Abstract Detail

Recent Topics Posters

Winter, Madison [1], Culley, Theresa [2].

Effect of UV Light Through Greenhouse Glazing on the Growth and Reproduction of Annual Plant Species.

Although light quality is known to influence grant growth, the effect of UV-blocking and UV-transmitting glazing used in newer greenhouse construction has been relatively understudied. In this project, a variety of different annual plant species (cultivars of Helianthus annuus, Ocimum basilicum, and Lactuca sativa) were grown in a realtively new, polymethyl methacrylate greenhouse composed of rooms constructed from either UV-blocking glazing (traditionally used for plant cultivation) or UV-transmitting glazing (used for insects, which require UV light for sexual maturation). Our goal was to investigate the effect of UV within a greenhouse facility on plant growth reproduction. Contratry to our expectation that UV light would be most beneficial for plant growth (mimicking natural conditions), we found that growth was generally better under UV-blocking glazing, although flowering tended to occur more quickly under UV light. These results indicate that researchers need to consider the type of glazing used in their greenhouses, especially in studies of plant fitness, and when comparing studies conducted in different greenhouses. 

1 - University of Cincinnati, Biological Sciences, 614 Rieveschl Hall, Cincinnati, OH, 45221, USA
2 - University Of Cincinnati, Dept Biological Sciences, 614 Rieveschl Hall, Cincinnati, OH, 45221, United States

Keywords:
Growth
Light
Greenhouse.

Presentation Type: Recent Topics Poster
Number: PRT022
Abstract ID:1330
Candidate for Awards:None