LED’s pollinate: Invloed lichtspectrum op gedrag bestuivers

Kyra Vervoorn, Jacolien van den Dikkenberg, Anna Okula, Reinier Valstar, Rafael Reyes, Joppe Kroeze, Nieves García, Ada Leman

Research output: Book/ReportReportProfessional

Abstract

It is well known that pollinators play a crucial role in crop production systems. Pollination services have a high economic importance worldwide, because they ensure a higher fruit production and a higher fruit quality. Insects pollinators have outstanding vision and all pollinators make use of colour vision when searching for flowers to feed on pollen and nectar. Many studies on the sensitivity of pollinator photoreceptors have shown that pollinators (including Apidae species and Syrphidae species) are specifically sensitive to light in the spectrum ranging from UV (300nm) to yellow/red (650nm) and struggle to make use of light from the red to far-red spectrum (>650nm). Contrasting colours of flowers (target versus background) also play a major role in the recognition of flowers. Based on the results from this study, it can be concluded that LED lighting with different light spectra affects foraging activity of pollinators. Greenhouse growers should take into consideration that by increasing the ratio of red light in their LED lighting, the pollinators may have difficulties in finding the flowers, leading to a lower pollination efficiency. This research increases our understanding of the effect of light spectra on pollination activity, which is necessary for providing the best advice to growers for a balance in the optimization of plant growth and pollination services.
Original languageDutch
Place of PublicationWageningen
PublisherWageningen Plant Research
Number of pages76
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2024

Publication series

NameRapport / Wageningen Plant Research, Business unit Glastuinbouw
No.WPR-1289

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