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Project properties |
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| Title | Lower LUE under LED lighting: what’s the problem and what is the cause? |
| Group | Plant Physiology, Laboratory of |
| Project type | internship |
| Credits | 24-36 |
| Supervisor(s) | Iris Kappers, Danja Brandsma-Razzon |
| Examiner(s) | Iris Kappers |
| Contact info | Iris Kappers (iris.kappers@wur.nl) or Danja Brandsma-Razzon, (danja.brandsma@wur.nl)
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| Begin date | 2025/09/01 |
| End date | 2026/06/01 |
| Description | The transition from traditional SON-T lighting to energy-efficient LEDs does not always go smoothly in practice. Growers of crops such as tomatoes and cucumbers have reported a lower light use efficiency (LUE) when using LED lighting. A trial funded by LVVN and Glastuinbouw Nederland, as part of the “Kas als Energiebron” (Greenhouse as Energy Source) research program, aims to investigate the underlying causes. In this trial, tomatoes will be grown using three different lighting conditions: SON-T, LED, and hybrid. The goal is to identify possible causes of the reduced LUE under LED lighting. We are looking for an enthusiastic student to support us in this research!
What will you do? Before the trial begins, you will conduct a short literature review on the differences between cultivation under SON-T and LED lighting. Based on your findings, you will develop your own experimental plan, which you will then carry out. You will collect and analyze data and present your findings in a brief report. The core of the research focuses on measuring soluble sugars and starch in different leaf layers. There are indications that sugar accumulation in the leaves may play a role in the reduced LUE observed under LED lighting, but this has yet to be confirmed. You will learn how to extract sugars from leaf material and analyze them using HPLC. There are also opportunities to measure photosynthesis and transpiration using the LICOR-6800 or a porometer, or to examine gene expression. Does this sound interesting or do you have any questions? Feel free to contact us! When: Start between September and December 2025 for 4-6 months. Location: Wageningen UR Greenhouse Horticulture, Violierenweg 1, 2665 MV Bleiswijk Compensation: €544,- per month (only when experimental work takes more than 3 days a week) |
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