Downy mildew is a major disease on both ornamental and food crops. Whether these crops are grown outdoors or in a controlled environment, environmental conditions, generally cool to moderate temperatures and high humidity, are favorable to downy mildew development. Warm temperatures and high humidity are conducive to powdery mildew development.
Researchers at the Lighting Research Center (LRC) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Cornell University, University of Florida, Norway’s Institute of Bioeconomy Research and the Norwegian University of Life Sciences are studying the impact different light wavelengths, light amount, light durations and light application timing can have on the development of the pathogens that cause downy mildew and powdery mildew.