CHANGES IN LIGHT RADIATION AND MICROCLIMATIC CONDITIONS ALTER THE POMEGRANATE CUTTINGS PHOTOMORPHOGENESIS TREATED WITH AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF Cyperus rotundus

Abstract

Technological advances in agriculture make it possible to manage the light spectrum radiation in a protected environment and generate improvements in plant photomorphogenesis, which can be a promising strategy for the supply of seedlings of pomegranate qualities. It aimed to evaluate whether the microclimatic environmental changes, due to the management of light spectrum radiation, modify the photomorphogenesis and water consumption by pomegranate cuttings treated with aqueous C. rotundus (nutsedge) extract, as well as determine the most important variables to explain such effects. A completely randomized design, in a 4x4 factorial scheme, and with three replications. Four light spectrum radiation (white, blue, red, and extreme red lights) and four nutsedge extract concentrations (0, 25, 50, and 100%) were applied. Throughout the experimental period, the environments were monitored to establish the illuminance, average air temperature, relative air humidity, average soil temperature and evapotranspiration water consumption by the cuttings. The numbers of shoots were recorded weekly, numbers of roots and shoots were calculated 60 days after cutting planting. All microclimatic variables were influenced by light conditions. Shoots were observed on the cuttings under white and blue lights with application of 0, 25, 50, and 100% of nutsedge extract concentrations. Variations in light spectrum radiation promote environmental microclimate changes and influence photomorphogenesis and water consumption by pomegranate cuttings treated with aqueous extract of nutsedge. All variables studied were considered as important to explain the influence of environmental microclimate changes, due to light spectrum variation, on photomorphogenesis and water evapotranspiration and consumption by pomegranate cuttings.