Influence of Supplementary Blue and Far-Red Light on the Morphology and Texture of <i>Ocimum basilicum</i> L. Grown in Controlled Environments
Basil (<i>Ocimum basilicum</i> L.) is highly sensitive to environmental conditions and is an ideal candidate for cultivation in controlled environment agriculture (CEA). Light-emitting diode technology has become essential in CEA, offering precise control over light intensity, spectrum,...
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Horticulturae |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/11/3/287 |
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| author | Madison A. Oehler Nathan Kelly Jorge M. Fonseca Ella Evensen Eunhee Park Ganyu Gu Zi Teng Yaguang Luo |
| author_facet | Madison A. Oehler Nathan Kelly Jorge M. Fonseca Ella Evensen Eunhee Park Ganyu Gu Zi Teng Yaguang Luo |
| author_sort | Madison A. Oehler |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Basil (<i>Ocimum basilicum</i> L.) is highly sensitive to environmental conditions and is an ideal candidate for cultivation in controlled environment agriculture (CEA). Light-emitting diode technology has become essential in CEA, offering precise control over light intensity, spectrum, and duration. This study investigated how supplemental blue light, far-red light, or their combination influences basil biomass, morphology, texture, and color when added to a white + red light spectrum. Basil ’Prospera’ and ’Amethyst’ were exposed to five light treatments for 14–28 days: white + red at 180 µmol∙m<sup>−2</sup>∙s<sup>−1</sup> (W) as the control, and four treatments with an additional 60 µmol∙m<sup>−2</sup>∙s<sup>−1</sup> of either white + red (+W<sub>60</sub>), blue (+B<sub>60</sub>), far-red (+FR<sub>60</sub>), or a combination of B and FR (+B<sub>30</sub>+FR<sub>30</sub>), for a total photon flux density of 240 µmol∙m<sup>−2</sup>∙s<sup>−1</sup>. The results demonstrated that +B<sub>60</sub> and +W<sub>60</sub> light treatments increased leaf thickness by 17–20% compared to the +FR<sub>60</sub> treatment. Conversely, texture analysis revealed that +FR<sub>60</sub>-treated leaves had higher puncture resistance, with ’Amethyst’ and ’Prospera’ requiring 1.57 ± 0.43 N and 1.45 ± 0.35 N of force, respectively, compared to 1.19 ± 0.32 N and 1.1 ± 0.21 N under +B<sub>60</sub>. These findings suggest that tailored light recipes in CEA can optimize basil quality, allowing growers to modify traits like leaf color, thickness, and toughness. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e00772e720de46ed8a3c6e319e2048ae |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2311-7524 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Horticulturae |
| spelling | doaj-art-e00772e720de46ed8a3c6e319e2048ae2025-08-20T02:11:11ZengMDPI AGHorticulturae2311-75242025-03-0111328710.3390/horticulturae11030287Influence of Supplementary Blue and Far-Red Light on the Morphology and Texture of <i>Ocimum basilicum</i> L. Grown in Controlled EnvironmentsMadison A. Oehler0Nathan Kelly1Jorge M. Fonseca2Ella Evensen3Eunhee Park4Ganyu Gu5Zi Teng6Yaguang Luo7USDA-ARS Food Quality Laboratory, Beltsville, MD 20705, USAUSDA-ARS Environmental Microbiology and Food Safety Laboratory, Beltsville, MD 20705, USAUSDA-ARS Food Quality Laboratory, Beltsville, MD 20705, USAUSDA-ARS Food Quality Laboratory, Beltsville, MD 20705, USAUSDA-ARS Food Quality Laboratory, Beltsville, MD 20705, USAUSDA-ARS Environmental Microbiology and Food Safety Laboratory, Beltsville, MD 20705, USADepartment of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USAUSDA-ARS Food Quality Laboratory, Beltsville, MD 20705, USABasil (<i>Ocimum basilicum</i> L.) is highly sensitive to environmental conditions and is an ideal candidate for cultivation in controlled environment agriculture (CEA). Light-emitting diode technology has become essential in CEA, offering precise control over light intensity, spectrum, and duration. This study investigated how supplemental blue light, far-red light, or their combination influences basil biomass, morphology, texture, and color when added to a white + red light spectrum. Basil ’Prospera’ and ’Amethyst’ were exposed to five light treatments for 14–28 days: white + red at 180 µmol∙m<sup>−2</sup>∙s<sup>−1</sup> (W) as the control, and four treatments with an additional 60 µmol∙m<sup>−2</sup>∙s<sup>−1</sup> of either white + red (+W<sub>60</sub>), blue (+B<sub>60</sub>), far-red (+FR<sub>60</sub>), or a combination of B and FR (+B<sub>30</sub>+FR<sub>30</sub>), for a total photon flux density of 240 µmol∙m<sup>−2</sup>∙s<sup>−1</sup>. The results demonstrated that +B<sub>60</sub> and +W<sub>60</sub> light treatments increased leaf thickness by 17–20% compared to the +FR<sub>60</sub> treatment. Conversely, texture analysis revealed that +FR<sub>60</sub>-treated leaves had higher puncture resistance, with ’Amethyst’ and ’Prospera’ requiring 1.57 ± 0.43 N and 1.45 ± 0.35 N of force, respectively, compared to 1.19 ± 0.32 N and 1.1 ± 0.21 N under +B<sub>60</sub>. These findings suggest that tailored light recipes in CEA can optimize basil quality, allowing growers to modify traits like leaf color, thickness, and toughness.https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/11/3/287controlled environment agriculture (CEA)hydroponicsbasilsupplementary light |
| spellingShingle | Madison A. Oehler Nathan Kelly Jorge M. Fonseca Ella Evensen Eunhee Park Ganyu Gu Zi Teng Yaguang Luo Influence of Supplementary Blue and Far-Red Light on the Morphology and Texture of <i>Ocimum basilicum</i> L. Grown in Controlled Environments Horticulturae controlled environment agriculture (CEA) hydroponics basil supplementary light |
| title | Influence of Supplementary Blue and Far-Red Light on the Morphology and Texture of <i>Ocimum basilicum</i> L. Grown in Controlled Environments |
| title_full | Influence of Supplementary Blue and Far-Red Light on the Morphology and Texture of <i>Ocimum basilicum</i> L. Grown in Controlled Environments |
| title_fullStr | Influence of Supplementary Blue and Far-Red Light on the Morphology and Texture of <i>Ocimum basilicum</i> L. Grown in Controlled Environments |
| title_full_unstemmed | Influence of Supplementary Blue and Far-Red Light on the Morphology and Texture of <i>Ocimum basilicum</i> L. Grown in Controlled Environments |
| title_short | Influence of Supplementary Blue and Far-Red Light on the Morphology and Texture of <i>Ocimum basilicum</i> L. Grown in Controlled Environments |
| title_sort | influence of supplementary blue and far red light on the morphology and texture of i ocimum basilicum i l grown in controlled environments |
| topic | controlled environment agriculture (CEA) hydroponics basil supplementary light |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/11/3/287 |
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