Effect of Sweet Pepper (<i>Capsicum annuum</i> L.) Seedling Age and Cultivation Method on Seedling Quality, Photosynthetic Parameters and Productivity

The age of seedlings affects not only the quality of the seedlings but also the yield. The age of seedlings of sweet peppers grown in a greenhouse and their cultivation method has been little studied. Therefore, the aim of this research was to determine the effect of agrotechnological tools (direct seeding or transplanting) on sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) seedling quality and crop yield. The research was carried out in a greenhouse covered with double polymeric film at the Institute of Horticulture, Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry. Two factors were investigated: seedling establishment method (direct seeding and transplanting) and their different age (60, 50, and 40 days). The 60-day-old seedlings (both sown directly and grown by transplanting) were taller, and had more leaves, a larger leaf area, and a thicker stem, than the 50- and 40-day-old seedlings. The highest content of dry matter was found in the leaves of 60-day-old seedlings that were grown by transplanting. The chlorophyll index was also highest in the leaves of these seedlings. The highest photosynthetic parameters (photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, intercellular CO2, transpiration rate) were found in the leaves of 40-day-old seedlings (both sown directly and grown by transplanting). Higher yields were demonstrated in sweet peppers whose seedlings were planted in the greenhouse at the age of 60 days and which were sown directly in cups

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Vytauto Didžiojo universitetasŽemės ūkio akademij

Effects of Vermicompost on Quality and Physiological Parameters of Cucumber (<i>Cucumis sativus</i> L.) Seedlings and Plant Productivity

Cucumbers productivity and fruit quality depend on seedlings’ quality. The success of seedling cultivation largely depends on the choice of a suitable substrate. Therefore the aim of this research is to determine the effect of peat-vermicompost substrates on cucumber seedling quality and crop yield. The research was carried out in a greenhouse covered with double polymeric film in the Institute of Horticulture, Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry. Cucumber seedlings were grown in different substrates: peat, peat + 10% vermicompost, peat + 20% vermicompost, and peat + 30% vermicompost. The growth of cucumber seedlings in peat and vermicompost substrates was induced. They were 1.9–18.6% taller, and the leaf area of this seedlings was 1.2–1.4 time larger. Furthermore, the fresh leaves mass of these seedlings was 22.7–33.1%, and the fresh root mass was 1.1–1.5 time bigger. The addition of vermicompost to peat substrate has a positive effect on the physiological parameters in the leaves of cucumber seedlings. The total yield of cucumbers grown in peat-vermicompost substrates was 7.4–11.1% higher than that of plants whose seedlings grew in peat substrate

Effects of Vermicompost on Quality and Physiological Parameters of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) Seedlings and Plant Productivity

Cucumbers productivity and fruit quality depend on seedlings&rsquo; quality. The success of seedling cultivation largely depends on the choice of a suitable substrate. Therefore the aim of this research is to determine the effect of peat-vermicompost substrates on cucumber seedling quality and crop yield. The research was carried out in a greenhouse covered with double polymeric film in the Institute of Horticulture, Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry. Cucumber seedlings were grown in different substrates: peat, peat + 10% vermicompost, peat + 20% vermicompost, and peat + 30% vermicompost. The growth of cucumber seedlings in peat and vermicompost substrates was induced. They were 1.9&ndash;18.6% taller, and the leaf area of this seedlings was 1.2&ndash;1.4 time larger. Furthermore, the fresh leaves mass of these seedlings was 22.7&ndash;33.1%, and the fresh root mass was 1.1&ndash;1.5 time bigger. The addition of vermicompost to peat substrate has a positive effect on the physiological parameters in the leaves of cucumber seedlings. The total yield of cucumbers grown in peat-vermicompost substrates was 7.4&ndash;11.1% higher than that of plants whose seedlings grew in peat substrate

The effect of photosynthetic photon flux density on cucumber and tomato transplants assimilative indices

ISSN 1822-3230 (ankstesnių spausdintų leidinių)The objective of our studies was to evaluate the assimilative indices of cucumber (‘Pasalimo F1’) and tomato (‘Marissa F1’) transplants, cultivated under various photosynthetic photon flux densities (PPFD) were provided by light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Experiment was performed in phytotron complex of Institute of Horticulture, LRCAF. A system of high-power, solid-state lighting modules with 92 % 638 nm (red) + 665 nm (red) + 731 nm (far red) and 8 % 447 nm (blue) was used in the experiments. The generated PPFD of each type of five solid-state modules was ~200 and ~400 μmol m-2 s-1. Our experiment revealed that increased net assimilation rate (NAR) depended on increased PPFD of cucumber and tomato hybrid. 400 μmol m-2 s-1 LED illumination had positive effect on relative growth rate (RGR). Cucumbers which were grown under 200 μmol m-2 s-1 had bigger leaf area ratio (LAR) and specific leaf area (SLA), their development has been bigger as compared to higher 400 μmol m-2 s-1 PPFD. High PPFD LED illumination had positive effect on leaf weight ratio (LWR), shoot root ratio (SRR) and tomato transplants development. These studies with various photosynthetic photon flux densities (PPFD) and LEDs light should be continued throughout plant vegetationLietuvos agrarinių ir miškų mokslų centrasVytauto Didžiojo universitetasŽemės ūkio akademij

The effect of UV-A supplemental lighting on antioxidant properties of Ocimum basilicum L. microgreens in greenhouse

ISSN 1822-3230 (ankstesnių spausdintų leidinių)The effects of supplemental UV-A LED lighting on growth and antioxidant properties of two varieties of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) microgreens were determined. Purple-leaf ‘Dark Opal’ and green-leaf ‘Sweet Genovese’ basils were grown in greenhouse (14 days, 22/18 ± 2 °C day/night temperature, 40 ± 5 % a relative air humidity) during winter season. The main lighting system (HPS lamps and natural daylight) was supplemented with ~13.0 μmol m-2 s-1 flux of UV-A 390 nm, and a total PPFD was ~125 μmol m-2 s-1 (16 h photoperiod) for 1 or 7 days before harvest, or entire growth period – 14 days. The results revealed that the influence of UV-A on growth and antioxidant properties depended on basil variety and duration of irradiation. Generally, UV-A irradiation for 7 days significantly (P ≤ 0.05) inhibited growth and hypocotyl elongation of green-leaf basils, and for 14 days of both basil varieties. No significant differences on leaf chlorophyll index were determined. However, leaf flavonol index significantly increased in green-leaf basils after 7 and 14 days UV-A irradiation. The total phenols ant anthocyanin contents significantly decreased after 1 day UV-A irradiation in purple-leaf basils, and the continuous decrease following UV-A irradiation for 7 or 14 days was determined. In addition, UV-A irradiation had negative effects on ABTS radical activity in purple-leaf basils; however, the significantly higher ABTS radical scavenging activity after UV-A irradiation for 1 or 7 days in green-leaf basils were determinedLietuvos agrarinių ir miškų mokslų centro filialas Sodininkystės ir daržininkystės institutasVytauto Didžiojo universitetasŽemės ūkio akademij