Abstract
Reducing energy use in greenhouses contributes to the profitability of horticulture. Important energy savings can be realized through the use of temperature integration. However, such a greenhouse heating strategy is only acceptable for commercial purposes if there are no adverse effects on plant growth and quality. During this 3-month study, Hedera helix ‘Green Ripple’ and H. helix ‘Shamrock’ were subjected to a day/night temperature regime of 20/20 °C (control) and two treatments with temperature integration over 24 h and 4 d, respectively, based on a DIF of 13.5 °C, maintaining the average temperature at the same level of the control. Temperature treatments resulted in a promotion of stem elongation. After 3 months, shoot length rose up to maximum 37.3% when temperature integration was applied. However, temperature integration reduced total dry weight and particularly root dry weight was negatively affected. In addition, assessments of relative growth rate, shoot extension rate, specific leaf area, total leaf area and pigment concentrations were performed and it was concluded that dynamic temperature regimes with longer integration periods support commercial production of English ivy.
Published Version
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