Effect of Up-Converting Luminescent Nanoparticles with Increased Quantum Yield Incorporated into the Fluoropolymer Matrix on Solanum lycopersicum Growth

Denis V Yanykin,Julia A Ermakova,Sergey V Gudkov,Alexander V Simakin,Dmitriy E Burmistrov

doi:10.3390/agronomy12010108

Abstract

The influence of light conversion induced by glasses coated with up-converting luminescent nanoparticles on Solanum lycopersicum cultivation was studied. Nanoparticles of Sr0.46Ba0.50Yb0.02Er0.02F2.04 solid solution were used as the up-converting luminophore. These nanoparticles were able to transform IR radiation into visible light (λem = 660 nm with minor peaks at 545 nm and 525 nm). By applying the “variable” chlorophyll fluorescence (ΔF), it was shown that the cultivation of tomatoes under the photoconversion glasses stimulated changes in the rate of plant adaptation to ultraviolet radiation. The restoration time of values of effective quantum yield of photosystem II photochemical reactions and photochemical quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence (reflecting disappearance of imbalance between photosynthetic electron transport and the utilization of NADPH) was reduced from three weeks to three days in the case of control and photoconversion films, respectively. As a result, plants grown under photoconversion glass had an increased leaf number (12.5%), total leaf area (33%), stem length (35%) and chlorophyll content in the leaves (two-fold). It is assumed that an increase in the proportion of red light in the growing spectrum has a positive effect on photosynthetic activity and plant growth.

Highlights

The Neolithic Revolution, which happened about 8000–12,000 years ago, led to the emergence of new technology—agriculture, which accelerated the growth of the world’s population
In several works [26,27,28], we have developed highly resistant and vapor-proof photoconversion films on the basis of fluoropolymer and nanoparticles as well as quantum dots, which are capable of the effective photoconversion of UV and violet radiation into blue and red light and of providing more favorable light conditions for plant growth
Scientists have traveled a long way in the development of photoconversion coatings for agricultural applications: from (i) short-lived fluorophores based on polyethylene and organic dyes through (ii) relatively stable fluorophores based on rare-earth compounds, which, have a low quantum yield, to the (iii) creation of materials based on complex nanosized fluorophores

Summary

Introduction

The Neolithic Revolution, which happened about 8000–12,000 years ago, led to the emergence of new technology—agriculture, which accelerated the growth of the world’s population. Over the past hundred years, due to progress in medicine, reduced mortality and increased agricultural productivity, a new acceleration in population growth has been occurred. There is a shortage of territories suitable for agriculture and, as a result, food manufactures. Under these circumstances, the only way out is to find ways to increase the productivity of farms, especially in regions with cold temperate and unfavorable climates [1,2]. Greenhouse construction ensures an enclosed protective environment that drastically increases yield while lowering water consumption and pesticide use as compared to conventional farming [4,5,6], adds more growth cycles per year and allows growing thermophilic plant species in colder climates

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