An energy-saving glasshouse film reduces seasonal, and cultivar dependent Capsicum yield due to light limited photosynthesis

Sachin G. Chavan; Xin He; Chelsea Maier; Yagiz Alagoz; Sidra Anwar; Zhong-Hua Chen; Oula Ghannoum; Christopher I. Cazzonelli; David T. Tissue

Annals of Agricultural Sciences (Jun 2023)

An energy-saving glasshouse film reduces seasonal, and cultivar dependent Capsicum yield due to light limited photosynthesis

Sachin G. Chavan,
Xin He,
Chelsea Maier,
Yagiz Alagoz,
Sidra Anwar,
Zhong-Hua Chen,
Oula Ghannoum,
Christopher I. Cazzonelli,
David T. Tissue

Affiliations

Sachin G. Chavan: Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Richmond, NSW 2753, Australia; National Vegetable Protected Cropping Centre, Hawkesbury Campus, Western Sydney University, Richmond, NSW 2753, Australia; Global Centre for Land Based Innovation, Hawkesbury Campus, Western Sydney University, Richmond, NSW 2753, Australia; Corresponding author at: Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Richmond, NSW 2753, Australia.
Xin He: Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Richmond, NSW 2753, Australia; National Vegetable Protected Cropping Centre, Hawkesbury Campus, Western Sydney University, Richmond, NSW 2753, Australia
Chelsea Maier: Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Richmond, NSW 2753, Australia; National Vegetable Protected Cropping Centre, Hawkesbury Campus, Western Sydney University, Richmond, NSW 2753, Australia
Yagiz Alagoz: Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Richmond, NSW 2753, Australia; National Vegetable Protected Cropping Centre, Hawkesbury Campus, Western Sydney University, Richmond, NSW 2753, Australia
Sidra Anwar: Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Richmond, NSW 2753, Australia
Zhong-Hua Chen: Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Richmond, NSW 2753, Australia; National Vegetable Protected Cropping Centre, Hawkesbury Campus, Western Sydney University, Richmond, NSW 2753, Australia; School of Science, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia
Oula Ghannoum: Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Richmond, NSW 2753, Australia; National Vegetable Protected Cropping Centre, Hawkesbury Campus, Western Sydney University, Richmond, NSW 2753, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellence for Translational Photosynthesis, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia
Christopher I. Cazzonelli: Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Richmond, NSW 2753, Australia; National Vegetable Protected Cropping Centre, Hawkesbury Campus, Western Sydney University, Richmond, NSW 2753, Australia
David T. Tissue: Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Richmond, NSW 2753, Australia; National Vegetable Protected Cropping Centre, Hawkesbury Campus, Western Sydney University, Richmond, NSW 2753, Australia; Global Centre for Land Based Innovation, Hawkesbury Campus, Western Sydney University, Richmond, NSW 2753, Australia

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 68, no. 1
pp. 21 – 35

Abstract

Read online

Glasshouse films can be used to reduce energy costs by limiting non-productive heat-generating radiation, but the impact on yield of greenhouse horticultural crops remains unknown. The effects of energy-saving film ULR-80 (ultra-low-reflectivity film with 80 % light transmission referred to as Smart Glass; SG) designed to block long wavelength light that generates heat also reduced photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) consequently affecting crop morphology, photosynthesis, leaf pigments, and yield of two hydroponically grown capsicum (Capsicum annuum L.) cultivars (Red and Orange). The crops were grown in four high-tech glasshouse bays over two seasons of similar daily light integrals (DLI) during ascending [Autumn Experiment (AE)] and descending [Summer Experiment (SE)] photoperiods. The Red cultivar exhibited higher photosynthetic rates (light saturated - Asat) and yield than the Orange cultivar in control glass but displayed stronger reductions in modelled photosynthetic rates at growth light and yield in SG without changes in photosynthetic capacity. Foliar pigment ratios of chlorophyll a/b and carotenoid:chlorophyll remained unaffected by the SG during both seasons indicating that chloroplast homeostasis was similar between SG and control. The seasonal differences in photosynthetic pigments and xanthophyll de-epoxidation state (DPS) revealed that cultivars were able to sense the SG-altered light environment during the AE, but not SE. The SE correlated with a lower daily light level and a substantial yield reduction of 29 % and 13 % in Red and Orange cultivars, respectively. Thus, SG-induced higher reductions in yield during the SE indicate that SG may be more beneficial for capsicum crops planted during AE.

Published in Annals of Agricultural Sciences

ISSN: 0570-1783 (Print)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Egypt
LCC subjects: Agriculture: Agriculture (General)
Website: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/annals-of-agricultural-sciences/

About the journal

Abstract

Keywords