Effects of root zone temperature and light intensity on plant growth, flowering and fruit quality of plant factory ‘festival’ strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.)

Summary

The growth and production of strawberries in a plant factory are highly affected by environmental factors such as light and temperature. Recent interest in plant factory production of strawberries in soilless substrates has raised concerns about the potential effects of root zone temperature (RZT) and light intensity on plant growth and fruit yields. The hypothesis suggests that RZT and light intensity can improve plant growth and affect flower production. This study aimed to investigate the effects of RZT and light intensity on the growth and reproductive performance of strawberries. The root zone of the 'Festival' strawberry plants was subjected to a temperature of 15°C during the night for root zone cooling (RZC) treatment meanwhile without RZT as the control, under two different light