Growth and Floral Induction in Okra (<i>Abelmoschus esculentus</i> L.) Under Blue and Red LED Light and Their Alternation

Okra (<i>Abelmoschus esculentus</i>) is a tropical vegetable with high nutritional and economic value. Rich in fiber, vitamins (C, K, and B9), and minerals (magnesium, potassium, calcium, and iron), it contributes to food security in many tropical regions. Global production is estimated...

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Main Authors: Yao Hervé Yao, Banah Florent Degni, Pascal Dupuis, Laurent Canale, Arouna Khalil Fanny, Cissé Théodore Haba, Georges Zissis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Horticulturae
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/11/5/548
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author Yao Hervé Yao
Banah Florent Degni
Pascal Dupuis
Laurent Canale
Arouna Khalil Fanny
Cissé Théodore Haba
Georges Zissis
author_facet Yao Hervé Yao
Banah Florent Degni
Pascal Dupuis
Laurent Canale
Arouna Khalil Fanny
Cissé Théodore Haba
Georges Zissis
author_sort Yao Hervé Yao
collection DOAJ
description Okra (<i>Abelmoschus esculentus</i>) is a tropical vegetable with high nutritional and economic value. Rich in fiber, vitamins (C, K, and B9), and minerals (magnesium, potassium, calcium, and iron), it contributes to food security in many tropical regions. Global production is estimated at 11.5 million tons in 2023, 62% of which will come from India. Nigeria, Mali, Sudan, Pakistan, and Côte d’Ivoire are also among the major producers. Given its economic importance, optimizing its growth through controlled methods such as greenhouse cultivation and light-emitting diode (LED) lighting is a strategic challenge. Energy-efficient LED horticultural lighting offers promising prospects, but each plant variety reacts differently depending on the light spectrum, intensity, and duration of exposure (photoperiod). This study evaluated the effects of different LED spectra on okra’s flowering after 30 days of growth using B (blue, 445 nm) and R (red, 660 nm) LED lights and red-blue alternating in a three-day cycle (R3B3) by alternating the photoperiod from 14 to 10 h. Outdoor and greenhouse conditions served as controls. The results show that the R3B3 treatment improves germination in terms of both speed and percentage. However, plant growth (height, stem diameter, and leaf area) remains higher in the control group. R3B3 and red light stimulate leaf and node development. Flowering occurs earlier in the control group (51 days) and later under LED, particularly blue (73 days). Fruit diameter after petal fall was also larger in the control group. These results confirm the sensitivity of okra to photoperiod and light quality, and highlight the potential of spectral and photoperiod manipulation to regulate flowering in controlled-environment agriculture.
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spelling doaj-art-049fc438c05f43ec82221c8ce44ef8ca2025-08-20T01:56:24ZengMDPI AGHorticulturae2311-75242025-05-0111554810.3390/horticulturae11050548Growth and Floral Induction in Okra (<i>Abelmoschus esculentus</i> L.) Under Blue and Red LED Light and Their AlternationYao Hervé Yao0Banah Florent Degni1Pascal Dupuis2Laurent Canale3Arouna Khalil Fanny4Cissé Théodore Haba5Georges Zissis6Laboratory of Electronics, Electrical and Embedded Systems Engineering (LIEESE), National Polytechnic Institute Félix Houphouët Boigny (INP-HB), Yamoussoukro BP 1093, Côte d’IvoireLaboratory of Electronics, Electrical and Embedded Systems Engineering (LIEESE), National Polytechnic Institute Félix Houphouët Boigny (INP-HB), Yamoussoukro BP 1093, Côte d’IvoireUniversity of Toulouse, LAPLACE, UMR 5213, 31000 Toulouse, FranceFrench National Center of Scientific Research (CNRS), LAPLACE, UMR 5213, 31000 Toulouse, FranceLaboratory of Electronics, Electrical and Embedded Systems Engineering (LIEESE), National Polytechnic Institute Félix Houphouët Boigny (INP-HB), Yamoussoukro BP 1093, Côte d’IvoireLaboratory of Electronics, Electrical and Embedded Systems Engineering (LIEESE), National Polytechnic Institute Félix Houphouët Boigny (INP-HB), Yamoussoukro BP 1093, Côte d’IvoireUniversity of Toulouse, LAPLACE, UMR 5213, 31000 Toulouse, FranceOkra (<i>Abelmoschus esculentus</i>) is a tropical vegetable with high nutritional and economic value. Rich in fiber, vitamins (C, K, and B9), and minerals (magnesium, potassium, calcium, and iron), it contributes to food security in many tropical regions. Global production is estimated at 11.5 million tons in 2023, 62% of which will come from India. Nigeria, Mali, Sudan, Pakistan, and Côte d’Ivoire are also among the major producers. Given its economic importance, optimizing its growth through controlled methods such as greenhouse cultivation and light-emitting diode (LED) lighting is a strategic challenge. Energy-efficient LED horticultural lighting offers promising prospects, but each plant variety reacts differently depending on the light spectrum, intensity, and duration of exposure (photoperiod). This study evaluated the effects of different LED spectra on okra’s flowering after 30 days of growth using B (blue, 445 nm) and R (red, 660 nm) LED lights and red-blue alternating in a three-day cycle (R3B3) by alternating the photoperiod from 14 to 10 h. Outdoor and greenhouse conditions served as controls. The results show that the R3B3 treatment improves germination in terms of both speed and percentage. However, plant growth (height, stem diameter, and leaf area) remains higher in the control group. R3B3 and red light stimulate leaf and node development. Flowering occurs earlier in the control group (51 days) and later under LED, particularly blue (73 days). Fruit diameter after petal fall was also larger in the control group. These results confirm the sensitivity of okra to photoperiod and light quality, and highlight the potential of spectral and photoperiod manipulation to regulate flowering in controlled-environment agriculture.https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/11/5/548horticultural LED lightinggerminationokra growthphotoperiodic floweringalternating red-blue LED lightZigbee protocol
spellingShingle Yao Hervé Yao
Banah Florent Degni
Pascal Dupuis
Laurent Canale
Arouna Khalil Fanny
Cissé Théodore Haba
Georges Zissis
Growth and Floral Induction in Okra (<i>Abelmoschus esculentus</i> L.) Under Blue and Red LED Light and Their Alternation
Horticulturae
horticultural LED lighting
germination
okra growth
photoperiodic flowering
alternating red-blue LED light
Zigbee protocol
title Growth and Floral Induction in Okra (<i>Abelmoschus esculentus</i> L.) Under Blue and Red LED Light and Their Alternation
title_full Growth and Floral Induction in Okra (<i>Abelmoschus esculentus</i> L.) Under Blue and Red LED Light and Their Alternation
title_fullStr Growth and Floral Induction in Okra (<i>Abelmoschus esculentus</i> L.) Under Blue and Red LED Light and Their Alternation
title_full_unstemmed Growth and Floral Induction in Okra (<i>Abelmoschus esculentus</i> L.) Under Blue and Red LED Light and Their Alternation
title_short Growth and Floral Induction in Okra (<i>Abelmoschus esculentus</i> L.) Under Blue and Red LED Light and Their Alternation
title_sort growth and floral induction in okra i abelmoschus esculentus i l under blue and red led light and their alternation
topic horticultural LED lighting
germination
okra growth
photoperiodic flowering
alternating red-blue LED light
Zigbee protocol
url https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/11/5/548
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