EFFECTS OF LIGHT QUALITY AND LIGHT PERIOD ON FLOWERING OF EVERBEARING STRAWBERRY IN A CLOSED PLANT PRODUCTION SYSTEM

We studied the effects of light quality and light period on the flowering of everbearing strawberry plants (Fragaria × ananassa Duch. ‘HS138’) during the nursery period, to increase the fruit production efficiency of transgenic strawberry plants in a closed plant production system. The plants were grown under a 16-h light period versus continuous lighting illuminated by white fluorescent lamps, blue LEDs, or red LEDs. Flowering was significantly earlier in plants grown under (1) blue LEDs compared to red LEDs, irrespective of light period, and (2) continuous lighting compared to the 16-h light period, irrespective of light quality. The results show that blue light advances the flowering of everbearing strawberry plants compared to red light. While continuous lighting by blue LEDs advanced flowering and shortened the vegetative growth period, the fruit yield of plants grown under continuous lighting by blue LEDs was higher than that of plants grown under our standard cultivation conditions (i.e., 16-h light period by white fluorescent lamp). In conclusion, shortening the nursery period by adjusting light quality and light period increased fruit production efficiency compared to standard cultivation conditions.