Optimising the light recipe for maximum photosynthesis, yield and quality in strawberry (primarily via LED technology)

该项目致力于最大限度地提高水果产量，并通过优化光配方质量，重点是草莓。它与工业战略的以下支柱密切相关：（1）投资于科学，研究和创新，以及（2）发展技能。如果成功的话，对LED作物光响应的更广泛的见解可以推广到温室种植的其他作物或垂直种植的农作物，但是通过专注于草莓，我们正在解决英国最有价值的水果作物之一。英国的草莓市场继续增长，但我们在冬季进口的水果数量越来越多（1.2亿英镑）。英国有机会在冬季生产更多的水果，但这需要温室技术结合现代辅助照明系统。LED照明系统在现代温室中的应用一直受到关注，因为这些照明系统提供了约10%的能效增益。比传统的高压钠系统高出30%。它们还提供了提供高度定义的光谱输出的机会，以最大限度地提高生产率。然而，这些机会尚未实现。我们不了解任何作物的最佳光谱质量，更不用说草莓了，这是如何通过生产变化的，以及它们如何影响产量和质量的关键驱动因素（光合作用/辐射捕获/分配等）。这个博士将研究这些问题，并制定在软水果生产中使用LED照明的最佳策略。

This project addresses maximising fruit yield and through optimising the light recipe quality, focusing on strawberry. It aligns closely with the following pillars of the industrial strategy: (1) investing in science, research and innovation, and (2) developing skills. If successful, the wider insights on LED crop light responses could be generalised to other crops grown in greenhouse or vertically-farmed farm crops, however by focussing on strawberry we are addressing one of most valuable fruit crops in the UK. The strawberry market within the UK continues to grow but we are importing an increasing volume (£120M) of fruit during the winter months. The UK has an opportunity to produce greater volumes of fruit during the winter, but this requires glasshouse technology combined with modern supplementary lighting systems. There is an on-going interest in the application of LED lighting systems in modern glasshouse as these provide an energy efficiency gain of ca. 30% over conventional high-pressure sodium systems. They also offer opportunities to provide highly defined spectral outputs to maximise productivity. However, as yet these opportunities have yet to be realised. We do not understand the optimal spectral qualities for any crop let alone strawberries, how this change through production and how they impact the key drivers (photosynthesis / radiation capture / partitioning etc) of yield and quality. This PhD will examine these issues and develop optimal strategies for the use of LED lighting in soft fruit production.