Manipulation of artificial light environment improves plant biomass and fruit nutritional quality in tomato

Ying Zhang; Kangyou Zhu; Xiujie Wang; Jiarong Yan; Haiyan Zhu; Nan Zhang; Yiting Wang; Qi Zhao; Yanan Liu; Xin Bu; Chenghao Jiang; Xin Sun; Golam Jalal Ahammed; Shuyu Cai; Sida Meng; Zhouping Sun; Mingfang Qi; Tianlai Li; Feng Wang

doi:10.1016/j.jare.2024.11.030

Manipulation of artificial light environment improves plant biomass and fruit nutritional quality in tomato

J Adv Res. 2024 Nov 24:S2090-1232(24)00549-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jare.2024.11.030. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Ying Zhang¹, Kangyou Zhu², Xiujie Wang², Jiarong Yan², Haiyan Zhu², Nan Zhang², Yiting Wang², Qi Zhao², Yanan Liu², Xin Bu², Chenghao Jiang², Xin Sun³, Golam Jalal Ahammed⁴, Shuyu Cai⁵, Sida Meng², Zhouping Sun², Mingfang Qi², Tianlai Li¹, Feng Wang⁶

Affiliations

¹ College of Horticulture, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China; Key Laboratory of Protected Horticulture, Ministry of Education, Shenyang 110866, China.
² College of Horticulture, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China.
³ College of Land and Environment, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China.
⁴ College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China.
⁵ School of Architectural Engineering, Shaoxing University Yuanpei College, Shaoxing 312000, China.
⁶ College of Horticulture, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China; Key Laboratory of Protected Horticulture, Ministry of Education, Shenyang 110866, China. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 39592079
DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2024.11.030

Abstract

Introduction: The yield and quality of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum. L) are often decreased when plants suffer from low light intensity and short-photoperiod in winter. Manipulation of the artificial light environment is a feasible technology to promote off-seasonal production and improve fruit nutritional quality in the greenhouse.

Objectives: Here we aim to investigate the appropriate balance between red (R) and blue (B) light to improve tomato yield and quality traits.

Methods: Biochemical, molecular and genetic analysis were used to study the photosynthetic traits, pigments, sugar and volatile accumulation pathway genes.

Results: Tomato plants subjected to R1B0.8, a ratio between monochromatic red (R) and blue (B) light, for 16 h photoperiod showed significantly increased chlorophyll and biomass accumulation compared to white (W) light treatment. R1B0.8 light treatment enhanced electron transfer efficiency and photosynthetic capacity by improving the light energy utilization rate and inducing photosystem core subunit genes (SlPsaC, SlPsaB, SlPsaA) and light-harvesting complex genes (SlLHCB/A). Compared to W light, R1B0.8 light also induced carotenoid accumulation and accelerated fruit ripening, which was associated with the upregulation of carotenoid biosynthesis genes (SlPSY1, SlPDS) and ethylene biosynthesis genes (SlACS2, SlACO2) in tomato fruits. Moreover, fruits exposed to R1B0.8 light treatments significantly improved fructose and glucose accumulation and the expression of the volatile-related gene (SlAADC1a) and flavor-related gene (SlGORKY).

Conclusion: Our results showed that R1B0.8 light with a 16 h photoperiod could prominently promote photosynthetic traits, pigments, sugar and volatile accumulation in tomato. Our findings on the manipulation of artificial light environments in protected horticulture offer possibilities for enhancing crop yield and quality to meet the increasing global demand for food.

Keywords: Blue light; Fruit quality; Photoperiod; Photosynthesis; Red light; Solanum lycopersicum L.