Indirect positive effects of UV transparent plastics on tomato plants
Advances in the manufacturing of plastic cladding for protected crop cultivation have resulted in wavelength selective plastics capable of manipulating the transmission of solar radiation to include ultraviolet (UV: 280-400 nm). Commercial growers already utilising these plastics report early maturity associated with warmer crops.
We hypothesised that UV-B radiation causes partial stomatal closure that reduces stomatal conductance and transpiration rate, thereby increasing leaf temperature (relative to air temperature).
We tested this hypothesis by investigating leaf gas exchange and temperature responses of individual tomato leaves to UV-B and UV-A radiation provided by UV lampsin a controlled environment.
Transient (90 minutes) exposure to UV-B radiation decreased stomatal conductance but had minimal impact on photosynthesis, thus increasing leaf temperature and instantaneous water use efficiency. Should this enhanced water use efficiency also occur at a whole plant/ canopy scale, these responses may benefit growers of protected crops in arid climates where plastic clad polytunnels are often utilised.
Sources
UV TRANSPARENT PLASTIC CLADDINGS PRODUCE WARMER CROPS AND IMPROVE WATER USE EFFICIENCY
Tom Williams1, Wagdy Sobeih2, Nigel Paul3, Ian Dodd3
1Highwood, Bay Horse Rd, Quernmore, LA2 0QJ Lancs Lancaster, United Kingdom
2Arid Agritec Enterprise Business , Partnerships Lancaster Environmental Centre, Lancaster University LA1 4YQ, Lancaster, United Kingdom
3Lancaster Environmental Centre, Lancaster University, LA1 4YQ, Lancaster, United Kingdom
ICH2018 Istanbul, 30th International Horticultural Congress, 12-16 August 2018, Turkey
Picture by Mundo HVAC&R
