The Impact of Light Intensities on the Phenotypic Parameters of Cucumber Seedlings at Three Developmental Stages

Abstract

Industrialized seeding production is one of the most important methods used to raise seedlings in a standardized and efficient manner. However, its consumption of light energy limits its development. In this paper, we studied the effects of LED light intensities (30 (L1), 60 (L2), 90 (L3), 120 (L4), 150 (L5), 180 (L6), and 210 (L7) µmol·m−2·s−1) on the phenotypic parameters and health index of seedlings during different growth stages (cotyledon flattening (CF), one bud and one leaf (OBOL), and one bud and two leaves (OBTL)). Ten out of sixteen plants were selected to measure the parameters in every treatment. The control group was treated with 150 µmol·m−2·s−1 all the time. The results show that the height of the L1-treated plants was greatest during the cotyledon flattening stage. The L7 treatment produced the largest stem diameter, the greatest biomass, the largest leaf area, and the largest leaf circumference, the values of which were 2.61 mm, 3.3 g, 60.67 cm2, and 39.71 cm, respectively. During the one bud and one leaf stage, the L1 treatment produced the tallest plants. The L7 treatment resulted in the largest stem diameter, the greatest biomass, the largest leaf area, and the largest leaf circumference. During the one bud and two leaves stage, the plant height, stem diameter, leaf circumference, and biomass produced of the L6 treatment were the greatest, with values of 68.37 mm, 3.09 mm, 51.54 cm, and 4.47 g. L5 resulted in the largest leaf area (63.91 cm2). The seedling index of the three stages showed an inflection point at the L4 level. The experimental results showed that the light intensity required by the cucumber seedlings was 120 µmol·m−2·s−1, 150 µmol·m−2·s−1, and 120 µmol·m−2·s−1 during the three stages, from the cotyledon flattening stage to the one bud and two leaves stage. The results provide references regarding the light required during the cultivation of cucumber seedlings.