Dose-response of tomato fruit yield to far-red fraction in supplementary lighting
Supplementary LED lighting in greenhouse horticulture is typically rich in red light (R; 600–700 nm), while it lacks far-red light (FR; 700–800 nm), resulting in growing conditions with lower-than-solar far-red fractions [<0.46; FR/(R + FR)]. In these light environments, the addition of FR ca...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Plant Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1618171/full |
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| author | Elena Vincenzi Aron Moehn Emmanouil Katsadas Sana Karbor Esther de Beer Frank Millenaar Leo F.M. Marcelis Ep Heuvelink |
| author_facet | Elena Vincenzi Aron Moehn Emmanouil Katsadas Sana Karbor Esther de Beer Frank Millenaar Leo F.M. Marcelis Ep Heuvelink |
| author_sort | Elena Vincenzi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Supplementary LED lighting in greenhouse horticulture is typically rich in red light (R; 600–700 nm), while it lacks far-red light (FR; 700–800 nm), resulting in growing conditions with lower-than-solar far-red fractions [<0.46; FR/(R + FR)]. In these light environments, the addition of FR can improve tomato harvest index and fruit yield (ripe fruit fresh weight). While fruit yield increases linearly with the dose of FR at low FR fractions (0.1–0.28), it is unknown whether this relationship holds at higher FR levels, up to and above solar FR fractions. In this study, the relationship between tomato fruit yield and the FR fraction in supplementary lighting was quantified. Two cluster tomato cultivars ‘Foundation’ and ‘Trevine’ were grown in two greenhouse compartments for 20 weeks during the winter season (September to February). Different fractions of supplementary FR (0.22 to 0.49) were applied while maintaining a constant supplementary photosynthetic photon flux density of 250 µmol m−2 s−1 and 16-hour photoperiod. A yield component analysis was used to identify the key physiological drivers of the FR effect on yield. Additionally, fruit quality at harvest (total soluble solids, soluble sugars, and pH) and shelf-life were assessed. Additional FR increased fruit yield up to an FR fraction of 0.40, where the highest effect was recorded (+16% fruit yield for both cultivars). Fruit yield increases under additional FR were mostly associated with increased plant dry weight, with a small yet significant increase in the fraction of dry matter partitioned to the fruits. The radiation use efficiency (g fruit fresh weight mol−1) and electricity use efficiency of supplementary lighting (g fruit fresh weight kWh−1) decreased at higher FR fractions (0.44 and 0.49). Finally, additional FR had a minimal effect on fruit quality and shelf-life. We conclude that adding FR to supplementary lighting can increase tomato fruit yield linearly up to an FR fraction of 0.40, while at higher FR fractions, further increases in FR have limited or even negative effects on yield and decrease radiation and electricity use efficiency. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-cfee1d0b632740ee89a31a263085e233 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1664-462X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Plant Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-cfee1d0b632740ee89a31a263085e2332025-08-20T03:50:31ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2025-07-011610.3389/fpls.2025.16181711618171Dose-response of tomato fruit yield to far-red fraction in supplementary lightingElena Vincenzi0Aron Moehn1Emmanouil Katsadas2Sana Karbor3Esther de Beer4Frank Millenaar5Leo F.M. Marcelis6Ep Heuvelink7Horticulture and Product Physiology, Department of Plant Science, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, NetherlandsHorticulture and Product Physiology, Department of Plant Science, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, NetherlandsHorticulture and Product Physiology, Department of Plant Science, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, NetherlandsHorticulture and Product Physiology, Department of Plant Science, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, NetherlandsSignify Netherlands B.V., Eindhoven, NetherlandsBASF–Nunhems, Nunhem, NetherlandsHorticulture and Product Physiology, Department of Plant Science, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, NetherlandsHorticulture and Product Physiology, Department of Plant Science, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, NetherlandsSupplementary LED lighting in greenhouse horticulture is typically rich in red light (R; 600–700 nm), while it lacks far-red light (FR; 700–800 nm), resulting in growing conditions with lower-than-solar far-red fractions [<0.46; FR/(R + FR)]. In these light environments, the addition of FR can improve tomato harvest index and fruit yield (ripe fruit fresh weight). While fruit yield increases linearly with the dose of FR at low FR fractions (0.1–0.28), it is unknown whether this relationship holds at higher FR levels, up to and above solar FR fractions. In this study, the relationship between tomato fruit yield and the FR fraction in supplementary lighting was quantified. Two cluster tomato cultivars ‘Foundation’ and ‘Trevine’ were grown in two greenhouse compartments for 20 weeks during the winter season (September to February). Different fractions of supplementary FR (0.22 to 0.49) were applied while maintaining a constant supplementary photosynthetic photon flux density of 250 µmol m−2 s−1 and 16-hour photoperiod. A yield component analysis was used to identify the key physiological drivers of the FR effect on yield. Additionally, fruit quality at harvest (total soluble solids, soluble sugars, and pH) and shelf-life were assessed. Additional FR increased fruit yield up to an FR fraction of 0.40, where the highest effect was recorded (+16% fruit yield for both cultivars). Fruit yield increases under additional FR were mostly associated with increased plant dry weight, with a small yet significant increase in the fraction of dry matter partitioned to the fruits. The radiation use efficiency (g fruit fresh weight mol−1) and electricity use efficiency of supplementary lighting (g fruit fresh weight kWh−1) decreased at higher FR fractions (0.44 and 0.49). Finally, additional FR had a minimal effect on fruit quality and shelf-life. We conclude that adding FR to supplementary lighting can increase tomato fruit yield linearly up to an FR fraction of 0.40, while at higher FR fractions, further increases in FR have limited or even negative effects on yield and decrease radiation and electricity use efficiency.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1618171/fulltomatofar-red lightradiation use efficiencyelectricity use efficiencyfruit qualityvertical light distribution |
| spellingShingle | Elena Vincenzi Aron Moehn Emmanouil Katsadas Sana Karbor Esther de Beer Frank Millenaar Leo F.M. Marcelis Ep Heuvelink Dose-response of tomato fruit yield to far-red fraction in supplementary lighting Frontiers in Plant Science tomato far-red light radiation use efficiency electricity use efficiency fruit quality vertical light distribution |
| title | Dose-response of tomato fruit yield to far-red fraction in supplementary lighting |
| title_full | Dose-response of tomato fruit yield to far-red fraction in supplementary lighting |
| title_fullStr | Dose-response of tomato fruit yield to far-red fraction in supplementary lighting |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dose-response of tomato fruit yield to far-red fraction in supplementary lighting |
| title_short | Dose-response of tomato fruit yield to far-red fraction in supplementary lighting |
| title_sort | dose response of tomato fruit yield to far red fraction in supplementary lighting |
| topic | tomato far-red light radiation use efficiency electricity use efficiency fruit quality vertical light distribution |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1618171/full |
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