[b]Effects of LED Light on Seed Emergence and Seedling Quality of Four Bedding Flowers[/b]
Journal Title: Journal of Ornamental and Horticultural Plants - Year 2016, Vol 6, Issue 2
Abstract
Recently much attention has been paid by horticulturists to lightemitting diodes as a new source of economical and spectral-selective light. The reason is mainly coming from their versatility in handling and mounting, long working time, wattage use efficiency and lower heat production. In this study we examined their potential in promoting seed germination and producing quality flower seedlings for which we designed four growth chambers each equipped with a different light quality sources, namely red, blue, combination of 25% blue and 75% red and fluorescent lamps. Seeds of four annual bedding flowers including impatiens (Impatiens balsamina), zinnia (Zinnia elegans), petunia (Petunia × hybrida) and verbena (Verbena aubletia) were sown and grown to produce seedlings. Plants were illuminated 12 hours per day in the growth chambers. According to the results, seedlings under red light showed the highest emergence percentage, rate and value. Light quality variably affected growth characteristics among plant species. Impatiens and zinnia plants under blue light showed a significant increase in leaf number. The stem diameter of impatiens increased under red light. By contrast, in petunia stem diameter increased under blue light significantly. Inclusion of 25% blue light to red light reduced hypocotyl and shoot height and increased root fresh weight and root length of most plant types. Light quality did not affect the time of emergence (T50), true leaf stage, four-leaf stage and shoot fresh weight. Our study demonstrated that light-emitting diodes could be an effective and reliable source of lighting under controlled environment for production of quality flower seedlings. Generally, the pure red light enhanced seedling emergence and during growth period, high quality seedlings could be produced when 25% blue light was added to red light.
Authors and Affiliations
Behnaz Akbarian, Mansour Matloobi, Nasser Mahna
[b] The Effect of Gibberellic Acid and Stratification on Germination of Alstroemeria ([i]Alstroemeria ligtu[/i] hybrid) Seed Under In Vitro and In Vivo Conditions[/b]
The dormancy characteristics and optimum conditions for seed germination of Alstroemeria ligtu had not been explained. In vitro and in vivo alstroemeria (A. ligtu hybrid) seed germination tests were condu...
[b]Exogenous Putrescine Delays Senescence of Lisianthus Cut Flowers[/b]
The anti-senescence biogenic polyamines (PAs) putrescine (Put), spermidine (Spd) and spermine (Spm) are involved in plant growth processes and responses to stress. The physiological mechanism of exogenous Put to...
[b]Study of Ethanol Presence in Some Ornamental and Aromatic Plants Using Gas Chromatography[/b]
Plants re-emit a substantial fraction of their assimilated carbon into the atmosphere as biogenic volatile organic compound. According to the presence of relatively high amount of methanol in herbal distillates,...
The Possibility Using the Composted Peanut Shells in the Growth of Marigold and Viola tricolor Plants
This research was conducted to evaluate the possibility using peanut shells compost as a suitable medium in cultivating ornamental plants. Effect of peanut shells composts on the growth of Viola tricolor and marigo...
[b] Controlling Ornamental Cabbage and Kale (Brassica oleracea) Growth via Cycocel[/b]
Chlormequat (cycocel or CCC), the plant growth retardant, was evaluated for its ability to control plant height in Brassica oleracea cultivar ‘Kamome White’ and ‘Nagoya Red’. Different concentrations of C...