Location: Application Technology Research
Project Number: 5082-21000-001-077-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Sep 1, 2023
End Date: Aug 31, 2028
Objective:
1. To determine how light intensity and spectrum interact with other environmental factors in the greenhouse to regulate plant growth, especially during propagation;
2. To perform lighting and temperature studies in an indoor environment (without sunlight) to test hypotheses generated from the greenhouse research outcomes;
3. To work with greenhouse growers to implement research findings into their operations;
4. To broadly disseminate research-based information to the floriculture industry through publicly available articles and presentations at grower meetings.
Approach:
1. We will vegetatively propagate common floriculture crops and root cuttings under various combinations of air temperature, root-zone temperature, and light intensity from high-pressure sodium and LED fixtures in a greenhouse environment.
2. We will determine how these environmental factors influence plant nutrition, and whether elevated nutrients can overcome any deficiencies.
3. Based on the greenhouse research findings above, we will propagate cuttings indoors, without sunlight, to confirm the roles of the environmental factors and plant fertility that influence leaf coloration and rooting of young plants.
4. We will communicate research results with commercial greenhouse growers and help them implement recommended practices to improve propagation, particularly when using supplemental LED lighting.
5. We will write articles for greenhouse trade magazines with national circulation and deliver presentations at grower meetings as well as scientific conferences.
