The use of covering plastic materials with specific optical and radiometric properties, can modify the spectrum of solar radiation and influence some parameters of vegetables and flowers yield, grown in protected cultivation. For this reason, the research is oriented to the creation, through different technology, of plastics able to vary the red/far red ratio (600-700 nm and 700-800 nm of wavelenght), that regulates the photoreceptors activity in plants. In other cases, the spectrum modification regards the increase of some wavelenghts through the transformation of UV radiation. The aim of this research is to check the effect of solar radiation modified by experimental photoselective films, on growth of ready to use salad (rocket salad and lettuce) cultivated in a floating system, at different conditions of solar light (autumn and spring). Yield, dry matter percentage, antioxidant capacity (FRAP), nitrates, chlorophyll a and b and carotenoid content were investigated. Results showed that photoselective films (the transmittance spectrum of the red photoselective film is known, while the one of yellow photoselective film at the moment can’t be spread because of reasons of licence) had positive effect on dry matter percentage both for rocket salad and lettuce, while the fresh weight presented only a slight difference. However photoselective films increased the nitrates content, parameter easily influenced by a right management of nutritive solution. Regarding to the antioxidant capacity, measured with FRAP method, rocket salad showed an increase (around 40%) in plants grown under the photoselective films. Chlorophyll and carotenoid content was little influenced by the optical properties of the materials. In conclusion, the use of these innovative covering films seems to be interesting even for a high value vegetables, especially for the influence on their quality characteristics.

Impact of Sunlight Spectrum Modification on Yield and Quality of Ready-to-use Lettuce and Rocket Salad Grown on Floating System

MAGNANI, GALILEO;
2008-01-01

Abstract

The use of covering plastic materials with specific optical and radiometric properties, can modify the spectrum of solar radiation and influence some parameters of vegetables and flowers yield, grown in protected cultivation. For this reason, the research is oriented to the creation, through different technology, of plastics able to vary the red/far red ratio (600-700 nm and 700-800 nm of wavelenght), that regulates the photoreceptors activity in plants. In other cases, the spectrum modification regards the increase of some wavelenghts through the transformation of UV radiation. The aim of this research is to check the effect of solar radiation modified by experimental photoselective films, on growth of ready to use salad (rocket salad and lettuce) cultivated in a floating system, at different conditions of solar light (autumn and spring). Yield, dry matter percentage, antioxidant capacity (FRAP), nitrates, chlorophyll a and b and carotenoid content were investigated. Results showed that photoselective films (the transmittance spectrum of the red photoselective film is known, while the one of yellow photoselective film at the moment can’t be spread because of reasons of licence) had positive effect on dry matter percentage both for rocket salad and lettuce, while the fresh weight presented only a slight difference. However photoselective films increased the nitrates content, parameter easily influenced by a right management of nutritive solution. Regarding to the antioxidant capacity, measured with FRAP method, rocket salad showed an increase (around 40%) in plants grown under the photoselective films. Chlorophyll and carotenoid content was little influenced by the optical properties of the materials. In conclusion, the use of these innovative covering films seems to be interesting even for a high value vegetables, especially for the influence on their quality characteristics.
2008
Magnani, Galileo; Filippi, Ferruccio; Borghesi, Eva; Vitale, Marco
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11568/119031
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