APGC Seminar: The effect of light spectra on plant responses

The Advanced Plant Growth Centre (APGC) is excited to announce the next in a series of seminars running the length of 2022. This seminar will be presented by Carl-Otto Ottosen, Professor at Aarhus University.

Bio:

Carl-Otto Ottosen's research focus is concerning the photosynthesis of plants subjected to changes in abiotic factors including CO2 and other environmental factors, using physiological responses on intact plants for building up a knowledge base in the control of climate in commercial greenhouses in order to conserve energy. The current research includes effects of regular or irregular light patterns but also the effects of spectral composition of plant reactions both in terms of photosynthesis and secondary metabolites linked to the circadian rhythms and carbohydrate metabolism. The toolbox to obtain the results is focused around all types of measurement of photosynthesis and related processes both using invasive and non-invasive measurements. We have developed platforms for phenotyping in greenhouses and controlled environment initially for heat stress that has been applied on tomatoes and wheat and future work will focus on repeated stresses including cold stress on protein crops. The systems for phenotyping are small scale and focussed.

Synopsis:

Plants perceive signals from their surrounding environment and regulate their growth and development accordingly. Plants are highly sensitive to the spectral distribution of light and perceive changes in the light spectra and intensity through several photoreceptors. These photoreceptors are sensitive to specific regions of the spectrum and overlap of action spectra of different plant photoreceptors occur, allowing the plant to detect a wider and more complex range of changes in their light environment). So how can we manipulate the light spectra in a greenhouse or a closed growing system regulate plant growth and quality?