transport, thereby accelerating the growth of lettuce leaves and buds and ultimately increasing yield. Full article

Solar energy is one of the most favorable renewable energy sources and has undergone significant development in the past few years. This paper investigates a novel concept of harvesting the maximum power of a photovoltaic (PV) system using a long-short term memory (LSTM) to forecast the irradiance value and a feedforward neural network (FNN) to predict the maximum power point (MPP) voltage. This study paves a way to mitigate avoidable inefficiencies that hinder the optimal performance of a PV system, due to the intermittent nature of solar energy. MATLAB/Simulink software platform was used to validate the proposed algorithm with real irradiance data from different geographical and weather conditions. Furthermore, the maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm was implemented in a laboratory setup. The simulation results portray the superiority of the proposed method in terms of tracking performance and dynamic response through a comprehensive case study conducted with five other state-of-the-art MPPT methods selected from conventional, AI based, and bio-inspired MPPT categories. In addition to that, faster response time and lesser oscillations around the MPP were observed, even during volatile weather conditions and partial shading. Full article