STRAWBERRY CROP UNDER PLASTIC FILMS THAT ATTENUATE UV AND/OR PAR AND/OR INFRARED (IR) RADIATIONS: PLANT DEVELOPMENT AND FRUIT PRODUCTIVITY AND QUALITY

Within the solar radiation spectrum, the interval from 400 to 700 nm is the so-called Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR), which is essential for life. However, plants also make use of both shorter and longer wavelengths, i.e., UV (UV-A plus UV-B) and infrared radiations (IR). These radiations induce plant responses at different levels. To know to what extent those radiations influence plant development will help to understand how and when the light radiation that reaches the plant should be controlled in order to improve plant productivity in terms of quantity and quality. In this work several plastic films that attenuate different ranges of the solar radiation spectrum will be characterized both in laboratory and under experimental field conditions. Besides, the microclimate generated in each case will be analysed. Therefore, the effects producing on the strawberry crop both the different imposed radiation conditions and different temperature/relative humidity conditions will be also analysed.