Abstract
High market price and low availability of local winter and spring production has stimulated production of blackberries in glasshouses at northern latitudes. For this production, light is the main limiting factor. We investigated the potential of intercanopy lighting (ICL) using light emitting diodes (LEDs) to improve blackberry fruit yield in a crop with a spring and an autumn production cycle. During the spring production cycle three light treatments were applied: only natural light (no ICL), 93 or 185 μmol m–2 s–1 ICL In summer the lateral shoots were cut back and 93 μmol m–2 s–1 ICL was applied to all plants after cutting back, investigating a possible carryover effect of supplemental light in spring on autumn production. Fresh fruit yield in spring increased by 79 and 122% with 93 and 185 μmol m–2 s–1 ICL, respectively, compared to no ICL. This represents 3.6 and 2.8% increase in harvestable product for every additional 1% of light. A yield component analysis and leaf photosynthesis measurements were conducted. Maximum photosynthetic capacity (Amax) for leaves at 185 μmol m–2 s–1 ICL was about 50% higher, and LAI was 41% higher compared to no ICL. ICL increased the number of fruiting laterals per cane, and this explained 75% of the increase in yield. ICL at 185 μmol m–2 s–1 resulted in a higher yield compared to no ICL, primarily as a result of higher total dry matter production. Furthermore, a higher fraction of dry matter partitioned to the fruits (0.59 compared to 0.52) contributed to yield increase, whereas fruit dry matter content and fruit quality (sugar and acid content) was not affected by ICL. Averaged over the three light treatments autumn yield was 47% lower than spring yield. Autumn yield was 10% higher for plants at ICL 93 μmol m–2 s–1 in spring and 36% higher for plants at 185 μmol m–2 s–1 in spring compared to no ICL in spring. This increased autumn yield was caused by more fruiting laterals (less necrotic buds). It is concluded that management practices in spring can have a carryover effect on the autumn production. This is the first scientific paper on the potential for applying LED ICL in blackberries. Further research should focus on optimal intensity of ICL, positioning of supplementary lighting and economic feasibility.
Highlights
Given the relatively small size of the commercial industry, little work has been done to optimize growth conditions for blackberry (Rubus spp.) in glasshouse environments
In June, the average daily solar light sum was much higher at 30.2 mol m−2, supplemental light emitting diodes (LEDs) light represented only 15 and 27% of the total incoming light for 93 and 185 μmol m−2 s−1 intercanopy lighting (ICL), respectively
The cumulatively harvested fresh fruit yield per cane was 79 and 122% higher for ICL 93 and 185 μmol m−2 s−1, respectively, compared to no ICL (Table 2) as a result of more fruits harvested per cane (Table 2)
Summary
Given the relatively small size of the commercial industry, little work has been done to optimize growth conditions for blackberry (Rubus spp.) in glasshouse environments. Higher yields have been reported in cucumber (Hovi et al, 2004) and sweet pepper (Hovi-Pekkanen et al, 2006) when part of the supplementary light is provided as intercanopy lighting (ICL), compared to toplighting only, with the same total supplementary light intensity. These higher yields are mainly due to improved vertical light distribution, which results in increased actual and maximum photosynthesis rates in the lower canopy leaves (Tewolde et al, 2016; Paponov et al, 2020)
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