Optimizing indoor production of annual bedding plant seedlings
Indoor production of young bedding plants using sole-source lighting (SSL) has been proposed to overcome lighting challenges in northern latitudes during late winter and early spring. Joshua’s Ph.D. research is focused on determining optimal CO2 concentrations, light qualities, and light intensities for the production of bedding plant plugs in a SSL environment. Specifically, he is evaluating how different ratios of red and blue light interact with elevated CO2 concentrations, and whether manipulating these environmental factors may benefit plug quality or hasten the time to a finished crop. Additionally, he is evaluating the use of automated and non-invasive imaging using fluorescence to estimate leaf area and track the growth rate of entire plug trays, with potential use in the bedding plant industry as a means of efficient and non-destructive monitoring.
Information gathered from both of these projects will provide recommendations on how to optimize and track the production of bedding plant seedlings under SSL as well as establish a scientific understanding of how specialty floriculture crop production may be further improved under controlled-environment conditions.
Further information: Joshua Craver, Erik Runkle, and Roberto Lopez, Purdue University (rrglopeez@msu.edu)