Annual/Termination Reports:

[12/17/2021] [11/07/2022] [06/30/2023] [05/30/2024]

Report Information

Participants

Iris Adelakun (Conviron), Id Shamim Ahamed (UCDavis), Eva Birtell (Univ. Delaware), Mark Blonquist (Apogee Instruments), A.J. Both (Rutgers Univ.), Scott Bryson (Orbital Farm), Bruce Bugbee (Utah State Univ.), Doug Buhler (Michigan State Univ.), Justin Butcher (*****), Henry Carcamo (Syngenta), Bobby Clegg (Syngenta), Cristian Collado (North Carolina State Univ.), Joshua Craver (Colorado State Univ.), Stephanie Cruz (Univ. Florida), Jordan Dilicandro (Univ. of Guelph), Dinah Dimapilis (NASA), Rob Eddy (CEA Consultancy LLC), David Elliott (EGC), Taunya Ernst (80 Acres Farms), John Ertle (Ohio State Univ.), Ron Evans (NRC IRAP), Brendan Fatzinger (Utah State Univ.), Bruno Faucher (Capital Greenhouse), Rhuanito Ferrarezi (Univ. of Georgia), Dave Fleisher (USDA-ARS), Jonathan Frantz (Corteva Agriscience), Patrick Friesen (BioChambers), Gary Gardner (Univ. of Minnesota), Dan Gillespie (JR Peters), Ana Gomez (Univ. of Florida), Celina Gomez (Univ. of Florida), Thomas Graham (Univ. of Guelph), Yazan Hammad (Conviron), Joshua Harvey (Texas A&M Univ.), Riccardo Hernandez (North Carolina State Univ.), Jason Hollick (Ohio State Univ.), Alwin Hopf (Univ. of Florida), Doug Hopper (Achieving Solutions), Madeline Horvat (Ohio State Univ.), Brandon Huber (Ag Eye Technologies), Sara Humphrey (Univ. of Florida), Kale Ilchena (Conviron), David Imberti, Henry Imberti (Percival Scientific Inc.), TC Jayalath (Univ. of Georgia), Sangjun Jeong (Texas A&M Univ.), Fei Jia (Heliospectra), Dave Johnson (LiCor Biosciences), Murat Kacira (Univ. of Arizona), Luyang Kang (Eindhoven Univ. of Technology), Ramesh Kanwar (Iowa State Univ.), Meriam Karlsson (Univ. of Alaska), Nathan Kelly (Michigan State Univ.), Emily Kennebeck (Univ. of Delaware), Rob Kerslake (Kerslake & Associates), Dan Kiekhaefer (Percival Scientific Inc.), Changhyeon Kim (Univ. of Georgia), Hye-Ji Kim (Purdue Univ.), Rebecca Knight (Hawthorne Gardening), Kent Kobayashi (Univ. of Hawaii), Annika Elizabeth Kohler (Michigan State Univ.), Mary Jo Kopf (LI-COR Biosciences), Brian Krug (Corteva Agriscience), Chieri Kubota (Ohio State University), Paul Kusuma (Wageningen Univ.), Alex Ladroma (Conviron), Noah Langenfeld (Utah State Univ.), Stephen Lantin (Univ. of Florida), Emerick Larkin (Univ. of Florida), John Lea-Cox (Univ. of Maryland), Tanapol Leelertkij (Univ. of Florida), Mark Lefsrud (McGill Univ.), Daniel Leskovar (Texas A&M Univ.), Peter Ling (Ohio State Univ.), Jun Liu (Univ. of Georgia), David Llewellyn (Univ. of Guelph), Leo Lobato Kelly (Karma Verde Fresh), Roberto Lopez (Michigan State Univ.), Rod Madsen (LI-COR Biosciences), Gioia Massa (NASA - KSC), Jeff Mastin (TotalGrow Lights), Erico Mattos (GLASE, Cornell Univ.), Neil Mattson (Cornell Univ.), Qingwu Meng (Univ. of Delaware), Tim Mies (Univ. of Illinois), Cary Mitchell (Purdue Univ.), Moein Moosavi-Nezhad (University of Tehran), Sun Nam (Univ. of Georgia), Most Tehera Naznin (York College of Pennsylvania), Genhua Niu (Texas A&M Univ.) Monique Oliveira (Unicamp), Yujin Park (Arizona State Univ.), Morgan Pattison (DOE), Robert Pauls (BioChambers Inc.), Catherine Peyotdes Gachons (Monell Chemical Senses Center), Brian Poel (Fluence Bioengineering), Jean Pompeo (Univ. of Florida), Federico Puksic (Grodan), Thais Queiroz Zorzeto Cesar (UNICAMP), Brad Rein (USDA National Institute of Food), Yan Ren-Butcher (80 Acres Farms), Meghan Roche (North Carolina State Univ.), Isadora Rodriguez (Syngenta), Mark Romer (McGill University), Erik Runkle (Michigan State Univ.), Carole Saravitz (North Carolina State Univ.), Noah Savastano (Univ. of Delaware), Diego Sepulveda (Syngenta), KC Shasteen (Univ. of Arizona), Tim Shelford (Cornell Univ.), Xiaonan Shi (North Carolina State Univ.), Jiyong Shin (Michigan State Univ.), Gregg Short (Greenhouse Design LLC), Todd Smith (Duke University), Elisa Solis (Univ. of Florida), Hans Spalholz (GE Current), Caleb Spall (Michigan State Univ.), Robert Spivock (GE Current), Eric Stallknecht (Michigan State Univ.), Gary Stutte (SyNRGE), Ronnie Sugden (Biochambers), Garry Taylor (UK CEUG), Daniel Terlizzese (Univ. of Guelph), Marc Theroux (BioChambers Inc.), Partin Thompson (North Carolina State Univ.), KC Ting (Univ. of Illinois), Victor Tishchenko (Univ. of Georgia), Marc van Iersel (Univ. of Georgia), Vera Velasco (Univ. of Toronto), Kahlin Wacker (Univ. of Georgia), Kellie Walters (Univ. of Tennessee), Colton Warren (*****), Nicole Waterland (West Virginia Univ.), Tharindu Weeraratne (WayBeyond Ltd), Ray Wheeler (NASA - KSC), John Wierzchowski (Environmental Growth Chambers), Rustin Wright (Biora), Bo-Sen Wu (McGill Univ.), Melanie Yelton (Plenty), Neil Yorio (Maui Greens), Azlan Zahid (Texas A&M Univ.), Paul Zankowski (USDA Office of the Chief Scientist), Yang Zhang (Conviron), Ying Zhang (Univ. of Florida), Shuyang Zhen (Texas A&M Univ.), Youbin Zheng (Univ. of Guelph), Wayne Zimmerman (Conviron).

Brief Summary of Minutes

 

Brief Summary of the Minutes of the 2021 NCERA-101 Business Meeting

November 15, 2021

Start 1:00 pm

 

Attendance list from this conference (see above) – 146 attendees

 

Introduction of Executive Officers

Chair: Neil Yorio (NKOM Scientific Corporation), Vice-Chair: Murat Kacira (University of Arizona), Secretary: Marc Theroux (BioChambers), Past-Chair: Mark Lefsrud (McGill University)

 

Approval of Minutes

Minutes of meeting 2019 – Presented by Murat Kacira

Motion to Pass – Neil Yorio

Second – Gary Stutte

Passed unanimously

 

Other Conferences

• ISHS International Horticultural Congress (https://www.ihc2022.org/), Angers, France, August 14-20, 2022, Symposia S6 Innovative Technologies and Production Strategies for Sustainable Controlled Environment Horticulture and Symposia S8 Advances in Vertical Farming


• ASHS Annual Conference (https://ashs.org/page/GeneralConference), Chicago, Illinois, July 30 – August 3, 2022


• Indoor Ag Con (https://indoor.ag/), Las Vegas, Nevada, February 28 – March 1, 2022


• ASABE Annual International Meeting (https://www.asabemeetings.org/), Houston, Texas, July 17-20, 2022

 

Administration Advisors Report – Ramesh Kanwar

• Thanks members for participation with approximately 150 registered for the conference and 83 in attendance for the business meeting


• NCERA-101 project successfully renewed for an additional 5 years until 2026


• Station reports and meeting minutes to be submitted in the NIMSS system within 60 days after this meeting (due before January 14, 2022)


• Encouraged the group to pursue oversees meeting and to explore funding


• Encouraged the NCERA-101 committee to re-apply for a Research Excellence award by the USDA. In the application include that the committee started in 1972, has a growing membership, diversity of membership (USDA, NIFA, Universities, NASA, Industry, multi-Country membership), and highlight the projects which were funded at a multi-State and multi-University level.

 

USDA/NIFA Representative Report – Brad Rein

• Brad is the National Science Liaison for Sustainable Ag., Technology, Economics & Social Sciences


• Longest serving NIFA employee


• Present programs he is responsible for include Urban, Indoor & Emerging Ag. and 5 Hatch Multi-State (Micro-irrigation, Safety, Sustain. Systems Env. Hort.)


• Urban, Indoor, and Emerging Agriculture (UIE) is a new authorization from the farm bill and Brad is the lead to get the program started


• Mandatory funding of $10 million and authorized up to $10 million for each fiscal year FY19-FY23


• Working on getting ready for Request for Applications


• https://nifa.usda.gov/program/uie-ag


• Steven Thomson is the liaison for the NCERA-101

 

Website Report – Carole Saravitz

• Most visited website pages from Nov 2020 to 2021: Home page (28%), Growth Chamber Handbook page (14%), Meetings page (9%), Members page (5%), and Reporting Guidelines page (2%)


• Website visits by country: United States (39%), Canada (14%), China (9%), India (4%), Brazil (2%)


• Carole can post information and links on the website for research that is relevant to the group


• Gary Gardner recommended having a page on the website with information related to Vertical Farming and Carole responded that she could add a section on this topic and asked the group to forward her information for her to post

 

Membership Report – Mark Romer

• Mark collects/updates members information and works with Carole to update the members information on the website


• 46^th Annual Meeting – First time in a large format Zoom meeting


• Grateful to Erik, Roberto, and team at MSU for having organized this years meeting


• Membership Summary (see appendix A)
  
  
  
  • 173 Members
  
  
  • 137 Total Institutions (53 Industry Institutions)
  
  
  • 33 U.S. States
  
  
  • 9 Countries
  
  
  
  


• Passing away of three members this past year including Don Krizek (founding father of this group and active participant since 1976), AO Rule (one of the first industry members), and Ed Harwood (member since 2008, established a successful indoor farming company)


• One of the earliest controlled environment facilities, the Biotron at the University of Wisconsin has closed to plant research. Started in 1967 and the home to a founding father of this group Ted Tibbitts. It was also the first-place plants were grown with LED lights back in 1986.


• 20 Year membership awards presented to three members: Marc Theroux (member since 2001) presented by Mark Romer, Marc van Iersel (members since 2000) presented by Bruce Bugbee, and John Lea-Cox (member since 1997) presented by Marc van Iersel

 

Guidelines

• ASABE Standards efforts (Mark Lefsrud) 




• PAFS – 30 - X653 Recommended Practice for Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC), and Lighting Systems Used for Indoor Plant Growth without sunlight. It has been accepted, joint standard with ASABE and ASHRAE, session at ASABE annual meeting to present material, now published as ANSI/ASABE/ASHRAE EP653 Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) for Indoor Plant Environments without Sunlight.


• ES-311 - X644 Performance Criteria for Optical Radiation Devices and Systems Installed for Plant Growth and Development. On hold and is moving along.


• ES-311 - S642 Recommended Methods of Measurements and Testing for LED Radiation Products for Plant Growth and Development. Published approximately 3 years ago.


• ES-311 - S640 Definition of Metrics of Radiation for Plant Growth (Controlled Environment Horticulture) Applications. Up for renewal and new committee has been formed to potentially include the addition of ePAR.


• Bruno Faucher asked about X653 and a similar standard for greenhouses of which Mark Lefsrud indicated that there is a standard but that it is being archived as the greenhouse manufacturing society has it’s own standard




•  CEADS (Controlled Environment Agriculture Design Standards) (Gary Stutte)




• Overall sustainability rating of facilities (https://ceads.ag)


• Standard looks at crop quality, automation & labor, materials & waste, resource utilization, profitability, integrated pest management, equity & localness


• Approximately 150 different criteria used for a point based system


• Standards in development and undergoing prototyping with select number of industry participants before public release

 

Instrument Package and Financials Report – Bruce Bugbee

• $42,000 in the NCERA-101 “Travel” account


• Less money is being used for instruments and more towards student travel grants, student awards, and a buffer for hosting meetings


• Bruce is looking to see if the money could be placed in an interest bearing account with the University


• Consider investing more towards student awards and student travel grants

 

Graduate Student Update – Jonathan Frantz

• 11 speakers for student lightning talks (5 minutes each)


• Awards for 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd place


• Bruce Bugbee mentioned that the money for the student travel awards are provided to the student’s lab and that we should do the same for the student presentation awards as it is easier to process the payments from University to University versus a direct payment to the student, the lab could then re-imburse the students accordingly


• Neil Yorio suggested that after the meeting the executive committee discuss the amount that should be given for student presentation awards

 

Future Meetings

• 2022 University of Arizona (International Meeting), Murat Kacira’s team hosting
  
  
  
  • 11-14, 2022
  
  
  • Marriott University Park Hotel, Tucson, Arizona, USA
  
  
  • 5 days of technical sessions, tour a commercial grower on afternoon of day 3
  
  
  • Hybrid meeting with in person attendance and also with remote attendance
  
  
  • Will have poster session and lighting talks for students
  
  
  
  


• 2023 Meeting
  
  
  
  • Shamim Ahamed from the University of California Davis expressed interest in hosting and Melanie Yelton from Plenty offered to help
  
  
  • Leo Lobato-Kelly from Karma Verde Fresh has also expressed interest in hosting a meeting in Mexico
  
  
  • The executive committee will meet to review the two options
  
  
  
  


• 2024 Iowa State University, Chris Currey’s team hosting


• 2025 Meeting, host to be determined at a future date

 

Election of Secretary

• Motion to nominate Ricardo Hernandez (NC State University) by Neil Yorio


• Second Bruce Bugbee


• Passed unanimously, Congratulations to Ricardo

 

NCERA-101 Membership Growth – Bruce Bugbee

• As the group has grown there are some concerns with meetings losing their focus as an academic group as it is formally a multi-state working group from Ag Experiment Stations


• There have been previous discussions on separation of academic interests and commercial interests and this year the group provided 10 minutes for academic talks and 5 minutes for commercial talks


• Consider formalizing contributions to the group e.g. Gold, Silver, Bronze


• More time for academic talks and less time for commercial talks may reduce some of the insights gained from the commercial talks


• Neil Yorio discussed if presenters should submit abstracts and a committee would review the abstracts to determine if more time should be allocated


• Gary Stutte raised some concerns with having too much separation of the commercial group as they are a source for information on new innovations


• Gary Gardner mentioned that what makes the group unique is the blending of science from academia and commercial groups, consider distinguishing between new product versus scientific presentation from industry


• Erik Runkle has hesitation to abstract submissions as it can be a burden to the organizing committee and would prefer to leave the flexibility to the organizers and executive committee to determine the format which provides some variety to the yearly meetings


• Mark Romer commented that new industry members may need to be reminded that presentations are for a discussion on technology and not to promote products


• Neil Yorio indicated that this year we have three types of presentations: student lighting talks, academic presentations, and industry presentations


• Bruce Bugbee suggested that we leave it as it is and let the annual organizers determine the format but continue to be aware this issue


• Gary Gardner recommended that we further discuss this at next years meeting

 

New Business

• No new business items were brought forward for discussion

 

Passing of the Gavel

• Neil Yorio to Murat Kacira (now chair)

 

Adjourned 3:05pm (Neil Yorio)

 

Minutes respectfully submitted by Marc Theroux

Accomplishments

<p><strong>Accomplishments (19 Reports)</strong></p><br /> <p>(The complete station reports are available on the NCERA-101 website <a href="https://www.controlledenvironments.org/station-reports/">https://www.controlledenvironments.org/station-reports/</a>)</p><br /> <p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p><br /> <ol><br /> <li><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">New Facilities and Equipment</span></strong></li><br /> </ol><br /> <p><strong>Purdue</strong></p><br /> <p>For the SCRI OPtimIA project, Phytofy LED arrays were replaced with ORBITEC/Sierra Space BPSE LED arrays for close-canopy lighting (CCL) experiments. Each BPSE unit is continuously variable in height, and red, green, and blue LEDs are distributed uniformly within the array, which is important for close lamp/crop separation distances. BPSE LEDs are dimmable by waveband, which also is important for control of spectral composition. Height is adjustable ranging from 15 cm as the closet vertical distance between lamp and crop surface to 45 cm, which is the control based on commercial settings.</p><br /> <p>For the AFRI Minitron III project, a CO₂ injection sub-system was added prior to the inlet port to the crop gas-exchange cuvette. A mass-flow valve (MFV) was installed within a stream of pure CO₂ prior to injection into a bulk air stream. MFV apertures are controlled from a computer keyboard.&nbsp; A CO₂ scrubbing sub-system was added to bulk airflow upstream of CO₂ injection for precise control of CO₂ concentration of cuvette inlet air. This was particularly useful for establishing CO₂ and light dose-response curves.</p><br /> <p><strong>Kennedy Space Center</strong></p><br /> <p>KSC continues to use Heliospectra RX30 LED lighting systems for many studies.&nbsp; The fixtures provide nine, selectively dimmable LED wavelengths -- 380, 400, 420, 450, 520, 630, 660, 735 nm, and white (~5700 K).&nbsp; KSC also uses four dimmable, 6500 K white LED arrays from BIOS Lighting (Melbourne, FL) and six red-green-blue BPSe arrays from SNC-ORBITEC (Madison, WI) mimicking the Veggie hardware.&nbsp; KSC have also purchased 90 OSRAM PHYOFY RL lights to outfit several of their growth chambers and plant growth rooms, with the intent of eventual replacing the Heliospectra RX30 lighting fixtures.&nbsp; The OSRAM Phytofy RL has selectively dimmable LED wavelengths at 385, 450, 521, 660, 730 nm and white (2700 K). KSC has installed a vertical wall growing system in one of their chambers that contains the 6 BPSe lights as well as 6 OSRAM PHYTOFY lights in 9 growth spaces for crop testing under environmental conditions relevant to the International Space Station.</p><br /> <p>Larry Koss of the KSC team completed fabrication and installation of six Environmental Test Chambers (ETC Chambers) that, when placed inside a walk-in chamber, allow for independent and precise control of a variety of environmental variables, to include CO₂, temperature, and humidity. The interior dimensions of the chambers are:&nbsp; interior is 16&rdquo; w x 18&rdquo; d x 19&rdquo; h (40.6 cm x 45.7 cm x 48.3) with a volume of 89.7 L. These latest ETC Chambers are an upgrade to a previous generation, and feature SOA LED lighting systems, a larger growth area, and greater control capabilities.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p><strong>The Ohio State University</strong></p><br /> <ul><br /> <li>Construction of Controlled Environment Agriculture Research Complex (CEARC) began in January 2021. This state-of-the-art research greenhouse facility will provide a platform for interdisciplinary research at the nexus of horticulture/crop science, engineering, entomology, plant pathology, food science, computer science, and human nutrition/health. The $36 million project is located at Waterman Agricultural and Natural Resources Laboratory farm and will be completed by summer 2022.</li><br /> <li>Old 1000-W MH lamps were replaced with LED lights (GAVITA CT 1930e LEDs, 780 W) in departmental research greenhouse compartments (a total of 7,000 sqft). While electric power consumption is saved by 20%, the PPFD over bench was increased to 3 times or greater level.</li><br /> <li>Soil moisture sensors (Meter EC-5 and TEROS-12) were installed in the strawberry troughs filled with coco-coir substrate.</li><br /> <li>UV lights were installed over tomato plants of genotypes sensitive to intumescence-inducing UV-deficient light environment. Operation time and target intensities were selected to provide a minimum UV-B dose (300-320 nm integral: 17 mmol m^-2 d^-1) to prevent intumescence injury.</li><br /> <li>LiDAR sensor was installed on a mobile irrigation boom to characterize plant canopy for precision variable rate liquid delivery.</li><br /> </ul><br /> <p><strong>Rutgers University New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station</strong></p><br /> <p>Rutgers conducted preliminary measurements within the canopy of a lean-and-lower tomato crop, comparing a LI-COR spherical quantum sensor (LI-193) with a combination of an upward and downward facing regular quantum sensors (LI-190R). Results showed that the spherical quantum sensor captures more radiation. The calculated DLIs were on average 1.55 higher when measured with the spherical quantum sensor compared to the DLI measured with an upward facing regular quantum sensor (n = 54, St. Dev. = 0.13). Rutgers plans to conduct additional experiments with the setup they designed.</p><br /> <p><strong>University of Arizona</strong></p><br /> <ul><br /> <li>Folium wireless environmental monitoring system from Autogrow Folium - Climate Monitoring Solution &mdash; Autogrow installed within a 107 m2 ETFE glazed greenhouse compartment is being evaluated in comparison to Campbell Scientific wired sensors for air temperature, PPFD, RH and leaf surface temperature in the production of truss tomato (Project PI Giacomelli).</li><br /> <li>The University of Arizona received and installed 72 new LED lighting bars (Model HelioSPEC Izar, with Red, Green, Blue and FR spectrum) with drivers from Heliospectra within the vertical farm facility at CEAC (UAgFarm) as part of a collaboration within USDA-SCRI funded OptimIA project. A new controller (Hash Controller, Iluminar) was installed to control light intensity, DLIs and scheduling from the new LED lighting system. Iluminar Hash wireless sensor network measuring PPFD, air temperature, RH, VPD (calculated), CO₂ was installed in their vertical farm facility to evaluate its performance and application in research activities, and as part of educational program (PI M. Kacira).</li><br /> <li>Graduate student KC Shasteen (advisor M. Kacira) has developed and evaluated a computer vision system with predictive modeling to monitor and evaluate crop growth and yield.</li><br /> </ul><br /> <p><strong>Arizona State University</strong></p><br /> <ul><br /> <li>The Arizona State University (ASU) Indoor Farming Lab was launched in April, 2021. The ASU Indoor Farming Lab consists of 10 deep water culture hydroponic growing racks, each with three tiers. Each growing rack is equipped with LED lamps, a quantum sensor (LI-190R, LI-COR), and a thermocouple (Type E, Omega Engineering). Two additional fan aspirated air temperature and relative humidity probes (EE08-SS, Apogee) are used to monitor the air temperature and relative humidity in the ASU Indoor Farming Lab. All environmental data is recorded by a datalogger (CR1000X, Campbell Scientific).</li><br /> <li>Multiparameters pH/EC/DO/Temperature (HI98194, Hannah Instruments) were purchased to measure the dissolved oxygen concentration of the hydroponic nutrient solution.</li><br /> <li>Fan aspirated thermistors (TS-110-SS, Apogee), pyranometers (LI-200R, LI-COR), quantum sensors (LI-190R, LI-COR), and a datalogger (CR1000X, Campbell Scientific) were installed in the research greenhouse.</li><br /> <li>Two walk-in growth chambers are installed. The growth chambers will enable experiments to investigate the effects of different temperatures, light qualities, CO₂, and relative humidity on plant growth and development.</li><br /> </ul><br /> <p><strong>University of California Davis</strong></p><br /> <p>The college of agricultural and environmental sciences (CAES) at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis), has 162 greenhouses facilities with about 155,00 sq. ft of spaces. A new shipping container-type facility has recently been added for teaching and research. The controlled environment engineering lab is currently working with the vendor to add a walk-in type indoor vertical farming facility to study the energy use efficiency for indoor growing spaces.&nbsp; CELPA is also working on designing a lab-scale autonomous vertical aquaponic growing system. This research facility would study the energy efficiency aspects and life-cycle assessment of vertical aquaponic systems for indoor application.</p><br /> <p><strong>University of Delaware</strong></p><br /> <p>The University of Delaware has completed the development of the Delaware Indoor Ag Lab (<a href="https://www.indooraglab.com/">DIAL</a>), which is housed in the Fischer Greenhouse Complex at the University of Delaware. This lab will serve as the main indoor agriculture research facility in Delaware with state-of-the-art LED technology and environmental control systems. It has three separate sections in the same room to allow for multiple simultaneous research projects:</p><br /> <ul><br /> <li>Two 3-tier shelving units are equipped with Osram Phytofy RL LED fixtures for indoor plant research on interactions among light quality, intensity, and duration. Each fixture has six independently programmable color channels, including ultraviolet-A, blue, green, red, far red, and warm white. The University of Arizona has installed vertical and horizontal fans to promote air movement and temperature and humidity sensors (Onset) to collect data on each shelf.</li><br /> <li>Four 3-tier shelving units are equipped with arrays of Demegrow LED fixtures for indoor plant research on light intensity and duration. The warm-white LED fixtures are dimmable with adjustable timing through wireless smartphone control.</li><br /> <li>Four reach-in plant growth chambers from Percival Scientific are dedicated to indoor plant research on environmental optimization. Each chamber has precise control of light, air temperature, relative humidity, and carbon dioxide concentration. Two tiers within each chamber have tunable LED arrays comprised of four independent color channels, including blue, green, red, and far red. All environmental parameters are adjustable and monitored through a touchscreen interface.</li><br /> </ul><br /> <p>The University of Delaware has purchased a variety of instruments for plant data collection including: 1) a CIRAS-3 photosynthesis system (PP Systems); 2) a CI-202 leaf area meter (CID Bio-Science); 3) a CR-10 Plus color reader (Konica Minolta Sensing); 4) analytical and top-loading balances (A&amp;D); 5) a Genesys 40 Vis spectrophotometer (Fisher Scientific); 6) quantum sensors and a field spectroradiometer (Apogee); 7) an MC-100 chlorophyll meter (Apogee); and 8) a forced-air drying oven (Shel Lab).</p><br /> <p><strong>University of Georgia</strong></p><br /> <p>Although not exactly a new facility or equipment, the University of Georgia&rsquo;s department of Horticulture is pleased to welcome Dr. Rhuanito Ferrarezi as a new faculty member with a research focus in CEA. Dr. Ferrarezi&rsquo;s research program will focus on CEA production systems and nutrient management. He will also teach a split-level course in greenhouse management and an undergraduate course in controlled environment agriculture.</p><br /> <p>Inspired by prior work with a commercial multi-spectral imaging system, the University of Georgia has developed a low-cost multi-spectral imaging system. The system uses a Raspberry Pi microcomputer and Arducam monochrome camera. The system takes images under red, green, blue, and infra-red light, as well as an image of chlorophyll fluorescence emitted by plants. Other colors can easily be added if desired. The Raspberry Pi automatically analyzes the images, applying a mask to separate plant from background and creates normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and anthocyanin content index (ACI) images. The spatial distribution of NDVI and ACI is automatically quantified. The system can be assembled for ~ $400.</p><br /> <p><strong>Texas A&amp;M University</strong></p><br /> <ul><br /> <li>Texas A&amp;M have installed a new shipping container with three compartments (equivalent to growth chambers) at Dallas Center.</li><br /> <li>Texas A&amp;M are establishing and equipping a new research laboratory in Controlled Environment Agriculture/Horticulture at College Station.</li><br /> </ul><br /> <p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p><br /> <p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p><br /> <p><strong>USDA-ARS (Beltsville, Maryland)</strong></p><br /> <ul><br /> <li>A contract was awarded for 6 new Conviron PGC-FLEX growth chambers and 2 new walk-in BDW120 plant growth rooms to be installed in November, 2021 at the Controlled Environment Facility (CEF) located in Beltsville, Maryland. The CEF currently includes 21 actively managed growth chambers. These include 10 reach-in style EGC units equipped with HID lamps, 2 walk-in EGC units with fluorescent lamps, 7 Biochamber reach-in style units originally equipped with HID lamps, and two smaller Biochamber units with LED lamps. In response to an energy conservation push, USDA retrofitted the HID light canopies in the 7 Biochamber units with LED lamps. The new Conviron units will also be equipped with LED lamps of the same spectral quality. A set of six obsolete EGC reach-in units exceeded their life-cycle (purchased in the 1980s) and were removed from the facility. Moving forward into 2022, CEF will include 23 actively managed growth chamber units.</li><br /> <li>Improvements related to outdoor chiller and cooling tower operations were implemented at the Soil-Plant-Atmosphere-Research (SPAR) facility. These included upgraded software systems to improve chiller control actions and new loop temperature and coolant flow sensors which together reduce energy consumption. A set 18 new LI-7000 CO₂/H₂O gas analyzers (LI-COR Biosciences) were installed to replace older style, obsolete, LI-6262 units. A new CO₂ scrubbing system was recently purchased to provide CO₂ free air to assist in maintaining desired set-points during the night-time in the SPAR chambers. The system will be integrated in 2022. In total, the SPAR facility includes 18 outdoor SPAR chamber units and six reach-in style Biochamber units with HID lamps.</li><br /> <li>Two adjacent mini-greenhouse units which utilize forced air systems for heat were retrofit with CO₂ control along with data acquisition system and sensors for measurement of photosynthetically active radiation, relative humidity, air and soil temperature, and time-domain reflectometry (TDR) soil water content data. Climate data is logged at 30 second intervals while TDR data is recorded manually per end-user control.</li><br /> <li>A new OctoFlox rugged multi-target SIF/hyperspectral reflectance spectrometer (JB &ndash; Hyperspectral) which will assist studies related to high throughput greenhouse phenotypic system related to measuring SIF (solar induced fluorescence) and reflectance. A Pika L hyperspectral camera (Resonon) was also purchased for this phenotyping work along with a RSE 600 (Fluke) thermal imaging camera.</li><br /> </ul><br /> <h2>Sierra Space</h2><br /> <p>Sierra Space is in&nbsp; the process of testing the Astro Garden&reg; test facility (Figure 1). The Astro Garden is a testbed for vegetable crop production in space habitations. The system has approximately 5.4 m² of growing area and most of the subsystems are designed to be gravity independent for operation. The testbed provides temperature, humidity, CO₂ control, and nutrient solution control. Root zones currently use aeroponics but are modular so alternative technologies can be tested. Lighting is provided by red, blue and white LEDs. Each module has individual control of light level, photoperiod and light quality. The system also has a mechanism for capturing transpired water. Astro Garden was configured to meet the NASA Exploration Life Support Salad Crop Diet production requirements.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><br /> <p><strong>LI-COR BioSciences</strong></p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <ul><br /> <li>The new LI-600 Porometer/Fluorometer is a lightweight, handheld porometer and optional fluorometer that simultaneously measures stomatal conductance and chlorophyll fluorescence of leaves while they are connected to the plant.</li><br /> <li>The LI-6800 Portable Photosynthesis System characterizes gas exchange and fluorescence and numerous other parameters under controlled chamber conditions of light, temperature, humidity and CO₂.</li><br /> </ul><br /> <p><strong>Percival Scientific</strong></p><br /> <p>With the help of USDA through the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program, investment partners Minburn, CIPCO, the Iowa Area Development Group, City of Perry, and Perry Economic Development; Percival broke ground as part of a new expansion to the plant this year.&nbsp; This will add to the production space by over 60 percent, increase Percival&rsquo;s production capacity, and allow the company to focus on larger products while continuing to grow their traditional product lines.</p><br /> <p><strong>Plenty</strong></p><br /> <ul><br /> <li>In Compton, CA, Plenty is building a 95,000 ft² vertical farm with the world&rsquo;s highest leafy green production capacity.</li><br /> <li>Plenty has attracted over $500M of investment so far.</li><br /> <li>Plenty is collaborating with Driscoll&rsquo;s to grow strawberries vertically.</li><br /> </ul><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <ol start="2"><br /> <li><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Unique Plant Responses</span></strong></li><br /> </ol><br /> <p><strong>Purdue</strong></p><br /> <p>Through gas-exchange analysis, baby-green and leafy-green crop stands followed the same pattern as they responded to various levels of CO₂ and light intensity in dose-response curves. Although the overall pattern was similar, leafy greens saturated at slightly higher concentration than did baby greens in CO₂dose-response curves.</p><br /> <p>It is estimated that 68.4% of global population live in urban areas by 2050. The population growth demands regular supply of fresh, nutritious, and safe food in urban areas. One concept that has evolved recently is to produce food in urban areas using indoor vertical farming. These farms can be fitted with customized LED lights for producing leafy greens and other small-statured crops. Purdue is studying the effects of spectral composition of light ranging from 365 to 750 nm on phytochemical levels including beta-carotene (precursor to vitamin A), phylloquinone (precursor to vitamin K), and anthocyanins (anti-oxidants) in lettuce. The purpose is to understand the physiological mechanisms affected by light spectral composition that influence phytochemical levels in lettuce. Purdue&rsquo;s goal is to increase nutritional value of lettuce with minimal negative effect on plant growth and quality. Purdue has established a vertical production system where air temperature, light intensity, and spectral composition are tightly controlled. In addition, Purdue has established assays to measure phytochemical levels in plant tissue.</p><br /> <p>Although there has been a double-digit increase in the demand for organic produce during the last three decades, low crop yields have been a persistent problem in organic farming. This is attributed mainly to low nitrogen (N) availability to plants and lack of synchronization between crop growth and N release from organic fertilizers. Organic yields can be improved by optimizing plant N levels. However, this requires regular monitoring and optimal management of plant N status. Purdue is developing affordable and reliable IoT sensors for capturing and locally processing images, and estimating plant growth and N status. When developed, the sensors will effectively collaborate with each other and provide automated decision support on nutrient delivery to plants and managing optimal N status in plants. Currently, Purdue is manually studying different organic recipes for lettuce that result in crop yields which are comparable to conventional hydroponic production. Purdue will test the efficacy of the IoT sensor technology to automatically maintain high lettuce yields and optimize fertilizer use in organic hydroponic production using the developed organic fertilizer recipe.</p><br /> <p>Water scarcity, food insecurity, under-nourishment and unemployment are major issues faced by Egypt. With population growth expected to increase by 50 million in next 20 years, there is an increased risk of food insecurity in Egypt. Research has shown that hydroponic and aeroponic production systems can save 60 to 75 percent of irrigation water and produce yields similar or better than field based production. Hydroponic/aeroponic production under protected agriculture (e.g. greenhouse) can ensure year-round food production with less water requirement in Egypt. However, region-specific hydroponic production technologies need to be developed. The technology is medium to high in investment. To develop technologies that are feasible to small-scale growers in Egypt, it is critical that they are efficient and affordable. With support from USDA FAS, Purdue is conducting research on screening best hydroponic/aeroponic technologies for Egypt. Best technologies that reduce water-use and maximize crop yield and nutritional quality will be validated in Egypt. Sustainability of new technologies in Egypt will heavily rely on developing trained workforce. Purdue&rsquo;s approach is to conduct extension and outreach activities in Egypt to train producers (especially women and small-scale producers) by demonstrating the benefits of developed technology.</p><br /> <p><strong>Kennedy Space Center</strong></p><br /> <p>During the Veg-03I tech demo test on ISS in early 2021 the crew attempted to transplant an extra pak choi seedling into an empty plant pillow for the first time in Veggie.&nbsp; The extraction of the seedling did not go as intended, most of the roots were severed (Figure 2) and the ground team had little hope the seedling would reestablish itself in its new pillow and survive until final harvest.&nbsp; Much to the surprise of Kennedy Space Center researchers, the seedling survived and did quite well over the next few weeks and reached final harvest.&nbsp; A second transplant was attempted during Veg-03I with &lsquo;Red Russian&rsquo; kale and a similar phenomenon was observed.&nbsp; The mechanisms are not clear right now, but microgravity appears to confer some benefit to transplanting in space.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <table><br /> <tbody><br /> <tr><br /> <td width="187"><br /> <table width="100%"><br /> <tbody><br /> <tr><br /> <td><br /> <p>Transplant</p><br /> </td><br /> </tr><br /> </tbody><br /> </table><br /> &nbsp;</td><br /> </tr><br /> </tbody><br /> </table><br /> <table><br /> <tbody><br /> <tr><br /> <td width="147"><br /> <table width="100%"><br /> <tbody><br /> <tr><br /> <td><br /> <p>Original</p><br /> </td><br /> </tr><br /> </tbody><br /> </table><br /> &nbsp;</td><br /> </tr><br /> </tbody><br /> </table><br /> <p><strong>Figure 2.</strong><em> Left: Pak choi seedling transplanted 10 Days after initiation. Right: Comparison at Day 28 of an original and transplanted pak choi.</em></p><br /> <p><strong>McGill University</strong></p><br /> <p>Chlorophyll&rsquo;s light-harvesting role in photosynthesis has not been challenged in over 40 years. Using light emitting diodes and a high-resolution monochromator, McGill University developed a method to measure at 1-nm increments a spectral photosynthesis curve determined in tomato plants with a 10-nm bandwidth light spectrum. Minimal photosynthetic rates (mmol CO₂ m^-2 s^-1 nm^-1) were recorded at spectra corresponding to peak chlorophyll absorbance (420 nm and 660 nm for chlorophyll <em>a</em>, and 450 and 640 nm for chlorophyll <em>b</em>), showing that extracted pigment absorbance peaks and photosynthesis are inversely correlated. Photosynthesis theory decrees that photosynthetic pigments drive photosynthesis, and that these pigments absorb and convert specific wavelengths of light energy into chemical energy. McGill Universities&rsquo; finding implies that chlorophyll may carry out an additional regulatory function in photosynthesis that has not yet been identified.</p><br /> <p><strong>The Ohio State University</strong></p><br /> <ul><br /> <li>Low pH 4.0 of hydroponic nutrient solution can effectively suppress the severity of root rot caused by <em> aphanidermatum</em> initiated by zoospore inoculation without influencing basil plant growth. This could be a new, low-cost strategy for water-borne disease prevention in hydroponic basil production (Gillespie, 2019; Gillespie at al., 2020).</li><br /> <li>While basil can tolerate low pH (upto 4.0), most crops exhibit growth reduction caused by reduced nutrient uptake at low pH. When tested at pH 4.5 spinach reduced the shoot fresh weight by almost 60% compared with that under a standard pH 5.5. By increasing the nutrient concentrations (3X), the shoot fresh weight was recovered but still ~25% lower than the standard pH 5.5 (Papio, 2021; Gillespie et al., 2021).</li><br /> <li>Nine lettuce cultivars considered as relatively sensitive to tipburn were grown under tipburn inducive conditions to assess the different degrees of sensitivity among cultivar types (romaine, butterhead, and leaf), leaf color (red and green) and production systems originally targeted in breeding program (open-field and greenhouse). Greenhouse cultivars were found relatively less sensitive and exhibited lower tipburn incidences than did open-field cultivators when grown under tipburn inducive indoor growing conditions. Cultivar-type did not show a significant effect on tipburn sensitivity. (Ertle and Kubota, unpublished).</li><br /> <li>Reciprocal grafts between two cultivars &ndash; &lsquo;Nufar&rsquo; (NF), a vigorous and Fusarium wilt resistant cultivar, and &lsquo;Dolce Fresca&rsquo; (DF) a compact &amp; uniform type, were evaluated for impact of scion and rootstock on the plant growth and mineral nutrient uptake. While low vigor DF used as rootstock reduced the overall growth of NF, high vigor NF used as rootstock did not increase the overall growth. When NF was used as rootstock, plants developed relatively low biomass in roots suggesting a greater efficiency of nutrient and water uptake for NF. Basil is known to have low mineral nutrient requirement in hydroponics, which may be a reason why improved mineral nutrition did not induce greater vigor or biomass. Therefore, in addition to basil, similar studies were initiated for tomato cultivars and rootstocks in order to better understand underline mechanism of rootstock- or scion-specific mineral nutrition affecting grafting vigor in tomato (Hollick and Kubota, 2021).</li><br /> </ul><br /> <p><strong>University of Delaware</strong></p><br /> <p>Undergraduate student Stefanie Severin and Qingwu Meng investigated how alternate light intensities at 12-h intervals influenced indoor tomato, lettuce, and arugula seedling growth. Experimental results indicated that the effects of the daily light integral depended on the allocation of light over time and crop type. Doubling the daily light integral increased shoot mass of arugula but did not affect that of lettuce.</p><br /> <p><strong>University of Georgia</strong></p><br /> <h2>Chlorophyll Fluorescence Imaging: A Novel, Simple and Non-Destructive Method for Canopy Size Imaging</h2><br /> <h2>Non-destructive methods to quantify crop growth can provide a valuable tool in both research and production settings. Quantifying canopy size can be done using a variety of imaging techniques, with regular color (red/green/blue, RGB) imaging being the most common approach. However, separating canopy from background is not always easy using RGB imaging and different methods may be needed depending on the background in the image or the color of the leaves. To circumvent this issue, the University of Georgia developed an imaging approach that takes advantage to the fluorescence emitted by chlorophyll. The energy of about 1 to 3% of photons absorbed by leaves is re-emitted as photons in the range of ~690 to 740 nm. This fluorescence coming from plants is easy to photograph: plants are exposed to blue light and images are taken using a monochrome camera with a 680 nm long-pass filter (i.e., only photons with wavelengths &gt; 680 nm can pass through the filter). This assures that the camera can only detect fluorescence from chlorophyll. One complication is that the chlorophyll in algae fluoresces similar to that in plants, so image processing may be needed to separate algae from leaves. This can be achieved by comparing images collected under both blue and white light: algae are more pronounced under blue than under white light. Alternatively, algicides have proven effective in suppressing algae without harmful effects on plants. Comparisons of leaf area measurements using the fluorescence imaging versus a leaf area meter indicate that the fluorescence imaging is almost perfectly correlated with standard leaf area measurements (<em>R²</em>&nbsp;= 0.998). Chlorophyll fluorescence imaging can also be used to monitor ripening of fruits that contain chlorophyll in their unripe state. The decrease in fruit chlorophyll levels during ripening is easily quantified using this approach. The hardware costs for a chlorophyll imaging system are ~$1,000 and the system is easy to assemble. Researchers: Mangalam Narayanan, Marc van Iersel, Mark Haidekker.</h2><br /> <h2>Light Intensity Affects Leaf-Level and Crop-Level Water Use Efficiency</h2><br /> <p>The cost of dehumidification is a significant portion of the total production costs in indoor production systems. Minimizing this cost can be achieved by maximizing the water use efficiency of the plants, thus reducing the need for dehumidification. This study was performed to determine leaf- and crop-level water use efficiency of vegetative and flowering crops under various photosynthetic photon flux densities (<em>PPFD</em>). &lsquo;Purple Wave Classic&rsquo; petunia and &lsquo;Green Salad Bowl&rsquo; lettuce were grown in a walk-in growth chamber, under&nbsp;<em>PPFD</em>s ranging from 152 - 374 &micro;mol&middot;m^-2&middot;s^-1_,&nbsp;provided by white LED lighting. To achieve the same daily light integral (DLI) of 12 mol&middot;m^-2&middot;d^-1, photoperiods ranged from 21.6 to 9 h in the different treatments. The temperature in the growth chamber was 24 &deg;C and CO₂&nbsp;was maintained at 800 ppm. Leaf-level assimilation increased with increasing&nbsp;<em>PPFD&nbsp;</em>in petunias and lettuce. However, in petunias transpiration decreased with increasing&nbsp;<em>PPFD</em>, whereas in lettuce it increased. This led to an increase in leaf-level water use efficiency in petunias with increasing&nbsp;<em>PPFD</em>, whereas in lettuce, there was no correlation between water use efficiency and&nbsp;<em>PPFD.</em>&nbsp;For both lettuce and petunia, dry weight decreased with higher&nbsp;<em>PPFD</em>s provided over shorter photoperiods. Petunia biomass was 57.0% higher at 152 &micro;mol&middot;m^-2&middot;s^-1&nbsp;than at 374 &micro;mol&middot;m^-2&middot;s^-1&nbsp;and lettuce biomass was 33.9% higher at 152 &micro;mol&middot;m^-2&middot;s^-1&nbsp;than at 374 &micro;mol&middot;m^-2&middot;s^-1, when plants were given the same DLI of 12 mol&middot;m^-2&middot;d^-1. In petunia, dry weight decreased more strongly with increasing&nbsp;<em>PPFD</em>&nbsp;than water use, and thus crop-level water use efficiency decreased with increasing&nbsp;<em>PPFD</em>&nbsp;(<em>p</em>&nbsp;&lt; 0.001). For lettuce, crop-level water use efficiency also decreased with increasing&nbsp;<em>PPFD</em>&nbsp;(<em>p</em>&nbsp;&lt; 0.001). In conclusion, leaf-level measurements and crop-level measurements of water use efficiency did not show the same trends; leaf level measurement may thus provide misleading information. Crop-level measurements of plants grown under varying&nbsp;<em>PPFD</em>, but with the same DLI showed that lower light intensities and longer photoperiods resulted in higher yields and higher water use efficiency in both lettuce and petunias. <em>Researchers: Laura Reese and Marc van Iersel.</em></p><br /> <p><em>Supplemental</em><em> Far-Red Light Increases Final Yield of Indoor Lettuce Production By Boosting Light Interception at the Seedling Stage</em></p><br /> <p>Understanding crop responses to light spectrum is critical for optimal indoor crop production. Far-red light is of special interest, because it can accelerate crop growth both physiologically and morphologically. Far-red can increase photosynthetic efficiency when combined with lights of shorter wavelength. It also can induce leaf expansion, possibly increasing light capture and growth. However, the optimal amount of supplemental far-red light for crop growth and yield in indoor lettuce production is yet to be quantified. Lettuce &lsquo;Cherokee&rsquo;, &lsquo;Green Salad Bowl&rsquo;, and &lsquo;Little Gem&rsquo; were grown under 200 &micro;mol&middot;m^-2&middot;s^-1&nbsp;warm white LED light with 16 levels of additional far-red light, ranging from 0 to 76 &micro;mol&middot;m^-2&middot;s^-1. Supplemental far-red light increased canopy light interception (a measure of canopy size) 6 days after far-red light treatment for &lsquo;Green Salad Bowl&rsquo; and &lsquo;Little Gem&rsquo; and after 8 days for &lsquo;Cherokee&rsquo;. The enhancement in canopy size was no longer evident after 12 and 16 days of far-red treatment for &lsquo;Green Salad Bowl&rsquo; and &lsquo;Little Gem&rsquo;, respectively. The length of the longest leaf of all three cultivars was increased linearly by far-red light, consistent with a shade acclimation response to far-red light. Final dry weight of &lsquo;Cherokee&rsquo; and &lsquo;Little Gem&rsquo; were increased linearly by far-red light when harvested 20 days after the start of far-red light treatment, but dry weight of &lsquo;Green Salad Bowl&rsquo; was not affected. In conclusion, adding far-red light in indoor production gives lettuce seedlings a jumpstart at capturing light. Supplemental far-red light increases crop yield linearly up to 76 &micro;mol&middot;m^-2&middot;s^-1&nbsp;in two of the three cultivars tested.<em> Researchers: Jun Liu and Marc van Iersel.</em></p><br /> <p><em>The Quantum Requirement for CO₂&nbsp;Assimilation Increases with Increasing Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density and Leaf Anthocyanin Concentration in Lettuce</em></p><br /> <p>The quantum requirement for CO₂&nbsp;fixation, or moles of photons required to fix one mole of CO₂, determines how efficiently plants can use light to produce carbohydrates. It is calculated as the amount of absorbed light (photosynthetic photon flux density (<em>PPFD</em>) &times; leaf absorptance) divided by gross photosynthesis. Due to the high lighting costs in controlled environment agriculture, a low quantum requirement may increase growth and profitability. Typical estimates of the quantum requirement (~10-12 mol&middot;mol^-1) are based on the initial slope of photosynthesis-light response curves and do not account for non-photosynthetic pigments or changes due to light intensity. Anthocyanins, typically located in epidermal cells, are not photosynthetically active and light absorbed or reflected by them cannot be used for CO₂&nbsp;assimilation. Since anthocyanins reduce how much light reaches photosynthetic pigments, anthocyanin-rich lettuce cultivars may have a greater quantum requirement than green cultivars. Additionally, photosynthetic light-use-efficiency decreases with increasing&nbsp;<em>PPFD</em>. The University of Georgia hypothesized that both higher anthocyanin levels in lettuce and increasing&nbsp;<em>PPFD</em>&nbsp;would increase the quantum requirement and quantified this using six red and three green lettuce cultivars, having a wide range of anthocyanin concentrations. Lettuce was grown in a greenhouse without supplemental lighting. The environmental conditions were a temperature of 25.2 &plusmn; 3.2 &deg;C, a vapor pressure deficit of 1.0 &plusmn; 0.5 kPa, and a daily light integral of 24.2 &plusmn; 6.3 mol&middot;m^-2&middot;d^-1&nbsp;(mean &plusmn; SD). Leaf-level photosynthesis was measured at&nbsp;<em>PPFD</em>s of 0, 50, 100, 200, 400, 700, 1000, and 1500 &micro;mol&middot;m^-2&middot;s^-1. An integrating sphere was used to measure leaf absorptance. Anthocyanin concentration of the lettuces ranged from 12 to 71 mg&middot;m^-2. Absorptance increased linearly from 0.77 to 0.87 with increasing anthocyanin levels (<em>R</em>²&nbsp;= 0.72,&nbsp;<em>P</em>&nbsp;&lt; 0.001). Gross photosynthesis at a&nbsp;<em>PPFD</em>&nbsp;of 1500 &micro;mol&middot;m^-2&middot;s^-1&nbsp;was ~50% lower in leaves with the highest anthocyanin level (8.1 &micro;mol&middot;m^-2&middot;s^-1) than that of those with the lowest anthocyanin level (16.2 &micro;mol&middot;m^-2&middot;s^-1) (<em>R²</em>&nbsp;= 0.32,&nbsp;<em>P</em>&nbsp;= 0.004). The quantum requirement for CO₂&nbsp;assimilation at a&nbsp;<em>PPFD</em>&nbsp;of 1500 &micro;mol&middot;m^-2&middot;s^-1&nbsp;increased from 80 to 150 mol&middot;mol^-1&nbsp;as the anthocyanin concentration increased (<em>R²</em>&nbsp;= 0.32,&nbsp;<em>P</em>&nbsp;= 0.003). With&nbsp;<em>PPFD</em>&nbsp;increasing from 200 to 1500 &micro;mol&middot;m^-2&middot;s^-1, the quantum requirement increased from 30 to 110 mol&middot;mol^-1&nbsp;(<em>R²</em>&nbsp;= 0.63,&nbsp;<em>P</em>&nbsp;&lt; 0.001). In summary, both anthocyanins and high&nbsp;<em>PPFD</em>&nbsp;increased the quantum requirement for CO₂&nbsp;assimilation to levels far above those typically cited in the literature. <em>Researchers: Changhyeon Kim and Marc van Iersel.</em></p><br /> <h2>Only Extreme Fluctuations in Lights Levels Reduce Lettuce Growth</h2><br /> <p>The cost of providing supplemental lighting in greenhouses or sole-source lighting in plant factories can be high. In the case of variable electricity prices, it may be desirable to provide most of the light when electricity prices are relatively low. However, it is not clear how plants respond to the resulting fluctuating light levels. The University of Georgia hypothesized that plants that receive a constant photosynthetic photon flux density (<em>PPFD</em>) would produce the more biomass than those grown under fluctuating light levels. To quantify growth reductions caused by fluctuating light levels. The University of Georgia quantified the effects of fluctuating&nbsp;<em>PPFD</em>&nbsp;on the photosynthetic physiology and growth of &lsquo;Little Gem&rsquo; and &lsquo;Green Salad Bowl&rsquo; lettuce. Plants were grown in a walk-in growth chamber outfitted with three shelving units, each divided into six growing compartments. Each compartment contained two dimmable, white LED bars, programmed to alternate between high and low&nbsp;<em>PPFD</em>s every 15 minute. The&nbsp;<em>PPFD</em>s in the different treatments were ~ 400/0, 360/40, 320/80, 280/120, 240/160, and 200/200 &micro;mol&middot;m^-2&middot;s^-1, with a photoperiod of 16 hours and a DLI of ~11.5 mol&middot;m^-2&middot;d^-1&nbsp;in all treatments. CO₂&nbsp;was maintained at ~ 800 &micro;mol&middot;mol^-1. Data was analyzed using linear and non-linear regression. At 400/0 &micro;mol&middot;m^-2&middot;s^-1, 30-minute-integrated A_n&nbsp;(net photosynthesis integrated 15 minute at high and 15 minute at low&nbsp;<em>PPFD</em>) was ~65% lower than at a&nbsp;<em>PPFD</em>&nbsp;of 320/80 &micro;mol&middot;m^-2&middot;s^-1&nbsp;(or treatments with smaller&nbsp;<em>PPFD</em>&nbsp;fluctuations). 30-minute-integrated A_n&nbsp;in the four treatments with the smallest&nbsp;<em>PPFD</em>&nbsp;fluctuations (320/80 to 200/200 &micro;mol&middot;m^-2&middot;s^-1) was similar. Plants grown at 400/0 &micro;mol&middot;m^-2&middot;s^-1&nbsp;also had fewer leaves and lower chlorophyll content compared to those in all other treatments. The four treatments with the smallest fluctuations in&nbsp;<em>PPFD</em>&nbsp;produced plants with similar numbers of leaves, chlorophyll content, specific leaf area, dry mass, and leaf area. Chlorophyll content, 30-minute-integrated A_n, and dry mass were positively correlated with each other. These results show that lettuce tolerates a wide range of fluctuating&nbsp;<em>PPFD</em>&nbsp;without negative effects on growth and development. However, when fluctuations in PPFD are extreme (400/0 or 360/40 &micro;mol&middot;m^-2&middot;s^-1), chlorophyll levels are low, which can explain the low 30-minute-integrated A_n&nbsp;and poor growth in these two treatments. The ability of lettuce to tolerate a wide range of fluctuating light levels suggests that it may be possible to adjust the&nbsp;<em>PPFD</em>&nbsp;in response to variable pricing.<em> Researchers: Ruqayah Bhuiyan and Marc van Iersel.</em></p><br /> <p><em>Chlorophyll Fluorescence Imaging: A Novel, Low-Cost Method for Early Stress Detection</em></p><br /> <p>Using non-destructive methods, like chlorophyll fluorescence imaging, to provide early stress detection in plants could augment growing methods and allow for corrective measures to minimize damage to the plants. While many chlorophyll fluorescence imaging techniques require expensive, sophisticated equipment while other techniques only take single-point measurements, the current study focuses on a scalable novel technique that provides whole plant digital images of the chlorophyll fluorescence (but not&nbsp;&Phi;<em>_PSII</em>)<em>&nbsp;</em>using blue excitation light, a monochrome camera, and a long-pass filter (&gt; 690 nm). There are three fates of light once a photon has been absorbed by a plant: it can be used to drive photochemistry (electron transport), be converted to heat, or be reemitted as chlorophyll fluorescence. A decrease in photochemistry by stressors will typically lead to an increase in chlorophyll fluorescence and/or heat dissipation to prevent damage from excess light. Due to this relationship, chlorophyll fluorescence has been used to non-destructively diagnose the photosynthetic performance of plants, with the quantum yield of photosystem II (&Phi;<em>_PSII</em>) being a common indicator of photochemical efficiency. To test the performance of the system, a photosystem II-inhibiting herbicide was applied as a drench at standard field rates to lettuce (<em>Lactuca sativa</em>), impatiens (<em>Impatiens hawkeri</em>) and vinca (<em>Catharanthus roseus</em>). Chlorophyll fluorescence images were taken using the TopView Multispectral Digital Imaging System (Aris, Eindhoven, Netherlands), which also took regular RGB images. The combined reflectance and fluorescence from the leaf were measured using a spectrometer and&nbsp;&Phi;<em>_PSII&nbsp;w</em>as measured using a chlorophyll fluorometer. These measurements were taken every 15 minutes for 8 hours. In between measurements, the plants were exposed to a photosynthetic photon flux density of 176 &micro;mol&middot;m^-2&middot;s^-1&nbsp;provided by white LEDs. The pixel intensity in the fluorescence image, a measure of chlorophyll fluorescence, was negatively correlated with&nbsp;&Phi;<em>_PSII&nbsp;(P&nbsp;&lt;&nbsp;</em>0.01) as measured using a fluorometer. The average reflectance in the spectral range of fluorescence (670 &ndash; 760 nm) was positively correlated with the pixel intensity (<em>P &lt;&nbsp;</em>0.0001) and negatively correlated with&nbsp;&Phi;<em>_PSII&nbsp;(P</em>&nbsp;<em>&le;</em>&nbsp;0.07)<em>.</em>&nbsp;The results suggest that the novel chlorophyll fluorescence imaging technique is a reliable way to inexpensively detect stress to photosystem II before visible damage occurs to the plant.<em> Researchers: Reeve Legendre and Marc van Iersel.</em></p><br /> <p><em>Supplemental Far-Red Light Does Not Increase Growth of Greenhouse-Grown Lettuce</em></p><br /> <p>The positive effects of far-red (FR) light on growth of leafy greens have been well-documented for crops grown in plant factories. However, there is a lack of information on the effects of supplemental FR on greenhouse-grown leafy greens. Therefore, the University of Georgia conducted a study with two cultivars of lettuce (<em>Lactuca sativa</em>, &lsquo;Green Salad Bowl&rsquo; and &lsquo;Cherokee&rsquo;) with five lighting treatments. The treatments were supplemental lighting with a photosynthetic photon flux density (<em>PPFD</em>) of 200 &mu;mol∙m^-2∙s^-1,&nbsp;<em>PPFD</em>&nbsp;of 200 &mu;mol∙m^-2∙s^-1&nbsp;+ 10 &mu;mol∙m^-2∙s^-1&nbsp;of FR light,&nbsp;<em>PPFD</em>&nbsp;of 200 &mu;mol∙m^-2∙s^-1&nbsp;+ 20 &mu;mol∙m^-2∙s^-1&nbsp;of FR light,&nbsp;<em>PPFD</em>&nbsp;of 220 &mu;mol∙m^-2∙s^-1, and sunlight only. Supplemental&nbsp;<em>PPFD</em>&nbsp;was provided with 75% red and 25% blue light for 4 hours before sunrise and 4 hours after sunset. The daily light integral (DLI) received from the sun averaged 7.5 mol∙m^-2∙d^-1&nbsp;during the study period. The treatments with supplemental&nbsp;<em>PPFD</em>s of 200 and 220 &mu;mol∙m^-2∙s^-1&nbsp;averaged DLIs of 13.3 and DLI of 13.8 mol∙m^-2∙d^-1. The FR treatments with 10 and 20 &mu;mol∙m^-2∙s^-1&nbsp;received 0.29 and 0.58 mol∙m^-2∙d^-1&nbsp;of supplemental FR light. All supplemental lighting treatments increased leaf area and plant dry weight compared to the treatment without supplemental lighting (<em>P</em>&nbsp;&lt; 0.0001). However, the University of Georgia did not see any positive effects on crop growth by adding FR light. Similarly, the treatment with slightly higher PPFD level of 220 &mu;mol∙m^-2∙s^-1&nbsp;did not show a significant growth difference compared to the treatment with a supplemental PPFD of 200 &mu;mol∙m^-2∙s^-1. These results do not provide any evidence for positive effects of supplemental FR light on greenhouse-grown lettuce. This may be due to the presence of high levels of FR light from the sun in the greenhouses.<em> Researchers: T.C. Jayalath and Marc van Iersel.</em></p><br /> <p><em>Development and Implementation of a New Optimal Supplemental Lighting Control Strategy in Greenhouses</em></p><br /> <p>The use of supplemental lighting is an effective way for increasing greenhouse productivity. Recently, using light-emitting diodes (LEDs), capable of precise and quick dimmability, has increased in greenhouses. However, electricity cost of lighting can be significant, and hence, it is necessary to find optimal lighting strategies to minimize supplemental lighting costs. The University of Georgia has modeled supplemental lighting in a greenhouse equipped with LEDs as a constrained optimization problem, with the aim of minimizing electricity costs of artificial lighting. The University of Georgia considers not only plant daily light integral (DLI) need during its photoperiod but also sunlight prediction and variable electricity pricing in this model. The University of Georgia uses Markov chain to predict sunlight irradiance throughout the day. By considering sunlight prediction information, the system avoids supplying more light than plants require. Therefore, this lighting strategy supplies sufficient light for plant growth while minimizing electricity costs during the day. The University of Georgia propose an algorithm to find optimal supplemental lighting strategy and evaluate its performance through exhaustive simulation studies using a whole year data and compare it to a heuristic method, which aims to supply a fixed photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) to plants at each time-step during the day. The University of Georgia also implemented this proposed lighting strategy on Raspberry Pi using Python programming language. This prediction-based lighting approach shows (on average) about 40% electricity cost reduction compared to the heuristic method throughout the year. The University of Georgia will test this approach in their research greenhouse in the winter of 2020-2021. <em>Researchers: Sahand Mosharafian, Shirin Afzali, Javad Mohammadpour Velni, and Marc van Iersel</em></p><br /> <p><strong>USDA-ARS (Beltsville, Maryland)</strong></p><br /> <ul><br /> <li>Grain chalk expression from a U.S. rice hybrid variety was observed to increase as much as 40% in response to short-term heat stress (+4 or +8&deg;C above the 28/23&deg;C setpoint thermoperiod) applied for 14 days during grain filling. Grain fill percentage declined as much as 50% as a result of the extreme heat event, which in turn was associated with substantial decline in grain yield. Growth under elevated CO₂ (740 ppm) slightly compensated for negative heat impacts on yield, but may have exacerbated chalk expression which negatively impacts grain quality.&nbsp; Research was conducted in six SPAR Daylit chambers.</li><br /> <li>An experiment was conducted to evaluate the response of Parthenium, an invasive species, to CO₂ concentrations using two walk-in Biochamber growth cabinets. The weed was observed to grow faster and produce more parthenin (which reduces productivity of crop fields and pastures and is a cause of dermatitis in humans) with rising CO₂levels as compared to a non-invasive biotype. This suggested that the current levels of CO₂ contributed to the plant&rsquo;s global invasiveness and toxicity. This information will allow for assessing better weed control strategies and provides ecological information on subspecies variation.</li><br /> </ul><br /> <p><strong>Sierra Space</strong></p><br /> <h2>Hybrid Life Support Systems- Plant Culture Units</h2><br /> <p>Sierra Space is continuing work on the development of Exploration Life Support Salad Crop production as an early stage implementation of hybrid life support systems (combination of bioregenerative and physical-chemical life support technologies).&nbsp; Current efforts include development of aeroponic and nutrient film hydroponic (soilless) systems and variable plant spacing systems for use in the space environment. This continues efforts to develop advanced subsystems (e.g. LED lighting, porous interface transpiration recovery) that significantly reduce the mass, power, and volume of microgravity plant production.</p><br /> <p>Current efforts included a series of parabolic flights investigating aeroponic and nutrient film systems for use in microgravity, and a technology demonstration experiment for the ISS&nbsp; called the Exposed Roots On Orbit Test System (XROOTS) to look at these same parameters in long duration microgravity. Sierra Space is preparing the XROOTS payload for flight in early 2022.</p><br /> <h2>Space Biology</h2><br /> <p>Sierra Space continues to work with the Kennedy Space Center to support the two Veggie plant growth systems and the Mass Measurement Device (for support of animal and plant sciences) currently operating on the ISS (Figure 3).&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>The Advanced Plant Habitat (APH) that Sierra Space fabricated for the Kennedy Space Center is operating on the ISS to support a wide range of microgravity plant research.&nbsp; This system is the largest plant growth system put in space to date. Sierra Space is currently providing engineering support to APH as it continues operations on the ISS (Figure 4).&nbsp;</p><br /> <h3><em>LIFE^TM (Large Integrated Flexible Environment) Habitat</em></h3><br /> <p>Sierra Space continues to work with commercial partners for development of human Life Support and Thermal Control systems for space habitats. Sierra Space has moved their full-scale mockup of its LIFE module (shown in Figure 5) to NASA Kennedy Space Center.&nbsp; This system is being designed to support a 1,100-day mission and is currently part of an effort to develop a large commercial space station (Figure 6).</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><br /> <p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p><br /> <p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p><br /> <p><strong>JR Peters</strong></p><br /> <p>Through conversations and experience working with ornamental and cannabis growers, anecdotal reports indicate that plants grown under LED lights benefit by increasing fertilizer application rates by 25-50% compared to plants grown under HPS and MH (indoor and greenhouse).</p><br /> <ol start="3"><br /> <li><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Accomplishment Summaries:</span></strong></li><br /> </ol><br /> <p><strong>Purdue</strong></p><br /> <p>For the OptimIA project, CCL tended to capture more photons that otherwise would be lost by typical 120 to 130 degree beam spread outside the cropping area below LED fixtures. Use of white curtains helped to reflect back some photons that otherwise would be would be lost. Combining CCL and reflective curtains kept or retrieved the most light, and plants either grew more or saved more energy for lighting, depending on the CCL strategy being tested.</p><br /> <p>For Minitron III, crop gas-exchange measurements indicated that photosynthesis of baby and leafy greens saturates at CO₂ levels about half of what commercial growers use, and the low light level growers use likely is why they do not get more response to their elevated CO₂.</p><br /> <p><strong>Kennedy Space Center</strong></p><br /> <p>A series of Veggie tech demo tests were completed in early 2021 that introduced varying amounts of crew autonomy to plant care operations.&nbsp; Veg-03I grew a variety of leafy greens (Red Russian kale, Dragoon lettuce, Wasabi mustard, Extra Dwarf pak choi, and Outredgeous red romaine lettuce) alongside Veg-03J (Outredgeous romaine lettuce), the first on-orbit test of a seed film technology developed at KSC that enables astronauts to plant seeds on-orbit.&nbsp; Veg-03K (Amara mustard first flight) and Veg-03L (Extra Wwarf pak choi) occurred immediately following Veg-03I/J, and featured the first example of fully autonomous crew growing of crops in space; the crew decided watering amounts and frequency, harvest dates, and other horticultural considerations independent of the ground team.</p><br /> <p>A technical demonstration in the Advanced Plant Habitat (APH) on ISS will end in November 2021 that is growing cv. Espanola Improved chile (chili) peppers for a period of 137 days.&nbsp; This test will assess the capabilities of APH to conduct long-duration plant growth operations and the nutritional and microbiological differences that arise in chile peppers grown in microgravity.&nbsp; The crew will consume a portion of the fruit and perform behavioral health surveys to assess the impacts of growing crops in space. The first pepper harvest was conducted on Day 109 and received considerable media attention. This project is being conducted by Matt Romeyn, LaShelle Spencer, Oscar Monje, Jacob Torres, Jeff Richards, Lucie Poulet, Ray Wheeler, and Nicole Dufour.</p><br /> <p>Gioia Massa continues work on 3-yr NASA grant to grow dwarf tomato in Veggie for the first time.&nbsp; Ray Wheeler, Mary Hummerick, Matt Romeyn, LaShelle Spencer, and Jess Bunchek at KSC, Bob Morrow at Sierra Nevada, and Cary Mitchell at Purdue are Co-Is on the grant along with several Co-Is from Johnson Space Center focusing on food and behavioral health.&nbsp; The focus of this research is to assess fertilizer and light quality impacts on crop growth, nutrient content, and organoleptic appeal. KSC has worked closely with Florikan Inc. to assess different controlled release (CR) fertilizer combinations. Two sets of mizuna were grown in Veggie plant pillows, one for 35 days and the second for 60 days with repetitive harvesting under both red-rich (ratio of 9:1:1 Red: Blue: Green) and blue-rich (ratio of 5:5:1 Red: Blue: Green) LED light.</p><br /> <p>The team at KSC continues work in partnership with Moon Kim and his team at USDA ARS-Beltsville on advanced plant imaging technologies for use in spaceflight.&nbsp; The focus of this work has been on developing hyperspectral imaging technologies and a database of plant responses relevant to spaceflight, such as drought, over-watering, and pathogenic fungus.&nbsp; The goal is to create a monitoring system able to recognize stressors early enough to take swift corrective action, and eventually, being the eyes of an autonomous plant growth system.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p><strong>Figure 7.</strong> <em>Left: Development of vegetation indices for integration with AI. Right: Hyperspectral camera scanning plants at Kennedy Space Center.</em></p><br /> <p>Gioia Massa was awarded a 3-yr NASA grant to study the impacts of watering on the plant microbiome in microgravity using the Advanced Plant Habitat (APH) on ISS.&nbsp; Plants will be grown under four different substrate moisture scenarios to assess impacts to plant growth of chronic and intermittent substrate moisture conditions.&nbsp; The microbiomes of the different treatments will be cataloged and assessed for impacts on food safety and other impacts of interest.</p><br /> <p>A one-year legume screening study was completed, with 26 cultivars of multiple pea and bean (others?) being screened and 8 promising candidates down-selected for further growth studies, and nutritional and organoleptic analysis, and possible inclusion in future growth demonstrations on ISS.</p><br /> <p>Multiple areas of new research and technology into microgreens are occurring at KSC.&nbsp; A one-year investigation to assess the food safety metrics of microgreens is ongoing, this is a necessary step to clear the way for microgreens testing and consumption on ISS.&nbsp; A study into novel microgreens is also underway to identify microgreen types that are sources of calories, fats, protein, and thiamine; some of the cultivars in this investigation include cantaloupe, sunflower, quinoa, and many types of legumes. NASA Postdoctoral Fellow Lucie Poulet received a one-year award to conduct parabolic flight testing of different microgreen techniques and technologies to enable harvesting of microgreens in microgravity.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Studies on herbs and herb microgreens continued to determine herb varieties that will grow well in a space environment to supplement packaged diets in space flight.&nbsp; Sixteen herb varieties (how many species?) were tested initially in spring of 2020, and down selection of these continued based on growth, and nutrient content.&nbsp; In 2021, 12 varieties of full-sized herbs and 14 varieties of herb microgreens were cultivated under spaceflight-relevant conditions and analyses of these are ongoing, with microbial and nutritional analysis underway.&nbsp; Additionally, novel leafy crops such as Malabar spinach, dandelion and golden purslane have been tested, with more&nbsp; crops to be studied in the coming year.</p><br /> <p>Lucie Poulet is a NASA Postdoctoral Fellow working on a project entitled &ldquo;Modeling plant growth and gas exchanges in various ventilation and gravity levels.&rdquo; Lucie has been using the LI-6800 to study plant leaf responses to different ventilation levels and has designed a custom chamber for the LI-6800, which will allow similar studies of entire crop plants and canopies of microgreens. Data collected will be used to calibrate and validate a plant gas exchange model in reduced gravity environments.&nbsp; Lucie is also a collaborator for the PH-04 technical demonstration of chile peppers on ISS.</p><br /> <p>Christina Johnson is a NASA Postdoctoral Fellow at KSC assessing the differences between microgreens grown in unit gravity versus those grown in simulated microgravity using&nbsp; clinostats and random positioning machines (3-dimensional clinostats).&nbsp; She is working with a team to design a microgreens growth and imaging platform that will be used on a random positioning machine and enable testing of microgreens growth responses to different simulated gravity levels, including lunar and Martian gravity. Christina leads monthly Microgreen Chats where she brings together contacts from NASA, USDA, academia, and the private sector with interest in microgreens. Christina has also authored and co-authored multiple white papers for the &ldquo;Decadal Survey&rdquo; taking place right now, where NASA solicits inputs for future research areas.</p><br /> <p><strong>Michigan State University</strong></p><br /> <ul><br /> <li>Michigan State University coordinated several outreach programs that delivered unbiased, research-based information on producing plants in controlled environments, including the <a href="https://www.canr.msu.edu/floriculture/expo">Michigan Greenhouse Growers Expo</a> and the <a href="http://floriculturealliance.org">Floriculture Research Alliance</a> annual meeting.</li><br /> <li>Michigan State University updated the MSU Extension <a href="https://www.canr.msu.edu/floriculture/resources">Floriculture &amp; Greenhouse Crop Production</a> website that includes MSU-authored resources on the production of plants in controlled environments.</li><br /> <li>Research technician Annika Kohler and Roberto Lopez quantified the effects of various rates of uniconazole on stem elongation under low (2.0 mol&middot;m^‒2d^‒1) and high (16.3 mol&middot;m^‒2&middot;d^‒1) daily light integrals of five succulent genera over time. Using at least 1 mg&middot;L^‒1of uniconazole was enough to suppress stem elongation in most succulents studied after 10 or 15 weeks but 2 mg&middot;L^‒1can be used for all succulents.</li><br /> <li>S. student Caleb Spall and Roberto Lopez investigated the influence of supplemental light (SL) quality on time to harvest and finished quality of several long-day specialty cut flowers. Time to harvest under SL containing blue, red, and far-red radiation, or 100% blue radiation, was hastened compared to plants grown under high-pressure sodium or broad-spectrum LED SL. Additionally, time to harvest was delayed under 100% red SL.</li><br /> <li>S. student Caleb Spall and Roberto Lopez investigated the influence of young- and finished-plant photoperiod on time to harvest and quality of several cut flowers. Marigold &lsquo;Xochi&rsquo; seedlings grown under 11- to 24-h photoperiods or a 4-h night interruption and finished under 10- to 12-h days were marketable, and of comparable finished quality.</li><br /> <li>S. student Sean Tarr and Roberto Lopez quantified the influence of day and night air temperatures (72/59, 77/64, 82/70 &deg;F) and light intensities (150 to 300 &micro;mol&middot;m^-2&middot;s^-1) on growth of red oakleaf and green butterhead lettuces &lsquo;Rouxa&iuml;&rsquo; and &lsquo;Rex&rsquo;. Fresh mass was greatest for both cultivars under 300 &micro;mol&middot;m^-2&middot;s^-1 of light and at day/night temperatures of 77/64 or 82/70 &deg;F for &lsquo;Rouxa&iuml;&rsquo; and 82/70 &deg;f for &lsquo;Rex&rsquo;. However, incidence of tip burn was greater under the higher light intensity.</li><br /> <li>S. student Sean Tarr and Roberto Lopez investigated how air temperature and CO₂ concentration (500, 800, and 1200 &mu;mol&middot;mol^-1) influenced growth of &lsquo;Rouxa&iuml;&rsquo; and &lsquo;Rex&rsquo; at a light intensity of 300 &micro;mol&middot;m^-2&middot;s^-1. Fresh mass was greatest for both cultivars at day/night temperatures of 82/70 &deg;F and CO₂ concentrations of 800 &mu;mol&middot;mol^-1for &lsquo;Rouxa&iuml;&rsquo; and both 800 and 1200 &mu;mol&middot;mol^-1 for &lsquo;Rex&rsquo;.</li><br /> <li>S. student Sean Tarr and Roberto Lopez modelled the response of kale and red oakleaf and green butterhead lettuces at day and night temperatures of 52/41 to 97/86 &deg;F. The greatest leaf unfolding of &lsquo;Rouxa&iuml;&rsquo; and &lsquo;Rex&rsquo; occurred at 79/70 &deg;F. However, fresh mass of &lsquo;Rouxa&iuml;&rsquo; and &lsquo;Rex&rsquo; was greatest at 88/77 &deg;F and 79/68 &deg;F, respectively. Kale had the greatest fresh mass at 70/59 &deg;F, but had the greatest leaf number at 97/86 &deg;F.</li><br /> <li>D. student Eric Stallknecht and Erik Runkle studied the effect of an experimental red-fluorescent greenhouse film that converts some of the blue and most of the green light into red light on greenhouse- and indoor-grown lettuce. On average, the experimental film decreased the average light transmission by 25% compared to an un-pigmented control film. Despite lower light transmission, lettuce yield per plant increased by 5% to 20%, depending on cultivar. Butterhead lettuce had the greatest yield increase under the experimental red-fluorescent film.</li><br /> <li>D. st

Publications

<ol><br /> <li><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Publications:</span></strong></li><br /> </ol><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Addo, P.W., V. Desaulniers Brousseau, V. Morello, S. MacPherson, M. Paris, M. Lefsrud. 2021.</p><br /> <p>Cannabis chemistry, post-harvest processing methods and secondary metabolite profiling: A review. Industrial Crops &amp; Products 170:113743</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Adhikari, R</span>. and K. Nemali. (2021). Whole-Plant Tissue Nitrogen Content Measurement Using</p><br /> <p>Image Analyses in Floriculture Crops. Journal of Environmental Horticulture (Accepted).</p><br /> <p>Ahamed, M. S.; Guo, H.; and Tanino, K. (2021). Cloud cover-based solar radiation models: A</p><br /> <p>review and case study. Submitted to the International Journal of Green Energy.</p><br /> <p>Barnaby, J., Kim, J., Jyostna, M., Fleisher, D., Tucker, M., Reddy, V., and Sicher, R. Varying</p><br /> <p>atmospheric CO₂ mediates the cold-induced CBF-dependent signaling pathway and freezing tolerance in Arabidopsis. 2020. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. DOI:10.3390/ijms21207616.</p><br /> <p>Berliner, A.J. <em>et al.</em> (2021) Towards a biomanufactory on Mars<em>. </em><em>Frontiers in Astronomy and </em></p><br /> <p><em>Space Sciences</em> <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fspas.2021.711550">https://doi.org/10.3389/fspas.2021.711550</a></p><br /> <p>Both, A.J. 2021. The science and art of crop irrigation. In Ball Redbook (19^th Edition), C. Beytes</p><br /> <p>(ed.), Volume 1: Greenhouse Structures, Equipment, and Technology. Ball Publishing. pp. 64-68.</p><br /> <p>Both, A.J. 2021. Glazing: It&rsquo;s what makes the greenhouse. In Ball Redbook (19^th Edition), C.</p><br /> <p>Beytes (ed.), Volume 1: Greenhouse Structures, Equipment, and Technology. Ball Publishing. pp. 26-30.6.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Bubenheim, D., Vanessa Genovese, Edward Hard, and John D. Madsen.</p><br /> <p>Remote Sensing and Mapping of Floating Aquatic Vegetation in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. J. Aquat. Plant Manage. 59s: 46&ndash;54.</p><br /> <p>Buncheck J.M., A.B. Curry, M.R. Romeyn.&nbsp; Sustained Veggie: A Continuous Food Production</p><br /> <p>Comparison.&nbsp; International Conference on Environmental Systems. ICES-2021-229.</p><br /> <p>Burgner, S.E., K. Nemalia, G.D. Massa, R.M. Wheeler, R.C. Morrow, and C.A. Mitchell. 2020.</p><br /> <p>Growth and photosynthetic responses of Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L. cv. Tokyo Bekana) to continuously elevated carbon dioxide in a simulated Space Station &ldquo;Veggie&rdquo; crop-production environment. Life Sci. Space Res. 27: 83&ndash;88, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lssr.2020.07.007">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lssr.2020.07.007</a></p><br /> <p>Chen, J. J., Zhen, S., &amp; Sun, Y. (2021). Estimating Leaf Chlorophyll Content of Buffaloberry</p><br /> <p>Using Normalized Difference Vegetation Index Sensors.&nbsp;<em>HortTechnology</em>,&nbsp;<em>31</em>, 297-303.</p><br /> <p>Chowdhury, B.D.B., S. Masoud, Y.J. Son, C. Kubota, and R. Tronstad. 2020. A dynamic data</p><br /> <p>driven indoor localization framework based on ultra high frequency passive RFID system. Int. J. Sensor Networks Vol. 34:172&ndash;187.</p><br /> <p>Chowdhury, B.D.B., S. Masoud, Y.J. Son, C. Kubota, and R. Tronstad. 2021. A dynamic HMM-</p><br /> <p>based real-time location tracking system utilizing UHF passive RFID. J. Radio Frequency Identification.&nbsp; Doi: 10.1109/JRFID.2021.3102507</p><br /> <p>Craver, J.K., K.S. Nemali, and R.G. Lopez. 2020. Acclimation of growth and photosynthesis in petunia seedlings exposed to high-intensity blue radiation. <a href="https://doi.org/10.21273/JASHS04799-19">J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 145:152&ndash;161</a>.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Cui, Shaoqing, Lin Cao, Nuris Acosta, Heping Zhu, and Peter P. Ling. 2021. Development of Portable E-Nose System for Fast Diagnosis of Whitefly Infestation in Tomato Plant in Greenhouse.&nbsp;<em>Chemosensors</em>&nbsp;9, no. 11: 297.</p><br /> <p>Desaulniers Brousseau, V., B.-S Wu, S. MacPherson, V. Morello, M. Lefsrud. 2021. Cannabinoids and terpenes: how production of photo-protectants can be manipulated to enhance Cannabis sativa L. phytochemistry. Frontiers in Plant Science-Plant Metabolism and Chemodiversity 31: doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2021.620021</p><br /> <p>Dixit, A.R., C.L.M. Khodadad, M.E. Hummerick, C.J. Spern, L.E. Spencer, J.A. Fischer, A.B.</p><br /> <p>Curry, J.L. Gooden, G.J. Maldonado Vazquez, R.M. Wheeler, G.D. Massa, and M.W. Romeyn. 2021. Persistence of Escherichia coli in the microbiomes of red Romaine lettuce (Lactuca sativa cv. &lsquo;Outredgeous&rsquo;) and mizuna mustard (Brassica rapa var. japonica) - does seed sanitization matter? BMC Microbiology (2021) 21:289&nbsp; <a href="https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-021-02345-5">https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-021-02345-5</a></p><br /> <p>Dong, S.; Ahamed, M. S.; Ma, C., Guo, H. (2021). A time-dependent model for predicting thermal</p><br /> <p>environment of mono-slope solar greenhouses in cold regions. Energies, 14(18),5956.</p><br /> <p>Dou, H., G. Niu, M. Gu, and J. Masabni. 2020. Morphological and physiological responses in</p><br /> <p>basil and <em>Brassica</em> species to different proportions of red, blue, and green wavelengths in indoor vertical farming. JASHS 145(4): 267-278. <a href="https://doi.org/10.21273/JASHS04927-20">https://doi.org/10.21273/JASHS04927-20</a>.</p><br /> <p>Elkins, C. and M.W. van Iersel. 2020. Longer photoperiods with the same daily light integral</p><br /> <p>increase daily electron transport through photosystem II in lettuce. <em>Plants</em> 9: 1172. <a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9091172">https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9091172</a></p><br /> <p>Elkins, C. and M.W. van Iersel. 2020. Longer photoperiods with the same daily light integral</p><br /> <p>improve growth of <em>Rudbeckia</em> seedlings in a greenhouse. <em>HortScience</em> 55: 1676&ndash;1682. <a href="https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI15200-20">https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI15200-20</a></p><br /> <p>Elkins, C. and M.W. van Iersel. 2020. Supplemental far-red LED light increases growth of</p><br /> <p><em>Digitalis purpurea</em> seedlings under sole-source lighting. <em>HortTechnology</em> 30, 564&ndash;569. <a href="https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH04661-20">https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH04661-20</a>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Fernandez-Baca, C.P., McClung, A.M., Edward, J., Codling, E.E., Reddy, V.R., and Barnaby,</p><br /> <p>J.Y.* Genotype and water management impacts on mitigation of inorganic arsenic in rice. Frontiers in Plant Sciences. 11: 2284. 2021. <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2020.612054">https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2020.612054</a></p><br /> <p>Fernandez-Baca, C.P., Rivers, A.R., Kim, W.J, Iwata, R., McClung, A.M., Roberts, D.P., Reddy,</p><br /> <p>V.R., and Barnaby, J.Y.* Changes in rhizosphere soil microbial communities across plant stages of high and low methane emitting rice genotypes. Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 108233. 2021. <a href="http://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2021.108233">http://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2021.108233</a></p><br /> <p>Fernandez-Baca, C.P., Rivers, A.R., Maul, J.E., Kim, W.J, McClung, A.M., Roberts, D.P.,</p><br /> <p>Reddy, V.R., and Barnaby, J.Y.* Rice Plant-Soil Microbiome Interactions Driven by Differential Root and Shoot Biomass. Diversity. 13 (3): 125. 2021. <a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/d13030125">https://doi.org/10.3390/d13030125</a></p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Fleisher, D.H., Condori, B., Barreda, C., Berguijs, H., Bindi, M., Boote, K., Craigon, J., van</p><br /> <p>Evert, F., Fangmeier, A., Ferrise, R., Gayler, S., Hoogenboom, G., Merante, P., Nendel, C., Ninanya, J., Pleijel, H., Raes, D., Ramirez, D.A., Raymundo, R., Reidsma, P., Silva, J.V., Stockle, C.O., Supit, I., Stella, T., Vandermeiren, K., van Oort, P., Vanuytrecht, E., Vorne, V., and J. Wolf. Yield response of an ensemble of potato crop models to elevated CO₂ in continental Europe. 2021. European Journal of Agronomy. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eja.2021.126265">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eja.2021.126265</a></p><br /> <p>Friman-Peretz, M., Shay Ozer, Asher Levi, Esther Magadley, Ibrahim Yehia, Farhad Geoola,</p><br /> <p>Shelly Gantz, Roman Brikman, Avi Levy, Murat Kacira, Meir Teitel. 2021. Energy partitioning and spatial variability of air temperature, VPD and radiation in a greenhouse tunnel shaded by semitransparent organic PV modules. Solar Energy, 220: 578-589.</p><br /> <p>Garcia, C. and R.G. Lopez. 2020. Supplemental radiation quality influences cucumber, tomato, and pepper transplant growth and development. <a href="https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI14820-20">HortScience 55:804&ndash;811</a>.</p><br /> <p>Gillespie, D.P., G. Papio, and C. Kubota. 2021. High nutrient concentrations of hydroponic</p><br /> <p>solution can improve growth and nutrient uptake of spinach (<em>Spinacia oleracea</em> L.) grown in acidic nutrient solution. HortScience. 56:687-694.</p><br /> <p>Gillespie, D.P., C. Kubota, and S. Miller. 2020. Effects of low pH of hydroponic nutrient solution on plant growth, nutrient uptake, and root rot disease incidence of basil (<em>Ocimum basilicum</em> L.). HortScience. 55:1251-1258.</p><br /> <p>Gorjian, S., Calise, F., Kant, K., Ahamed, M. S., Copertaro, B., Najafi, G., ... &amp; Shamshiri, R. R.</p><br /> <p>(2020). A review on opportunities for implementation of solar energy technologies in agricultural greenhouses.&nbsp;Journal of Cleaner Production, 124807.</p><br /> <p>Hardy, J.M., P. Kusuma, B. Bugbee, R. Wheeler, and M. Ewert. 2020. 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Comparison of energy use efficiency of greenhouse and indoor</p><br /> <p>plant factory system. European Journal of Horticultural Science, 85(5): 310-320.</p><br /> <p>Zhao, X., C. Kubota, and P. Perkins-Veazie (eds.) 2021 Proceedings of II International</p><br /> <p>Symposium on Vegetable Grafting. Acta Horticulturae 1302.</p><br /> <p>Zhen S., Kusuma P., and Bugbee B. (2021). Toward an optimal spectrum for photosynthesis and</p><br /> <p>plant morphology in LED-based crop cultivation. In <em>Plant factory: Basics, Applications and Advanced Research</em>, Eds. T. Kozai, G. Niu &amp; J. Masabni. Academic Press, Elsevier Publisher (in press).</p><br /> <p>Zhen, S., van Iersel, M., &amp; Bugbee, B. (2021). Why far-red photons should be included in the</p><br /> <p>definition of photosynthetic photons and the measurement of horticultural fixture efficacy.&nbsp;<em>Frontiers in Plant Science</em> <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2021.693445">https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2021.693445</a></p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p>

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Accomplishments

<p><strong>Accomplishments</strong></p><br /> <p>Rutgers University</p><br /> <p>We continue to evaluate a variety of lamp fixtures for light output, light distribution and power consumption using our 2-meter integrating sphere and a small darkroom. We are continuing to work on a comprehensive evaluation of ventilation strategies for high tunnel crop production (David Lewus). We are continuing our work using life cycle assessment tools to assess the environmental impacts of switching from high-pressure sodium lighting to LED lighting (Farzana Afrose Lubna).</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Michigan State University</p><br /> <p>We coordinated several outreach programs that delivered unbiased, research-based information on producing plants in controlled environments, including the Michigan Greenhouse Growers Expo and the Floriculture Research Alliance annual meeting.</p><br /> <p>In collaboration with colleagues at Arizona, Michigan State, Purdue, Ohio State, and the USDA-ARS, we completed the second year of our research and outreach project entitled &ldquo;Improving the profitability and sustainability of indoor leafy-greens production&rdquo;.</p><br /> <p>Ph.D. student Hyeonjeong Kang and Roberto Lopez investigated the influence of the photosynthetic daily light integral and root-zone temperature on rooting of tropical foliage plants during propagation. A daily light integral between 6 to 10 mol∙m&ndash;2∙d&ndash;1 is recommended because further increases have minimal impact on root growth or quality. The greatest root dry mass was recorded when cuttings were rooted at a root-zone temperature of 25 &deg;C.</p><br /> <p>Ph.D. student Nathan Kelly and Erik Runkle studied the effects of dynamic UV-A or blue light on red-leaf lettuce growth and quality attributes. We grew lettuce under white plus red LEDs and delivered additional UV-A or blue light during one of three eight-day phases, or continuously. UV-A or blue light applied during the final phase of production or continuously equally increased secondary metabolite concentrations and leaf coloration, but growth was inhibited under continuous supplemental blue light.</p><br /> <p>Nathan Kelly and Erik Runkle studied lettuce grown indoors to determine how background lighting (various combinations of blue, green, and red light) influences the effectiveness of far-red light at increasing biomass accumulation. Preliminary results indicate lettuce biomass was the lowest when either no far-red light was present or when far-red light was delivered at its maximum intensity, as long as green light was included in the photon spectrum.</p><br /> <p>Ph.D. student Eric Stallknecht and Erik Runkle investigated the mechanism by which an experimental red-fluorescent greenhouse cover increases the biomass accumulation of floriculture, leafy green, and fruiting crops. In part, red-fluorescent materials increased biomass accumulation by increasing leaf area, which was correlated with a decrease in the transmission of blue light. However, the blue light fraction did not completely explain plant growth responses, suggesting effects of the green- and red-light fractions.</p><br /> <p>Eric Stallknecht and Erik Runkle investigated how experimental photovoltaic greenhouse glazing materials influenced the morphology and yield of greenhouse crops. Preliminary results indicate some crops can tolerate minimal to moderate shading caused by photovoltaic panels without decreasing yield, whereas other crops could not. These findings reiterate the necessity of carefully designing combined agricultural and photovoltaic systems considering the crop type, photovoltaic panel type, location, and time of year.</p><br /> <p>Ph.D. student Jiyong Shin and Erik Runkle studied the interaction between air temperature and photon spectra on the growth of lettuce and basil grown indoors. Preliminary research indicates that air temperature and photon spectra interacted in determining the growth and morphology of the leafy green species. This suggests that air temperature and photon spectra need to be simultaneously considered when developing indoor plant production protocols.</p><br /> <p>Research technician Annika Kohler and Erik Runkle examined the influence of light intensity and spectrum on the morphology and shelf stability of frill-leaf lettuce grown indoors. Under a relatively high ratio of blue to red light, both lettuce cultivars were compact, had less fresh mass, and greater chlorophyll content than plants grown under a lower light ratio. After 9 days of refrigeration, one cultivar grown under high light with the highest ratio of blue to red light decayed quicker than the other lighting treatments.</p><br /> <p>Former M.S. student Sean Tarr and Roberto Lopez performed experiments and established the base and optimum temperatures for fresh accumulation of arugula, kale, red oakleaf lettuce, and green butterhead lettuce.</p><br /> <p>Sean Tarr and Roberto Lopez modeled how the photosynthetic photon flux density and CO2 concentration interact with mean daily temperature to influence the growth, yield, and quality of hydroponically grown green butterhead and red oakleaf lettuce. Dry mass of both cultivars was influenced by the interaction of CO2 and temperature; biomass accumulation was greatest at 800 &micro;mol&middot;mol&ndash;1 CO2 at temperatures of 73 or 79 &deg;F (23 or 26 &deg;C).</p><br /> <p>Sean Tarr and Roberto Lopez investigated how the day length provided to marigold &lsquo;Xochi&rsquo; young plants influenced subsequent flowering and cut flower quality. Regardless of the photoperiod provided, time to visible bud and open flower were similar across the young-plant photoperiods tested. Stem length at harvest was greatest when seedlings were grown under photoperiods of 13 to 16 hours.</p><br /> <p>M.S. student Devin Brewer and Roberto Lopez quantified the influence of blue or blue + red end-of-production (EOP) sole-source lighting on red-leaf lettuce. Results indicate that light intensity was more effective at increasing anthocyanin content than light quality alone. However, 100% blue light at the end of production increased mineral nutrient content beyond levels quantified in plants not receiving additional lighting.</p><br /> <p>M.S. student Caleb Spall and Roberto Lopez investigated the influence of supplemental light quality on time to harvest and finished quality of several specialty cut flowers. Time to harvest of cut flowers with a long-day flowering response was hastened when grown under blue, red, and far-red light combined, or 100% blue light, compared to cut flowers grown under 100% red light. Stem lengths were greatest under 100% red light.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA</p><br /> <p>NCERA‐101 project areas addressed:&nbsp; Covid and NASA Ames Research Center closure severely restricted Controlled Environment Laboratory access.&nbsp; As a result, accomplishments focused on utilization of initial Controlled Environment results enabling completion of phase one decision support and related vegetation assessment objectives.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;Completed Phase One Objectives for NASA Ames Research Center / State of California Space Act Agreement - Utilizing Adaptive Management Methods for Invasive Aquatic Plant Management:&nbsp; Phase one objectives include 1) remote sensing method development for mapping and vegetation assessment, 2) testing of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), 3) decision support methods, and 4) daily environmental input sources for vegetation model.&nbsp; Field study area is the California Delta &ndash; an intricate network of waterways, canals, and sloughs connecting Sierra Nevada watersheds (San Joaquin and Sacramento with San Francisco Bay) carrying more than 90% of the state&rsquo;s precipitation and supplying California agriculture and communities.</p><br /> <p>Satellite-based, Remote Sensing Tool for Vegetation Mapping and Canopy Characterization:&nbsp; Completed development of a remote sensing method, utilizing European Space Agency (ESA) Sentinel satellite series, for mapping and characterizing vegetation community structure for Floating Aquatic Vegetation (FAV).&nbsp; Remote sensing tool is in beta testing by the State of California, Division of Boating and Waterways for directing allocation of FAV management resources (personnel and treatment methods) and assessment of management effectiveness.</p><br /> <p>Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Evaluation Test Completed:&nbsp; Completed first field test using UAS (drone and autonomous control) for treatment and assessment of&nbsp; vegetation communities in difficult to access landscapes.&nbsp; Addressed both operational demands and treatment effectiveness.</p><br /> <p>Decision Support - Linking Landscape-Scale Remote Sensing Assessment and Natural Resources Management:&nbsp; Initial decision support tool combines weekly satellite-based vegetation mapping and canopy assessments with weekly field management practices to assess effectiveness of management practices locally and landscape scales.&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Return to the Lab - FAV Evapotranspiration and Water Use :&nbsp; The measured return to the Controlled Environment Lab is focused on resumption of remote identification of FAV and Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) and plans to use CE chambers gas exchange and on-water (field) validation measurements to add ET monitoring and modeling to the landscape-scale assessment.</p><br /> <p>Awards:&nbsp; NASA Spotlight Award &ndash; Recognizing significant achievement in Technology Transfer and Interagency Collaboration.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Purdue University</p><br /> <p>For the far-red x CO2 study of young leaf-lettuce growth response, early baby-stage red oakleaf lettuce responded positively to 1200 &micro;mol/mol CO2 and/or 20-40 &micro;mol/m2/s FR light, but differently to other FR/CO2 combinations. At mid-baby-stage, lettuce grew best at 20 &micro;mol/m2/s FR and 1200 &micro;mol/mol CO2, and at teen-stage, biomass went up with each increase in FR and CO2, but leaf area went down or stayed the same.</p><br /> <p>For the close-canopy-lighting study, energy-utilization efficiency expressed as kWh of electrical energy used for lighting / g biomass produced (FW or DW) doubled for both scenarios of CCL tested.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>University of Arizona</p><br /> <p>Graduate student of Gene Giacomelli, Max Smith completed progress producing tomato (truss and cherry), cantaloupe and cucumber within a recirculating top-drip hydroponic nutrient delivery system.&nbsp; All crops are within a single-bay, gutter-connected, glass-covered greenhouse 7.5 x 15.1 m. Crops are produced in high solar radiation, high air temperature and modest VPD conditions to determine the effect on harvest quality and yield compared to standard, optimal conditions.&nbsp; This is continuing work supported by sub-contract to UC-Merced from an INFEWS-T2 NSF grant, whose primary goal is to develop a solar-energized greenhouse for the purification of the salt-laden drainage water from field production agriculture in the Central Valley of California. It will further produce edible vegetable crops while operating at its excessive air temperatures required for desalinization.</p><br /> <p>Wavelength altering properties of quantum dots in plastic film for the improvement of tomato and lettuce plant production was continued within a single-bay, gutter-connected, ETFE film-covered greenhouse 7.5 x 15.1 m, by Michael Blum and Morgan Mattingly, graduate students of Gene Giacomelli, in collaboration and support of Matt Bergren, UbiQD company .Graduate student, Michael Blum (advisor, G. Giacomelli) has outfitted a recirculating top-drip nutrient delivery system within a single-bay, gutter-connected, ETFE-covered greenhouse compartment of 7.5 x 15.1 m for evaluating the wavelength altering properties of quantum dots in plastic films for the improvement of tomato plant production supported by a NASA-STTR grant with UbiQD company, Los Alamos, NM, and collaborators Matt Bergren and Charles Parrish.</p><br /> <p>Gene Giacomelli has hired, trained, educated and/or advised 19 undergraduates working on grant supported research projects, and 7 graduate students (3 as my graduate student supported by grant funds, and 4 as committee member) to be competent in CEA hydroponic crop production systems design and operations.</p><br /> <p>Gene Giacomelli, collaborator, SAM2 (Space Analog for Moon &amp; Mars) at Biosphere 2, Kai Staats, Director Sam2. Prepared hydroponic lettuce production system for Analog Astronaut Conference May 6 &ndash; 8, 2022.</p><br /> <p>Chris Beytes, Grower Talks trade magazine participation in NGMA meeting at UA-CEAC and visit to UA-CEAC facilities and presentation with student networking. [facilitated by Gene Giacomelli]</p><br /> <p>KC Shasteen, graduate student of Murat Kacira, developed a machine vision application and implemented a predictive modeling-based system monitoring crop growth and yield, planting density optimization and yield predictions, that can be used in a DFW or NFT based production system.</p><br /> <p>Kacira Lab, through collaboration and support of Red Sea Farms company, are evaluating the effect of wavelength selective greenhouse covering materials to reduce energy demands for cooling and on varieties of tomato crop growth and yield. The outcomes of the project are also directed towards evaluating humidity controls, wireless monitoring technology, and company&rsquo;s patented technology which combines thermal energy storage and saltwater evaporative cooling to both actively and passively maintain an ideal greenhouse temperature.&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Kacira is co-PI (UArizona), with Runkle (PI, Michigan State University), Lopez and Valde de Souza (co-PI, Michigan State), Kubota (Ohio State), and Mitchell (Purdue), and Boldt (USDA-ARS) continued collaborations in a project supported by the USDA-SCRI program entitled &ldquo;Improving the profitability and sustainability of indoor leafy-greens production.&rdquo;</p><br /> <p>Kacira Lab, in collaboration with Sadler Machine Co., SynerGy LLC., Thales Alenia Spacein Italy, German Space Agency, Italian National Research Council, University of Naples Federico II, completed a Phase A project funded by NASA that designed and evaluated the performance of a water and nutrient delivery system for crop production in microgravity environment.</p><br /> <p>Michele Ciriello, visiting PhD Student in Kacira Lab, from University of Naples Federico II, evaluated the effects of DLI and number of cutting/harvest on yield and quality attributes of basil crop grown in recirculating DWC based hydroponics system within LED lighted indoor vertical farm (UAg Farm) at the UA-CEAC.</p><br /> <p>Graduate student KC Shasteen (advisor Murat Kacira) developed and evaluated a computer vision system to monitor crop health and growth in a vertical farm setting. The research evaluated computer vision-based crop monitoring and modeling-based crop fresh and dry biomass prediction approach (speaking plant-based approach) to be used for decision making and environmental control application in vertical farming system and evaluated various what-if scenarios for co- optimization of environmental variables (air temperature, humidity, DLI, CO2) leading to resource savings. Furthermore, the model developed was used to identify and evaluate most optimal planting densities for the maximum crop yield outcome under specific environmental conditions.</p><br /> <p>Tilak Mahato (hydroponic specialist) and Murat Kacira (PI) continued to provide technical support for crop production and greenhouse systems controls and collaborations with Todd Millay (Director of UArizona Student Union Affairs) for the rooftop greenhouse facility which provides education and training for students, community outreach, and fresh produce access for food challenged students through campus pantry.</p><br /> <p>Kacira (co-PI), in collaboration with K. Chief (PI) et al., within NSF-NRT funded project titled &ldquo;Indigenous Food, Energy, and Water Security and Sovereignty&rdquo; continued to educate a cohort graduate student on novel and sustainable off-grid production of safe drinking water, brine management operations, and controlled environment agriculture systems to provide technical solutions for communities, currently with Navajo Nation, challenged to have access to fresh produce and safe drinking water. The project collaboration included educational and training programs for technical staff members and intern students, on controlled environment agriculture (CEA) systems, hydroponic crop production, sensors and controls in CEA, offered during May 31st-June 3rd 2022 Tribal Universities and Colleges Internship Program.</p><br /> <p>UA-CEAC continued to provide educational opportunities on CEA for new farmers through its 21th Annual Greenhouse Engineering and Crop production Short Course (March 7-8-9) (Giacomelli, Kacira, Cadogan, organizers), UA- CEAC Intensive Workshops on education of growers producing tomato crop hydroponically (Dr. Triston Hooks, Instructor).</p><br /> <p>Kacira, Giacomelli, Cuello (co-conveners), with program coordinator Jaclyn Cadogan and support from industry sponsors, organized and hosted the 2022 NCERA 101 International Meeting on Controlled Environment Technology and Use, September 11-14 at the University of Arizona campus. The conference brought together 200+ participants from academia and industry, and included 6 technical sessions with 20 invited speakers, 3 panels with 9 panelists, and technical tours.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>The Ohio State University</p><br /> <p>The Ohio Controlled Environment Agriculture Center (OHCEAC) with 21 academic members launched research consortium with seven inaugural members supporting to advance CEA through various researches covering Horticulture, Engineering, Plant Pathology, Microbiology, Entomology, Workforce training, and Food Safety.</p><br /> <p>The first annual conference of OHCEAC was held on July 20th with with a total of 169 participants. This year&rsquo;s focus was &lsquo;Advancement of Microbial Technologies in Controlled Environment Agriculture&rsquo;.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>McGill University</p><br /> <p>The Biomass Production Laboratory at Macdonald Campus of McGill University is investigating the relationship between pigment absorbance and supplemental lighting for crop production. We have been doing studies on the impact with low pressure sodium lamps (LPS) and have been collecting data that LPS lamps are equivalent to other amber light systems for plant growth.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>University of Delaware</p><br /> <p>Undergraduate student, Evyn Appel, and Qingwu Meng explored programming of Raspberry Pi and installing imaging devices to track and monitor plant growth. With overhead infrared images, we quantified the progressive growth of the plant canopy.</p><br /> <p>Qingwu Meng created and taught a new graduate-level course, Controlled Environment Crop Physiology and Technology, with 10 students enrolled. This course allowed students to gain insights on principle concepts and familiarity with practical tools in controlled environment agriculture.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>University of Hawaii</p><br /> <p>Different LED lighting (red, blue, 50% red:50% blue) could be used to supply artificial lighting for 'UH Manoa' lettuce plants.</p><br /> <p>Additional nutrients through a pellet fertilizer or nutrient solution are necessary for proper plant development when using the Martian soil simulants.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Arizona State University</p><br /> <p>ASU Indoor Farming Certificate Program: ASU is offering a new ASU certificate program &lsquo;Indoor Farming Certificate&rsquo; from the 2022 Fall semester.</p><br /> <p>Indoor Vertical Farming Workshops in Phoenix: Yujin Park, Zhihao Chen, and the City of Phoenix are developing 3-day workshops on indoor vertical farming, targeting a wide range of potential stakeholders in Phoenix.</p><br /> <p>Collaboration with the Zimin Institute for Smart and Sustainable Cities at ASU: Yujin Park and Zhihao Chen are working together with the Zimin Institute to create a closed-loop urban food production system that uses food waste as a primary nutrient source in indoor vertical farming settings.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>UC Davis University</p><br /> <p>CEE lab at UC Davis developed autonomous microclimate and nutrient monitoring systems using Raspberry PI and Aurdino for two small-scale indoor farming systems for conducting energy efficiency and automation research activities for indoor farming.&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Dr. Ahamed worked with a group of experts in the Global CEA consortium (GCEAC) with a mission of partnering globally to accelerate profitable indoor horticulture through rapidly collaborative innovation. The group worked with various aspects, including the technology roadmap, demonstration facilities, strong partnership networks, collaborative innovation projects, improved sustainability, workforce development, and market development.</p><br /> <p>CEE lab (Dr. Ahamed) published a comprehensive literature review on fodder production's current status and challenges in controlled environments. This study provides a comprehensive literature review on techniques and control strategies for indoor environments and watering that are currently used and could be adopted in the future to achieve the economic and environmental sustainability of controlled environment fodder production (CEFP).</p><br /> <p>A new graduate-level course, "Energy Sytems Modeling," for CEA facilities has been developed and will be offered (Dr. Ahamed) in fall 2022 at UC Davis.</p><br /> <p>UC Davis team led by Dr. Ahamed and Dr. Lieth participated in urban greenhouse challenge 3, organized by the University of Wageningen from the Netherlands. UC Davis team placed 5th over 30 teams with over 260 students and professionals from 20 countries.&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>LI-COR Environmental</p><br /> <p>LI-6800 Portable Photosynthesis System: The LI-6800, equipped with the 6800-01A Fluorometer, is the only instrument capable of the Dynamic Assimilation Technique. It allows you to collect data for full response curves in a fraction of the time required by steady state measurements. In contrast with the RACiR method, the Dynamic Assimilation Technique does not depend on empirical corrections and is traceable to first principles of gas exchange measurements.</p><br /> <p>LI-600 Porometer/Fluorometer: The LI-600 accelerometer/magnetometer measures three variables&ndash;heading, pitch, and roll&ndash;and the GPS receiver records leaf location and solar position. The LI-600 software uses these data to calculate the angle of incidence (its orientation to the sun at a given time and place) for each leaf measurement, allowing researchers to evaluate a plant&rsquo;s environmental status more thoroughly. A new barcode generator in the desktop software allows for creating custom barcode labels that can then be scanned by the LI-600 for sample information.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Plenty Inc.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>In 2022, Plenty earned a spot on Forward Fooding&rsquo;s FoodTech 500 list, was named one of South San Francisco&rsquo;s Best Tech Startups, and received an AgTech Breakthrough award.</p><br /> <p>Thirty-percent of the workforce in Compton, CA is local to the area, and Plenty has collaborated with Compton&rsquo;s mayor to support the greater community.</p><br /> <p>Plenty has identified a site for a campus of several farms growing different crops on the East Coast of the United States.</p><br /> <p>Plenty consistently supplies nutritious food to consumers through seasonal and climatic variations, pandemic disruptions, and supply chain limitations.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Sierra Space/ORBITEC, Madison WI</p><br /> <p>Microgravity Plant Growth: The Veggie units fabricated by Sierra Space were delivered to the ISS in 2014 and 2017 and continue to be actively used to support plant research and crop production tests. Sierra Space also continues to support the Advanced Plant Habitat Unit on ISS.&nbsp; The APH was delivered to orbit in 2017 and is also being regularly used to support plant research. Our XROOTS Aeroponics/Hydroponics Technology Demonstration is currently operating on the ISS.&nbsp; It is using one of our Veggie plant growth systems to provide lighting.</p><br /> <p>Aerospace Environmental Control &amp; Life Support Systems: Sierra Space is collaborating with Blue Origin to develop a commercial space station called Orbital Reef. Part of the station core will be comprised of Sierra Space&rsquo;s Large Inflatable Fabric Environment (LIFE) habitat modules. The LIFE habitat will incorporate 2-3 Astro Garden modules. The Orbital Reef will be serviced in part by Sierra Space Dream Chaser vehicles.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Koidra Inc</p><br /> <p>Autonomous greenhouse challenge: Koidra led Koala team, in collaboration with Neil Mattson at Cornell University and A.J.Both at Rutgers University, won the autonomous greenhouse challenge at the Netherlands&rsquo; Wageningen University &amp; Research repeatedly in 2021 and 2022. For the online challenge in 2021, Koala team outperformed 46 teams from 24 countries in growing virtual lettuce using AI and computer vision modeling.</p><br /> <p>In the 2022 challenge, 5 teams out of 46 teams above competed to autonomously grow a lettuce crop using an artificial intelligence algorithm. During the challenge, the Koidra team used its Ai algorithm to remotely adjust greenhouse parameters such as lighting, ventilation, heating, irrigation, fogging and blackout screens. Various monitors provided feedback on the greenhouse conditions. RGB (red, green, blue) images of the lettuce gave insights into its weight and growth in real time, while thermal images revealed the veggies&rsquo; rate of water loss through transpiration. Koala team won the challenge and has become the only AI team to outperform the Dutch reference growers by 27.8% in net improvement.</p><br /> <p>Autonomous growing pilot in commercial greenhouse: We partnered with Great Lakes Greenhouse, in collaboration with Harrow Research and Development center to receive 2 grants the Greenhouse Competitiveness and Innovation Initiative grant and the Independent Electricity System Operator for developing and piloting AI-based autonomous growing technology to remotely grow eggplants and cucumbers in a commercial greenhouse. Our trial has been started for several months.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Percival-Scientific</p><br /> <p>Percival-Scientific has developed new LED platforms to optimize spectral uniformity weighted to photosynthetic, Circadian, and insect responses.&nbsp; This optimization of spectral performance to use-case dependent spectral load demands led to very specific choices in LEDs for their spectral and intensity qualities.&nbsp; The LED selection involved solving the corresponding combinatorial problem of which LEDs to select for which defined purpose.&nbsp; This led us into the development of three platforms:</p><br /> <p>A general purpose 8-color system to simultaneously hit 420nm, 450nm, 530nm, 630nm, 660nm, 730nm spectral points (chosen for UV response, Chlorophyll A/B efficiency optimization, shade avoidance, and flowering response), as well as points between by choosing whites with large color temperature differences.</p><br /> <p>Broader, simplified dual-channel tiles.&nbsp; Including extended-white 3000-6000K CCT controllable white LED boards, as well as white interspaced with red to permit more efficient Circadian response regime adjustment.</p><br /> <p>Effective linear LED patterns for incubator and insect spectral demands.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>HortAmericas</p><br /> <p>Brillo Demonstration Greenhouse project had as objective to establish an automated, profitable and reproducible operation of a small-scale local greenhouse operation for young/new producers. It encompassed all phases, from the construction to the produce sale in grocery stores. This project proved high yield is possible in a low-tech greenhouse in harsh climate when using the right technology. For this project light was optimized to provide the maximum daily PAR while maintaining plant balance.</p><br /> <p>The Intracanopy lighting trial done with large Ohio greenhouse tomato grower demonstrated intracanopy light fixtures can help to maintain a higher plant density and fruit load which resulted in larger average fruit size and greater yields compared to the control group.</p><br /> <p>Using Intracanopy Light (ICL) fixtures enabled the research area to maintain a higher plant density and fruit load which resulted in larger average fruit size and greater yields compared to the control group.</p><br /> <p>Over the 31 week comparison time period, the research areas&rsquo; average fruit size was 162.61 grams, across all shoots, or 8.63% larger than the control group&rsquo;s 149.69 grams.</p><br /> <p>Total yield was 69,594.72 kg, or 14.61% more than the control group&rsquo;s 60,720.96 kg.</p><br /> <p>Trials will continue throughout the 2022 and 2023 season.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hort Americas created a new educational service to provide high quality short courses for young and experienced growers. In total 10 short courses were developed in the past year. All these courses are teached in live sessions and recordings are also available.</p><br /> <p>In our commitment to education we have created around 40 new videos in our new section on YouTube called &ldquo;Mastering Controlled Environment Agriculture&rdquo; these videos are videos are open to the public.</p><br /> <p>Hort Americas created seven new and free guides for growers. These guides are available on our website and free to the public.</p>

Publications

<p><strong>Rutgers University:</strong></p><br /> <p>Both, A.J. 2022. Greenhouse energy efficiency and management, Chapter 11. In Regional Perspectives on Farm Energy (D. Ciolkosz, Ed.). Springer, Switzerland. pp. 85-93. https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-90831-7</p><br /> <p>Both, A.J. 2022. On-farm energy production &ndash; Solar, wind, geothermal, Chapter 12. In Regional Perspectives on Farm Energy (D. Ciolkosz, Ed.). Springer, Switzerland. pp. 95-105. https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-90831-7</p><br /> <p>Lewus, D.C. and A.J. Both. 2022. Using computational fluid dynamics to evaluate high tunnel roof vent designs. AgriEngineering 4(3), 719-734; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriengineering4030046</p><br /> <p>Lubna, F.A., D.C. Lewus, T.J. Shelford, and A.J. Both. 2022. What you may not realize about vertical farming. Horticulturae 8(4), 322. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8040322</p><br /> <p>Shelford, T.J. and A.J. Both. 2021. On the technical performance characteristics of horticultural lamps. AgriEngineering 3:716-727. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriengineering3040046</p><br /> <p>Llewellyn, D., T.J. Shelford, Y. Zheng, and A.J. Both. 2022. Measuring and reporting lighting characteristics important for controlled environment plant production. Acta Horticulturae 1337:255-264. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2022.1337.34</p><br /> <p>Shelford, T., A.J. Both, and N. Mattson. 2022. A greenhouse daily light integral control algorithm that takes advantage of day ahead market electricity pricing. Acta Horticulturae 1337:277-282. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2022.1337.37</p><br /> <p>Brumfield, R.G., S. Arumugam, A.J. Both, M. Flahive Di Nardo, R. Govindasamy, D. Greenwood, J. Heckman, N. Polanin, A.A. Rouff, A. Rowe, and R. VanVranken. 2021. A successful educational program for women producers, beginning farmers, and military veterans that helped address farm risks during the COVID-19 pandemic. Presented at the 2021 Annual Conference of the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS), Hybrid, Denver, CO, August 5-9. HortScience 56(9) Supplement, S61. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.56.9S.S1</p><br /> <p>Both, A.J. 2022. A quick look into LEDs. GrowerTalks. April Issue. pp. 50-51.</p><br /> <p><strong>Michigan State University:</strong></p><br /> <p>Blanchard, M. and E. Runkle. 2021. Temperature, p. 64-79. In: J. Nau et al. (eds.). Ball Redbook, 19th ed., vol. 2. Ball Publishing, Chicago, IL.</p><br /> <p>Currey, C. and R.G. Lopez. 2021. Managing photoperiod in the greenhouse. p. 47&minus;49. In:</p><br /> <p>Beytes (ed.). Ball Redbook, 19th ed., vol. 1. Ball Publishing, Chicago, IL.</p><br /> <p>Kelly, N., V. Va&scaron;takaitė-Kairienė, and E.S. Runkle. 2022. Indoor lighting effects on plant nutritional compounds, p. 329-349. In: Kozai et al. (eds.). Plant Factory Basics, Applications, and Advances. Academic Press, London.</p><br /> <p>Lopez, R.G. and C. Currey. 2021. Light management. Crop culture and production. p. 80&minus;89. In:</p><br /> <p>Nau et al. (eds.). Ball Redbook, 19th ed., vol. 2. Ball Publishing, Chicago, IL.</p><br /> <p>Park, Y., C. Gomez, and E.S. Runkle. 2022. Indoor production of ornamental seedlings, vegetable transplants, and microgreens, p. 351-375. In: Kozai et al. (eds.). Plant Factory Basics, Applications, and Advances. Academic Press, London.</p><br /> <p>Runkle, E. 2021. Supplemental greenhouse lighting, p. 123-128. In: C. Beytes (ed.). Ball Redbook, 19th ed., vol. 1. Ball Publishing, West Chicago, IL.</p><br /> <p>Twaddell, J. and R. Lopez. 2021. Propagating vegetative crops p. 154&minus;169. In: J. Nau et al. (eds.). Ball Redbook, 19th ed., vol. 2. Ball Publishing, Chicago, IL.</p><br /> <p>Kohler, A. and R.G. Lopez. 2022. Air temperature during cutting propagation of cold-intermediate and &ndash;sensitive crops can be reduced if root-zone heating is provided. Sci. Hort. 304:1&ndash;8.</p><br /> <p>Kohler, A., DuRussel, N. and R.G. Lopez. 2022. A foliar spray application of indole-3-butyric acid promotes rooting of herbaceous annual cuttings similarly or better than a basal dip. Sci. Hort. 305:1&ndash;11.</p><br /> <p>Runkle, E.S., Y. Park, and Q. Meng. 2022. High photosynthetic photon flux density can attenuate effects of light quality. Acta Hort. 1337:333-340.</p><br /> <p>Va&scaron;takaitė-Kairienė, V., A. Brazaitytė, J. Miliauskienė, R. Sutulienė, K. Laužikė, A. Vir&scaron;ilė, G. Samuolienė, and E.S. Runkle. 2022. Photon distribution of sole-source lighting affects the mineral nutrient content of microgreens. Agriculture 12:1086.</p><br /> <p>Walters, K.J. and R.G. Lopez. 2022. Hydroponic basil production: Temperature influences volatile organic compound profile, but not overall consumer preference. Horticulturae 8(1):76.</p><br /> <p>Whitman, C., S. Padhye, and E.S. Runkle. 2022. A high daily light integral can influence photoperiodic flowering responses in long day herbaceous ornamentals. Sci. Hort. 295:110897.</p><br /> <p>Kacira. M., P.-E. Bournet, L.R. Khot, Q. Yang, I.L. Cruz, W. Luo, H.J. Schenk, H. Fatnassi and R. Lopez. 2021. Sustaining the future with precision horticulture and engineering. Chronica Horticulturae 61(2):17&minus;20. </p><br /> <p>Kelly, N., Q. Meng, and E. Runkle. Photoperiod, light intensity, and daily light integral. Produce Grower Mar.:16-19.</p><br /> <p>Kohler A. and R.G. Lopez. 2022. A study of the latest young plant technology: Getting to the root of basewell cuttings. GrowerTalks 85(11):48&ndash;49.</p><br /> <p>Kohler, A., A. Soster, and R.G. Lopez. 2022. PGRs and succulents. Greenhouse Product News 32(7):26&ndash;31. </p><br /> <p>Lopez. R., C. Kubota, E. Runkle and C. Mitchell. 2022. Indoor farming FAQs. Inside Grower 10(2):48&ndash;49.</p><br /> <p>Lopez. R. 2022. Are there risks of working under LED supplemental lighting? E-GRO Alert 11(10):1&ndash;5.</p><br /> <p>Meng, Q. and E. Runkle. 2022. Fixed vs. dynamic light quality for indoor hydroponic lettuce. Produce Grower Feb.:14-17.</p><br /> <p>Runkle, E. 2022. A closer look at LED efficacy. Greenhouse Product News 32(1):42.</p><br /> <p>Runkle, E. 2022. Air, leaf, and root-zone temperature. Greenhouse Product News 32(7):50.</p><br /> <p>Runkle, E. 2022. Blue light as a PGR. Greenhouse Product News 32(2):50.</p><br /> <p>Runkle, E. 2022. Evaporative cooling, part 1: Methods. Greenhouse Product News 32(4):42.</p><br /> <p>Runkle, E. 2022. Evaporative cooling, part 2: Maintenance. Greenhouse Product News 32(6):42.</p><br /> <p>Runkle, E. 2022. Futuristic light(ing) in horticulture. Greenhouse Product News 32(8):42.</p><br /> <p>Runkle, E. 2022. Light and temperature responses of bedding plants. Greenhouse Product News 32(3):34.</p><br /> <p>Runkle, E. 2021. The buzz of secondary metabolites. Greenhouse Product News 31(11):42.</p><br /> <p>Runkle, E. 2022. The shade-avoidance response. Greenhouse Product News 32(5):58.</p><br /> <p>Runkle, E. 2021. Water vapor-pressure deficit. Greenhouse Product News 31(12):34.</p><br /> <p>Runkle, E., M. Kacira, and C. Mitchell. 2022. More questions answered. Inside Grower Aug.:16-17.</p><br /> <p>Spall, C. and R.G. Lopez. 2022. Blooming by lamplight. Greenhouse Product News 32(6):28&ndash;31.</p><br /> <p>Walters, K.J. and R.G. Lopez. 2021. Culinary herbs: Balancing light and average daily temperature. Produce Grower. 18&ndash;21.</p><br /> <p>Walters, K. and R.G. Lopez. 2021. Lighting up basil flavor. Produce Grower. 40&ndash;44.</p><br /> <p><strong>Purdue University</strong></p><br /> <p>Mitchell, C. 2022. History of controlled environment horticulture: indoor farming and its key technologies. HORTSCIENCE 57(2):247&ndash;256. 2022. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI16159-21</p><br /> <p>Morsi, A., G. Massa, R. Morrow, R. Wheeler, and C. Mitchell. 2022. Comparison of two controlled-release fertilizer formulations for cut-and-come-again harvest yield and mineral content of Lactuca sativa L. cv. Outredgeous grown under International Space Station environmental conditions. Life Sciences in Space Research 32 (2022) 71&ndash;78 <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lssr.2021.12.001">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lssr.2021.12.001</a></p><br /> <p><strong>University of Arizona</strong></p><br /> <p>G.A. Giacomelli, Updated Foreword to "Basic Principles of Growing by Plant Empowerment" by P.A.M. Geelan, J.O. Voogt, P.A. van Weel, The Netherlands.</p><br /> <p>Waller, R., M. Kacira, E. Magadley, M. Teitel, I. Yehia. 2022. Evaluating the performance of flexible, semi-transparent large-area organic photovoltaic arrays deployed on a greenhouse. AgriEngineering (Accepted)</p><br /> <p>van Delden., S.h., M. SharathKumar, M. Butturini, L. J. A. Graamans, E. Heuvelink, M. Kacira, et al.. 2022. Current status and future challenges in implementing and upscaling vertical farming systems. Nature Food, 2: 944&ndash;956.</p><br /> <p>Zhang, Y. and M. Kacira. 2022. Analysis of climate uniformity in indoor plant factory system with computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Biosystems Engineering, 220: 73-86</p><br /> <p>Blum, M.A. Blum, C.H. Parrish II, D. Hebert, D. Houck, T. Moot, N. Makarov, K. Ramasamy, H. McDaniel, G.A. Giacomelli, and M.R. Bergren. Enhancing Light Quality with Luminescent Films Through Tunable Quantum Dot Emission for Hydroponic Lettuce Production, (In review, Hort Technology)</p><br /> <p>Alcorn, J.R. G.A. Giacomelli and B.T. Scott (2023). Sustained Growth and Yield in Elevated Greenhouse Air Temperatures through Control of VPD. ActaHort from IHC, Angers, France. (In review)</p><br /> <p>Blum, M.A., C.H. Parrish II, D. Hebert, D. Houck, N. Makarov, K. Ramasamy, H. McDaniel, G.A. Giacomelli and M.R. Bergren (2023). Enhancing light use efficiency and tomato fruit yield with quantum dot films to modify the light spectrum. ActaHort for IHC, Angers, France. (In review)</p><br /> <p>Shasteen, KC., J. Seong, S. Valle De Souza, C. Kubota, M. Kacira. 2022. Optimal Planting Density: Effects on Harvest Time, and Yield. Presented at IHC 2022, Anger, France. ActaHorticulturae (In review).</p><br /> <p><strong>Ohio State University </strong></p><br /> <p>Hollick, J.R. and C. Kubota. 2022. Effect of self- and inter-cultivar grafting on growth and nutrient content in sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.). Front. Plant Sci. 13:921440. Doi:10.3389/fpls.2022.921440</p><br /> <p>Ertle, J.M. and C. Kubota. 2022. Watermelon seedling quality, growth, and development as affected by grafting and chilling exposure during simulated transportation. HortScience. 57:889-896. Doi:10.21273/HORTSCI16557-22</p><br /> <p>Chowdhury, B.D.B., Y.J. Son, C. Kubota, and R. Tronstad. 2022. Automated workflow analysis in vegetable grafting using an Ultra-Wide Band based real-time indoor location tracking system. Computer and Electronics in Agriculture. 194:106773. Doi:10.1016/j.compag.2022.106773</p><br /> <p>Chowdhury, B.D.B., S. Masoud, Y.J. Son, C. Kubota, and R. Tronstad. 2021. A dynamic HMM-based real-time location tracking system utilizing UHF passive RFID. J. Radio Frequency Identification. Doi: 10.1109/JRFID.2021.3102507</p><br /> <p>Kubota, C., G. Papio, and J. Ertle. 2022. Technological overview of tip-burn management for lettuce (Lactuca sativa) in vertical farming conditions. Acta Horticulturae (in review)</p><br /> <p><strong>University of Delaware</strong></p><br /> <p>Runkle, E.S., Y. Park, and Q. Meng. 2022. High photosynthetic photon flux density can attenuate effects of light quality. Acta Hort. 1337:333&ndash;340.</p><br /> <p><strong>UC Davis</strong></p><br /> <p>Ahamed, M. S., Sultan, M., Shamshiri, R. R., Rahman, M. M., Aleem, M., &amp; Balasundram, S. K. (2022). Present Status and Challenges of Fodder Production in Controlled Environments: A Review. Smart Agricultural Technology, 100080. </p><br /> <p>Qian, Y., Hibbert, L. E., Milner, S., Katz, E., Kliebenstein, D. J., &amp; Taylor, G. (2022). Improved yield and health benefits of watercress grown in an indoor vertical farm. Scientia Horticulturae, 300, 111068.</p><br /> <p>Buxbaum, N., Lieth, J. H., &amp; Earles, M. (2022). Non-destructive Plant Biomass Monitoring With High Spatio-Temporal Resolution via Proximal RGB-D Imagery and End-to-End Deep Learning. Frontiers in plant science, 13.</p><br /> <p><strong>LI-COR</strong></p><br /> <p>Saathoff, A. J., &amp; Welles, J. (2021). Gas exchange measurements in the unsteady state. Plant, Cell &amp; Environment, 44(11), 3509&ndash;3523. https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.14178</p><br /> <p>Hamerlynch, E.P., O&rsquo;Connor, R.C. (2021). Photochemical performance of reproductive structures in Great Basin bunchgrasses in response to soil-water availability. AoB PLANTS, 14(1), plab076.&nbsp; https://doi.org/10.1093/aobpla/plab076</p><br /> <p>Saunders, A., &amp; Drew, D.M. (2022) Stomatal responses of Eucalyptus spp. under drought can be predicted with a gain&ndash;risk optimization model. Tree Physiology, 42(4), 815-830. https://doi.org/10.1093/treephys/tpab145</p><br /> <p>Yousaf, M.J., F. Ali and F. Ali. 2022. Effect of sodium chloride stress on the adaptation of Zea mays seedlings at the expense of growth. Sarhad Journal of Agriculture, 38(1): 249-259. <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.sja/2022/38.1.249.259">https://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.sja/2022/38.1.249.259</a></p><br /> <p><strong>Sierra Space/ORBITEC</strong></p><br /> <p>Morrow, R., J. Wetzel, and S. Moffatt. 2022. In situ Manufacturing derived from Bioregenerative Life Support Systems. ICES-2-22-435.</p><br /> <p>Moffatt, S., R. Morrow, J. Wetzel, and J. Klopotic. 2022. Astro Garden&reg; &ldquo;Salad Diet" Scale Ground Prototype Assembly and Plant Growth Testing. ICES-2022-17.</p><br /> <p>Klopotic, J.M. and J.P. Wetzel. 2022. Trash compaction and processing system development and testing. ICES-2022-104.</p><br /> <p>Marandola, E. and W. O&rsquo;Hara. 2022. Assessing dust migration through pressurized habitable volumes. ICES-2022-328.</p><br /> <p>Burgner, S.E., K. Nermali, G.D. Massa, R.M. Wheeler, R.C. Morrow, and C. Mitchell. 2020. Growth and Photosynthetic Responses of Chinese Cabbage to continuously elevated carbon dioxide in a simulated Space Station "Veggie&rdquo; crop-production environment. Life Sciences in Space Research, 77:83-88. </p><br /> <p>Abney, M., R. Gatens, K. Lange, B. Brown, J. Wetzel, R. Morrow, W. Schneider, C. Stanley. 2020. Comparison of Exploration Oxygen Recovery Technology Options Using ESM and LSMAC. ICES-2020-07-31.</p>

Impact Statements

1. Percival: Developments in lighting architecture at Percival have enabled us to expand our spectral capabilities. We can reach extended doses of intensity from UVC, UVB, UVA, particular chlorophyll peaks, particular insect response, shade response, flowering response, down to infrared regimes for bacteriochlorophyll, and are able to resolve the combinatorial issues to solve some of these spectral demands simultaneously.

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Report Information

Participants

Last name First name Institution
Addo Philip McGill University
Ahsan T M Abir University of California, Davis
Barickman Casey Fluence
Beck Michael Royal Gold
Bellizzi Nick Gotham Greens
Biradar Kishan University of Delaware
Birtell Eva University of Delaware
Blonquist Mark Apogee Instruments, Inc.
Both A.J. Rutgers University
Brenner Tammy Colorado State University
Bubenheim David NASA
Bugbee Bruce Utah State university
Burgner Samuel McGill University
Concollato Luke Blue Marble Space Institute of Science
Dyanko Laurent University of Bologna
Eddy Rob Resource Innovation Institute
Ertle John The Ohio State University
Eylands Nate University of Minnesota
Ezzo Matt Environmental Growth Chambers
Farinacci Joe BFG Supply
Fatzinger Brendan Utah State University
Feng Xiaoyu Iris North Dakota State University
Friesen Patrick Bio Chambers Incorporated
Frymark Jenn Gotham Greens
Gandy Brian Valoya Inc.
Gardner Gary University of Minnesota
George Ben BFG Supply
Giacomelli Gene University of Arizona - CEAC
Gildersleeve Michael Purdue University
Goodrich Payton UC Berkeley
Grimsley Wendell Fluence
Grist Glen Conviron
Ha Mya Koidra Inc.
Hammad Ahmed Conviron
Hao Xiuming Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Harland-Dunaway Marcus University of California Riverside
Heins Royal HRT Services/Michigan State University
Hernandez Edmundo BrightFarms, Inc.
Hernandez Ricardo NCSU
Hershkowitz Julie Utah State University
Hollick Jason The Ohio Sate University
Humphrey Samson North Carolina State University
Hupp Jason LI-COR Environmental
Imberti David Percival Scientific, Inc.
Ivans Sinisha PP Systems
Jeong Sangjun Texas AM University
Jia Fei Heliospectra
Jia Xinhua North Dakota State University
Jinkerson Robert UC Riverside
Kacira Murat The University of Arizona
Kang Hyeonjeong Michigan State University
Kanwar Rameshwar Iowa State University
Karlsson Meriam University of Alaska Fairbanks
Kaufmann Christopher University of Arizona
Kennebeck Emily University of Delaware
Kiekhaefer Daniel Percival Scientific, Inc.
Kim Changhyeon The Ohio State University
Kiss Thomas Fluence
Kohler Annika Michigan State University
Kopf Mary Jo LI-COR Environmental
Kuniyoshi Harumi Brightfarms
Langenfeld Noah Utah State University
Lantin Stephen University of Florida
Lee Daniel Current Lighting
Lefsrud Mark McGill University
Levesque Serge University of Guelph
Lin Yiyun The Ohio State University
Ling Peter The Ohio State University
Liu Jun Utah State University
Lopez Roberto Michigan State University
Mamrocha Brian Conviron
Martin Aaron PathoSans Technologies
Massa Gioia NASA KSC
Mattson Neil Cornell University
Mauss Claire University of California, Riverside
McCollum Will Valoya Inc.
McKean Tom Plenty
Meng Qingwu William University of Delaware
Meyer Hannah Genective USA Corp
Mitchell Cary Purdue
Moore Andrew Corteva Agriscience
Moreno Andy Ceres University
Morrow Robert Sierra Space
Mortley Desmond Tuskegee University
Narvaez Andres University of California Riverside
Niu Genhua Texas AM AgriLife Researhc
Park Yujin Arizona State University
Pauls Robert Bio Chambers Incorporated
Peng Ying Bayer Crop Science
Proven John Conviron
Putra Ketut Koidra Inc.
Qian Yufei University of California, Davis
Ramsey Ronald Sensei Ag
Reid Sharon Conviron
Reusch Tim Dramm Corporation
Ries Jonathan Arizona State University
Rooijakkers Pieter Light4Food
Rowan Beth UC Davis Genome Center
Ruebelt Martin NatureSweet Brands
Runkle Erik Michigan State University
Saravitz Carole North Carolina State University
Sayle Erik Consultant
Schlick Greg NASA/Ames Research Center
Schwieterman Michael Plenty
Settles A. Mark NASA Ames Research Center
Sharma Charu Gotham Greens
Sheibani Fatemeh Purdue University
Shelford Timothy Cornell/Rutgers University
Shelton Annie University Of California Riverside
Shi Xiaonan North Carolina State University
Short Gregg Greenhouse Design LLC
Skabelund Hikari Utah State University
Smith Ron Valoya Inc
Spalholz Hans Current Lighting
Stoochnoff Jared Canadian Spatial Agency
Stutte Gary SyNRGE LLC
Swenson Nate Royal Gold/ Cal Poly Humboldt
Szenteczki Mark UC Riverside
Taylor Gail University of California, Davis
Theroux Marc Bio Chambers Incorporated
Timmons Bret Cornell University
Tripathi Pooja The Ohio State University
Valle de Souza Simone Michigan State University
Veach Ashley Fluence
Vickroy Elizabeth Corteva Agriscience
West Lee Hiphen Ag Imaging Solution
Westmoreland Mitchell Utah State University
Wheeler Raymond NASA Kennedy Space Center
Willson Graham Conviron
Wright Rustin Biora by MineARC Systems
Yelton Melanie Grow Big Consultants
Yorio Neil Maui Greens Inc.
Zhang Ying University of Florida
Zhen Shuyang Texas AM University
Zheng Youbin University of Guelph
Zylstra Alan DRAMMwater

Brief Summary of Minutes

NCERA-101 Business Meeting Summary

Meeting started at 8:04AM, April 19, 2023

Introduction and Welcoming Remarks from meeting host, Shamim Ahamed, and Prof. Fadi Fathallah, Chair, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of California, Davis

NIFA Representative Report (Steven J. Thomson)

• Steven noted that NIFA has about 65 National Program Leaders (NPLs), due to turnover about 80% have less than 2 years’ experience


• Each NPL is assigned a state to review their annual AREERA Plans of Work and Annual Reports of Accomplishments as part of federal capacity grant programs
  
  
  
  • Each state’s FY2022 annual reports of accomplishments are due May 1, 2023
  
  
  
  


• The relatively new Urban, Indoor, and Emerging Agriculture Program has gone through it’s first funding round, awarding 12 grants for $9.4 M


• NIFA is always searching for volunteers to be a grant review panelist, you can enroll online through the NIFA portal or contact Steven directly: j.thomson@usda.gov

Introduction of the NCERA-101 Executive Officers by Marc Theroux (BioChambers)

• Chair: Marc Theroux (BioChambers)


• Chair Elect: Dr. Ricardo Hernandez (North Carolina State University)


• Secretary: Dr. Neil Mattson (Cornell University)

Recognition of Industry Sponsors by Marc Theroux (BioChambers)

Thanks to our sponsors (in particular their support contributes to student travel scholarships)

Apogee Instruments	Heliospectra
Ball Horticultural	Koidra
BioChambers	LI-COR
Biora by MineARCSystems	Light4Food
BrightFarms	NatureSweet
Consolidated Greenhouse Solutions	P.L. Light Systems
Conviron	Percival
Corteva Agscience	PP Systems
Current	SyNRGE
Dramm	UC Davis Dept. of Plant Sciences
Environmental Growth Chambers	Valoya
Fluence

 

Approval of Minutes from 2022 by Dr. Ricardo Hernandez (North Carolina State University)

• Motion to approve the minutes by Dr. Bruce Bugbee (Utah State University). Motion seconded by Dr. Gary Stutte (SyNRGE) approved. Minutes approved unanimously.

 

Announcements of Other Relevant Conferences (All)

• 2023 International Workshop on VF - China, May 22-24


• 2023 Advancing CEA workshop co-hosted by University of Toledo, USDA ARS, DOE, and NASA – Toledo OH, June 27-29 (https://www.utoledo.edu/research/advancing-controlled-environment-agriculture/)


• 2023 ASABE - Omaha NE, July 9-12 (https://asabemeetings.org/)


• 2023 ASHS - Orlando FL, July 31 to August 4 (https://ashs.org/)


• 2023 Greensys - Cancun MX, October 22-27 (http://www.greensys2023.org/)


• 2024 VertiFarm2024: III International Workshop of Vertical Farming – Bologna Italy, January 16-19 (https://site.unibo.it/vertifarm2024/en)


• 2024 X International Symposium on Light in Horticulture, Seoul Korea, May 19- 22 (https://www.ishs.org/symposium/716)

Administrative Advisor’s Report by Dr. Ramesh Kanwar (Iowa State University)

• Climate smart agriculture/horticulture and minimizing carbon footprint and water use are becoming large research/outreach opportunities


• Our NCERA committee is distinguished in the extent of industry participation, and international participation (esp. Canada)


• Chair, Marc Theroux, submitted an application on behalf of NCERA-101 for the 2023 Nomination for Excellence in Multistate Research Award. We were very close to being accepted but didn’t quite make it – encouraged to resubmit.


• We have 60 days from the annual meeting to submit our meeting with key outcomes/impacts (3 pages)

Membership Report submitted by Mark Romer (McGill University) and reported by Dr. Carole Saravitz (North Carolina State University)

• This year marks the 48th annual meeting of the group


• We are grateful to Shamim Ahamed and the team at UC Davis for the organization of this meeting – our first at Davis!


• Our current membership stands at 175 members, up 2 from last year.


• We have 142 different institutions from 34 US states and 9 different countries.


• We continue to have strong participation and sponsorship support from our 56 industry member institutions. Thank you to all for your contributions which allow us to support the graduate students who are the future of this organization and CE research & industry.

 

Membership Number .................................... March 2022............... 173

                                                                        March 2023............... 175  

• Additions.............................. 5


• Deletions.............................. 3


• Net Gain (Loss).................... 2

 

Membership Composition                                                                  Institutions           Members

• Phytotrons & Controlled Environment Facilities 8.................................................................................. 10


• University Departments, Agr. Exp. Stations 67................................................................................ 87


• Government Organizations & Contractors 12................................................................................ 12


• Industry Representatives 55................................................................................ 66

Total Number of Institutions / Members                         142............................................................................ 175

Total Number of Countries....................................... 9

Total Number of US States..................................... 34

New Institutions:

• University of Florida, Dept. Agricultural and Biological Engineering


• University of Queensland (Australia), Plant Growth Facility


• BrightFarms


• RedSea Science and Technology Company


• Sierra Space Corporation

Website Report by Dr. Carole Saravitz (North Carolina State University)

Website Summary, October 2022 to April 2023, https://www.controlledenvironments.org/

Website location	Page views	% page-views
Meetings	2116	23.8%
Landing page	1859	20.9%
Growth-chamber-handbook	686	7.7%
Members	416	4.7%
Activities	325	3.7%
Past-meetings	250	2.8%
International-controlled-env-guidelines	218	2.5%
Reporting-guidelines	195	2.2%
Officers	191	2.2%
Station reports	146	1.6%

• Carole noted she keeps the website update including posting station reports (and a list of which institutions submitted them in a specific year)


• Carole noted that meeting info gets the most hits followed by the main page, and nice to know that the growth chamber handbook is still relevant at #3 most frequent hits.


• Any website comments, questions, suggestions, send them to Dr. Saravitz’s (NCSU) email (carole@ncsu.edu)

 

Graduate Students Travel Grant Update by Dr. Ricardo Hernandez (North Carolina State University)

• This year there were 22 students that received travel awards ranging from $250-500 per student. Fifteen different universities were represented. Awards are provided to the university as a travel reimbursement. Thank you to our generous sponsors


• To get the reimbursement the university should complete an invoice (template provided) and submit to Bruce Bugbee at Utah State University

Lighting Talk Competition Update (Ricardo Hernandez) by Dr. Ricardo Hernandez (North Carolina State University)

• Students will compete in lighting talks. The top 3 students will be recognized at the gala dinner.


• Winners for 2023 were:
  
  
  
  • 3^rd place (tie): Noah J. Langenfeld, Utah State University, Hydroponic Nutrient Solutions Designed Using Mass-balance Enable Continuous Recirculation Without Wasting Water or Fertilizer
  
  
  • 3^rd place (tie): Kishan Biradar, University of Delaware, A Calcium-Mobilizing Biostimulant Mitigates Lettuce Tipburn
  
  
  • 3^rd place (tie): Sam Humphrey, North Carolina State University, Impact of Elevated CO₂ and Two Daily Light Integrals on Strawberry Stock
  
  
  • 2^nd place: John Ertle, The Ohio State University, Reduced Finishing Light can Limit Tipburn Incidence and Severity of Lettuce with a Yield Penalty
  
  
  • 1^st place: Mitchell Westmoreland, Utah State University, Optimizing Temperature for Yield and Quality of Medical Cannabis
  
  
  
  

 

Instrument Package & Financial Report by Dr. Bruce Bugbee (Utah State University)

• Utah State University maintains 4 instrument packages on behalf of NCERA-101 which can be rented for instrument calibration. It’s important to have reference sensors to check if discrepancies are due to sensor error or user error.


• Utah State maintains the treasury for NCERA-101. Our balance is currently at $28,000. Funds are used for student travel awards, maintaining the instrument package, etc.


• The Marc van Iersel student travel fund has been set up to honor Marc: https://marcvanierselfund.org/
  
  
  
  • Three companies have made a seed donation of $30,000 to initiate this award: Campbell Scientific, Meter Group, and Apogee Instruments.
  
  
  • Bruce was able to get this set up with no University overhead, not considered an endowment in perpetuity to avoid university overhead – but it is intended this fund will have a long life
  
  
  
  

Guidelines: ASABE Standards efforts by Dr. Mark Lefsrud (McGill University)

• There has been a push (ex. utility companies) to update/publish various CEA standards.
  
  
  
  • ES-311 - X640 - Definition of Metrics of Radiation for Plant Growth (Controlled Environment Horticulture) Applications. Will be Renewed. New committee created to modify and include ePAR.
  
  
  • ES-311 - X642 Recommended Methods of Measurements and Testing for LED Radiation Products for Plant Growth and Development. Published, undergoing a review and will need an update when S640 is updated.
  
  
  • PAFS - 30 - X653 Recommended Practice for Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC), and Lighting Systems Used for Indoor Plant Growth without sunlight. Published ANSI/ASABE/ASHRAE EP 653.
  
  
  • ES-311 - X644 Performance Criteria for Optical Radiation Devices and Systems Installed for Plant Growth and Development. On hold and anticipated to be published in 2024.
  
  
  
  


• Other standards of interest: ANSI/UL 8800-2023 Standard for safety for horticultural lighting and equipment and systems which is a revision of ANSI/UL 8800-2021.

Controlled environment research data sharing task force by Dr. Neil Mattson (Cornell University)

• The CEA Open Data Project (CEAOD) is a public repository and structure for submitting CEA data (climate, crop measurements, and metafiles) https://ceaod.github.io/


• Users may be interested in submitting data to:
  
  
  
  • Increase available CEA data which can lead to new data analytics tools
  
  
  • As part of the public dissemination of data for scientific journal publication and as part of the data management plan for federal grants
  
  
  
  


• Data from several crops are currently online

Future Meetings:

• 2024 – co-hosts Dr. Chris Currey (Iowa State University) and Dr. Jonathan Frantz (Corteva)
  
  
  
  • Rought framework: planning around the end of March or early April. The meeting will likely take place in Ames. Our tour day will likely include the Des Moines Botanical Garden, Corteva, and other stops.
  
  
  
  


• 2025 – Leo Lobato (Karma Verde, Mexico)
  
  
  
  • Our executive committee will contact Leo to discuss his interest hosting the international meeting.
  
  
  
  


• 2026 – Rhuanito Ferrarezi (University of Georgia)

Election of New Secretary

• Celina Gomez (Purdue University) was nominated by Marc Theroux (BioChambers) and the nomination was seconded by Dr. Gioia Massa (NASA). The vote passed unanimously to elect Dr. Gomez.

New Business Open Discussion

• Excellence in Multistate Research Award (Marc Theroux) was submitted (for a second time) did not win – but will try again


• Membership Secretary Funding (Marc Theroux)
  
  
  
  • A proposal was brought forward for NCERA-101 to provide support for the membership secretary position with compensation for up to $1,500 for travel and accommodations to attend the annual meeting (reimbursed from NCERA-101 account) plus annual registration fees (covered by the meeting host)
  
  
  • The executive committee would be responsible for selecting the new Membership Secretary (when applicable)
  
  
  • Responsibilities of the membership secretary:
    
    
    
    • Maintain the membership list (accept/add/remove members)
    
    
    • Provide a membership summary at annual meetings
    
    
    • Maintain and manage the NCERA-101 email distribution list (used for job postings, annual meeting notifications, etc..)
    
    
    • Maintain the membership meeting attendance records (used for 20 Year member awards)
    
    
    • Maintain the list of past executive members (used for 20 Year member awards)
    
    
    • Support annual meeting host (typical meeting format, fees, sponsorship, etc..)
    
    
    • Support executive (new member responsibilities, selecting new award candidates, etc...)
    
    
    • Maintain NCERA-101 archives (6000+ files)
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • The above motion was made by Dr. Bruce Bugbee (Utah State University) and seconded by Dr. Carole Savitz (North Carolina, State University). The motion met unanimous approval.
  
  
  • Our current longstanding secretary Mark Romer was acknowledged for his many contributions maintaining our membership list, sending out email notifications (including job positions), sending records to include on the website and serving as a source of continuity for the group (the executive committee passed through on 3-year terms).
  
  
  
  


• NCERA-101 Significant Organization Award (Marc Theroux)
  
  
  
  • A proposal was brought forward by Marc Theroux for a new award to be periodically recognized by NCERA-101: Award for Significant Organizational Contributions to the Controlled Environment Sciences:
    
    
    
    • Criteria: An organization that has been deemed by the NCERA-101 to have had a significant impact on the field of controlled environment science. Criteria would include aspects such as significant facilities, publications and/or significant technological advances developed in the field of controlled environments for plants. The award shall be decided by the NCERA-101 executive committee and presented at the annual meeting.
    
    
    • Eligibility: University, government or commercial facilities or organizations working in the area of controlled environments. 
    
    
    • Nomination Process: Organization must be nominated by an NCERA-101 member and provide supporting information of significant contributions made to the controlled environments sciences.
    
    
    • Award: Plaque to be awarded at annual meeting
    
    
    • Summary of significant contributions to present and post on the website 
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • Recipients: NCSU Phytotron (approved at 2018 NCERA-101 meeting, not yet awarded) and Duke Phytotron (approved at 2018 NCERA-101 meeting, not yet awarded)
  
  
  • Discussion:
    
    
    
    • Award would be on an ad hoc basis (not a yearly award)
    
    
    • Proposed amendment: “When a nomination is put forward, the executive committee will appoint a subcommittee that will review the nomination and make a recommendation.”
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • Marc Theroux (BioChambers) moved to proceed with the motion (including the amendment with the subcommittee). The motion was seconded by Dr. Erik Runkle. The vote passed by large majority (1 no vote).
  
  
  • Marc Theroux requested if Carole Saravitz would put together a paragraph on the accomplishments of the two recipients: NCSU Phytotron and Duke Phytotron
  
  
  • The executive committee will check with Mark Romer regarding the procedure for procuring the plaque.
  
  
  
  


• Passing of the Gavel to Dr. Ricardo Hernadez (North Carolina State University) new Chair

MEETING ADJOURNED

Accomplishments

<p>The complete station reports are available on the NCERA-101 website</p><br /> <p><a href="https://www.controlledenvironments.org/station-reports/">https://www.controlledenvironments.org/station-reports/</a></p><br /> <p><strong>Accomplishments</strong></p><br /> <p><strong><em>Short-term outcomes</em></strong></p><br /> <p>Team members have contributed research outcomes across several themes:</p><br /> <ul><br /> <li>Lighting strategies to improve crop yield, quality, nutrition and reduce energy use:<br /> <ul><br /> <li>Experiments at Cornell under sole-source lighting found plants that received 20% far-red (vs. 2% far-red control) had a 70-80% larger fresh and dry weight</li><br /> <li>Developed artificial lighting systems for Hawaiian leafy green cultivars (HI)</li><br /> <li>MI investigated the influence of photoperiodic lighting on specialty cut flowers. Results indicate that flower initiation of both <em>Caryopteris </em>and <em>Craspedia </em>occurs regardless of daylength, while floral development of <em>Caryopteris </em>requires SD.</li><br /> <li>MI quantified flowering time of several petunia cultivars grown in greenhouses at a gradient of temperatures (12 to 24 &deg;C ) under a low or high light intensity. Light intensity had little effect on flowering time at the higher temperatures but had a greater effect at low temps.</li><br /> <li>MSU collaborated with an LED company to study the effects of partly substituting some of the red light from cool-white LEDs with red LEDs for lettuce and kale. Plant growth was similar, indicating that a &ldquo;Horti White&rdquo; LED-based solution enabled greater use of the most efficient red LEDs.</li><br /> <li>Red-fluorescent greenhouse shading material increased the biomass accumulation of floriculture, leafy green, and fruiting crops. We are currently conducting emulated lighting experiments indoors to determine if increasing or decreasing the concentration of the red-fluorescent plastic additive can be optimized to further increase biomass accumulation (MI).</li><br /> <li>Butterhead lettuce plants had increased leaf area, plant height, and fresh weight at a 24 h photoperiod compared to an 18 and 21 h photoperiod at 17.82 DLI (Fluence).</li><br /> <li>Beta testing novel vertical farm light qualities with increased efficacy with and without far-red light impacts sweet crisp lettuce morphology, yield, biomass accumulation. There was a 13 and 24 % increase in Danstar and Finstar fresh mass, respectively, when comparing the far-red LED light quality to the novel standard light quality (Fluence).</li><br /> <li>Rutgers University continues to evaluate a variety of lamp fixtures for light output, light distribution and power consumption using our 2-meter integrating sphere and a small darkroom.</li><br /> <li>Texas A&amp;M: while adding UV-A or FR to white LEDs had subtle impacts on growth, morphology, and nutrition. Considering the costs of LEDs with UV-A and FR spectrums, commonly available white LED lights are recommended for commercial production.</li><br /> <li>Texas A&amp;M: Supplemental lighting (SL) of greenhouse hydroponic leafy greens was not responsive to light quality (including treatments with UV-A, red and blue LED, and full-spectrum white) but does response to quantity.</li><br /> <li>FR light and temperature regimes interactively affect plant morphology, growth, and biomass in lettuce and basil (Texas A&amp;M).</li><br /> </ul><br /> </li><br /> <li>Plant nutrition and cultural management:<br /> <ul><br /> <li>A chemical biostimulant was effective at reducing tipburn of greenhouse hydroponic lettuce by 88% compared to the control (DE)</li><br /> <li>Secured a 5-yr research grant to advance CEA production of medicinal and high value crops (Guelph)</li><br /> <li>MI investigated the influence of reducing the air temperature and providing blue + red end-of-production sole-source lighting on red-leaf lettuce. Results indicate that reducing the air average daily temperature to 8 or 14 &deg;C increased anthocyanin content but negatively impacted fresh mass and rate of leaf unfolding.</li><br /> <li>Preliminary results suggest that vernalizing ranunculus corms for 2 to 3 weeks at &le;7.5 &deg;C and forcing plants under long days hastens flower development (MI).</li><br /> <li>Growth and development of tropical foliage plants was promoted at air temperatures between 24 to 28 &deg;C. However, 32 &deg;C and continuous 24-h of light had a negative impact on all crops (MI).</li><br /> <li>Growth chamber experiments with <em>Evolvulus</em> found a combination of higher relative humidity and cheesecloth covering decreased tipburn occurrence and severity (MI).</li><br /> <li>Rutgers University completed a comprehensive evaluation of ventilation strategies for high tunnel crop production.</li><br /> <li>Biostimulants resulted in significant positive effects on shoot and root morphology or biomass for onion seedlings including early bulb growth (Texas A&amp;M).</li><br /> <li>Texas A&amp;M compared the effects of three organic fertilizers (Sustane 4-6-4, Nature Safe 7-7-7, and Dramatic 2-4-1) at four application rates with conventional fertilizer with matching rates of nitrogen (N) on watermelon seedling growth and morphology. The best performance on aerial morphological characters was observed in the highest fertilization rates of control and Dramatic 2-4-1 treatments (0.84 g/L N). However, root performance showed different trends among fertilizers from aerial morphology of watermelon seedlings.</li><br /> </ul><br /> </li><br /> <li>Plants and space applications:<br /> <ul><br /> <li>Participation in Phase 2 of the Canadian Space Agency and Impact Canada Deep Space Food Challenge (Guelph)</li><br /> <li>Barley seeds were exposed to the harsh space environment for 338 days on the ISS and subsequently successfully germinated in the lab (Guelph)</li><br /> <li>Completed a lunar lander plant production concept design study (Lunar Exploration Agriculture Feasibility (LEAF)) (Guelph, McGill and Canadensys)</li><br /> </ul><br /> </li><br /> <li>Developed and tested new sensors, control systems, and instrumentation:<br /> <ul><br /> <li>Texas A&amp;M: A deep learning model using color imaged-based disease detection was developed to detect the bacterial wilt disease in greenhouse tomato crops. The system achieved more than 90% accuracy.</li><br /> <li>LI-COR has developed a new LI-600 Porometer/Fluorometer solution offers an unprecedent approach to measuring stomatal conductance on narrow and needle like leaves.</li><br /> <li>Ames Research Center transferred remote sensing, satellite-based, Floating Aquatic Vegetation (FAV) mapping and biomass assessment tool to State of California Department of Boating and Waterways for operational testing. The project involved modeling ecosystem response to environmental variability and predicted climate change trends utilizing FAV growth models parameterized (light, temperature, nutrients) with environmental response studies in Controlled Environment facilities.</li><br /> </ul><br /> </li><br /> <li>Investigated/enhanced plant responses to abiotic stress:<br /> <ul><br /> <li>Salinity negatively impacts crop productivity, yet neutral and alkali salt stresses are not often differentiated. McGill University designed experiments to separately test these effects and found fresh mass of romaine lettuce grown in the 24 mM Na+ saline&ndash;sodic solution was significantly greater than romaine lettuce grown in the alkaline solution with the same sodium concentration.</li><br /> <li>Texas A&amp;M evaluated heat tolerance of eight spinach cultivars at temperatures of 22, 26, and 32 ◦C based on plant growth index, biomass, and chlorophyll fluorescence, and performance index. Among the eight cultivars, Lakeside, Lizard, Seaside and Red Tabby grew more uniformly and were better quality at harvest than Space, Mandolin, Kolibri, and Koiwa.</li><br /> </ul><br /> </li><br /> </ul><br /> <p><strong><em>&nbsp;</em></strong></p><br /> <p><strong><em>Outputs</em></strong></p><br /> <ul><br /> <li>In February/March 2023, the Greenhouse Lighting and Systems Engineering (GLASE) consortium led by Cornell, RPI, and Rutgers with 30 industry members, held a virtual climate control short course spanning six weeks. The course drew 239 participants.</li><br /> <li>Guelph University gave numerous presentations to student groups on CEA and bioregenerative life-support (e.g., Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS); multiple &lsquo;space challenge&rsquo; grade school groups)</li><br /> <li>The University of Delaware collaborated with Michigan State University on two peer-reviewed publications involving unique flowering response of chrysanthemum to light quality and factors that impact hydroponic lettuce broad-spectrum LED lighting.</li><br /> <li>Michigan State University coordinated several outreach programs that delivered unbiased, research-based information on producing plants in controlled environments, including the 2022 Michigan Greenhouse Growers Expo and the 2022 Floriculture Research Alliance annual meeting.</li><br /> <li>Texas A&amp;M hosted the 4th Annual Conference in urban horticulture &ndash; Controlled environment conference at the Dallas Center with about 100 participants. An SCRI planning meeting was held the day before on leafy greens in hot/humid climates.</li><br /> </ul><br /> <p><strong><em>Activities</em></strong></p><br /> <ul><br /> <li>Project members conducted several research projects including: indoor chrysanthemum response to light quantity (DE and MI), biostimulants to mitigate lettuce tipburn (DE), daily light integral and far-red impacts on petunia flowering (NY), collaboration with commercial vertical farms on substrate use and composting and light selection (Guelph), AI-plant biofeedback systems (Guelph), electrochemical water treatment technologies (Guelph), life cycle assessment and environmental impact of switching from HPS to LED lighting (Rutgers), profitability/sustainability of indoor leafy greens with SCRI funding (AZ, MI, Purdue, OH, USDA-ARS), controlled environment herb production with SCRI funding (IA, MI, NC, TN, TX, USDA-ARS).</li><br /> </ul><br /> <p><strong><em>Milestones</em></strong></p><br /> <ul><br /> <li>Several university/industry research partnerships are underway including: testing advanced lighting control systems at 8 commercial greenhouses (Cornell), project renewal of multistate NE-1835 Resource Optimization in Controlled Environment Agriculture (Delaware, Cornell, Rutgers, Texas A&amp;M, Univ. of Ariz., Univ. of Florida, etc.), collaborations with the Dutch greenhouse industry for everbearing strawberries and commercial lettuce vertical farms (Fluence), and transparent photovoltaic panels in greenhouses (Michigan State).</li><br /> <li>Starting in the fall of 2022, the USDA-NIFA Specialty Crop Research Initiative program funded the ADVANCEA project. This $3.7M, 4-year project is co-led by Chieri Kubota (The Ohio State University) and A.J. Both. The team consists of researchers from The Ohio State University, Rutgers University, Cornell University, and the University of Arizona. Commercial team members include Koidra, Inc. and Hort Americas.</li><br /> </ul>

Publications

<p>Ajagekar, A., Mattson, N.S. and You, F., 2023. Energy-efficient AI-based Control of Semi-closed Greenhouses Leveraging Robust Optimization in Deep Reinforcement Learning. Advances in Applied Energy, 9, p.100119.</p><br /> <p>Appel EY, Meng Q. 2022. Increasing nutrient solution electrical conductivity in Kratky-style hydroponics increases lettuce growth following the law of diminishing returns (abstr). HortScience. 57(9S):S52.</p><br /> <p>Ashenafi, E.L., Nyman, M.C., Holley, J.M. and Mattson, N.S., 2023. The influence of LEDs with different blue peak emission wavelengths on the biomass, morphology, and nutrient content of kale cultivars. Scientia Horticulturae, 317, p.111992.</p><br /> <p>Ashenafi, E.L., Nyman, M.C., Holley, J.M., Mattson, N.S. and Rangarajan, A., 2022. Phenotypic plasticity and nutritional quality of three kale cultivars (Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala) under field, greenhouse, and growth chamber environments. Environmental and Experimental Botany, p.104895.</p><br /> <p>Ashenafi, E.L., Nyman, M.C., Shelley, J.T. and Mattson, N.S., 2023. Spectral properties and stability of selected carotenoid and chlorophyll compounds in different solvent systems. Food Chemistry Advances, 2, p.100178.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Birtell EM, Meng Q. 2022. Blue light increases hot pepper seedling compactness and determines the influence of light intensity (abstr). HortScience. 57(9S):S63.</p><br /> <p>Both, A.J. 2022. Environmental sensors 101. Indoor Ag Science Caf&eacute; (USDA-SCRI project OptimIA). Columbus, OH. November 15. (webinar)</p><br /> <p>Both, A.J. 2022. Greenhouse energy efficiency and management, Chapter 11. In Regional Perspectives on Farm Energy (D. Ciolkosz, Ed.). Springer, Switzerland. pp. 85-93. https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-90831-7</p><br /> <p>Both, A.J. 2022. On-farm energy production &ndash; Solar, wind, geothermal, Chapter 12. In Regional Perspectives on Farm Energy (D. Ciolkosz, Ed.). Springer, Switzerland. pp. 95-105. <a href="https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-90831-7">https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-90831-7</a></p><br /> <p>Both, A.J. 2022. Strategies to reduce greenhouse energy costs. GLASE Summit. Ithaca, NY. November 8.</p><br /> <p>Both, A.J. 2023. Different controlled environment crop production systems. Annie Goes Online: Risk Management on Your Kitchen Table. Annie&rsquo;s Project of New Jersey. February 22. (webinar)</p><br /> <p>Both, A.J. 2023. Energy efficiency in greenhouse operations. Greenhouse Grower School, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orange County. January 18. (webinar)</p><br /> <p>Both, A.J. 2023. High tunnel construction. 68th New Jersey Agricultural Convention and Trade Show. February 7.</p><br /> <p>Both, A.J. 2023. High tunnel control with sensors. 68th New Jersey Agricultural Convention and Trade Show. February 7.</p><br /> <p>Both, A.J. 2023. How can you reduce your greenhouse energy bill? Long Island Greenhouse and Floriculture Conference. Riverhead, Long Island. January 17.</p><br /> <p>Both, A.J. 2023. Humidity control. GLASE Short Course on Climate Control. February 2. (webinar)</p><br /> <p>Both, A.J. 2023. Overview of agrivoltaics. Webinar series: Planning with Agrivoltaics in Mind. Hosted by Penn State University, Cornell Cooperative Extension, and the Farm Bureaus of PA and NY. January 19. (webinar)</p><br /> <p>Brumfield, R.G., M. Flahive Di Nardo, A.J. Both, J. Heckman, A. Rowe, R. VanVranken and M. Bravo. 20xx. Online workshop empowers women farmers to manage business risk during the pandemic. Accepted for publication in Acta Horticulturae.</p><br /> <p>Chen, W.H., Mattson, N.S. and You, F., 2022. Intelligent control and energy optimization in controlled environment agriculture via nonlinear model predictive control of semi-closed greenhouse. Applied Energy, 320, p.119334.</p><br /> <p>Dsouza, A., Kiselchuk, C., Lawson, J. A., Price, G. W., Dixon, M., &amp; Graham, T. 2022. Development of an automated, multi-vessel respirometric system to evaluate decomposition of composting feedstocks. Biosystems Engineering, 224, 283&ndash;300. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BIOSYSTEMSENG.2022.10.014</p><br /> <p>Eaton, M., Shelford, T., Cole, M. and Mattson, N., 2023. Modeling resource consumption and carbon emissions associated with lettuce production in plant factories. Journal of Cleaner Production, 384, p.135569.</p><br /> <p>Gu L., Grodzinski, B., Han, J., Marie, T.R.J.G., Zhang Y-J., Song, Y.C., and Sun, Y. 2023. An exploratory steady-state redox model of photosynthetic linear electron transport for use in complete modelling of photosynthesis for broad applications. Plant Cell and Environment. Pre-published-online. https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.14563</p><br /> <p>Gu L., Grodzinski, B., Han, J., Marie, T.R.J.G., Zhang Y-J., Song, Y.C., and Sun, Y. 2022. Granal thylakoid structure and function: explaining an enduring mystery of higher plants. New Phytologist 236: 319-329. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.18371</p><br /> <p>Harbick, K. and Mattson, N.S. 2022. Optimization of spatial lighting uniformity using non-planar arrays and intensity modulation. ISHS LightSym2021. 9th International Symposium on Light in Horticultural Systems. Acta Horticulturae. 1337: 101-106.</p><br /> <p>Haveman, N., Settles, A. M., Zupanska, A., Graham, T., Link, B., Califar, B., Callaham, J., Jha, D., Massa, G., Mcdaniel, S., Parmar, C., Tucker, R., &amp; Wheeler, R. (n.d.). Elevating the Use of Genetic Engineering to Support Sustainable Plant Agriculture for Human Space Exploration A Topical White Paper for Submission to the Primarily Authored By Co-Authors (listed alphabetically). Biological and Physical Sciences in Space Decadal Survey, 2023&ndash;2032.</p><br /> <p>Hitti, Y., S. MacPherson, M. Lefsrud.&nbsp; 2023. Separate Effects of Sodium on Germination in Saline-Sodic and Alkaline form at Different Concentrations. Plants 12(1234):1-13.</p><br /> <p>Holley, J., Mattson, N., Ashenafi, E. and Nyman, M., 2022. The Impact of CO2 Enrichment on Biomass, Carotenoids, Xanthophyll, and Mineral Content of Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). Horticulturae, 8(9), p.820.</p><br /> <p>Hooks, T., J. Masabni, L. Sun, G. Niu. 2022. Effects of organic fertilizer with or without a microbial inoculant on the growth and quality of lettuce in an NFT hydroponic system. Technology in Horticulture 2, 1 doi: 10.48130/TIH-2022-0001.</p><br /> <p>Hooks, T., L. Sun, Y. Kong, J. Masabni, and G. Niu. 2022. Effect of nutrient solution cooling in summer and heating in winter on the performance of baby leafy vegetables in deep-water hydroponic systems. Horticulturae 2022, 8, 749. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8080749.</p><br /> <p>Hooks, T., L. Sun, Y. Kong, J. Masabni, and G. Niu. 2022. Short-term pre-harvest supplemental lighting with different light emitting diodes improves greenhouse lettuce quality. Horticulturae 8, 435. Doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8050435.</p><br /> <p>Hooks, T.; Sun, L.; Kong, Y.; Masabni, J.; Niu, G. Adding UVA and Far-Red Light to White LED Affects Growth, Morphology, and Phytochemicals of Indoor-Grown Microgreens. Sustainability 2022, 14, 8552. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14148552.</p><br /> <p>Jeong, S., G. Niu, and S. Zhen. 2022. The involvement of light intensity effects between far-red and temperature on plant growth and morphology. International Meeting on Controlled Environment Technology and Use, Arizona, Sept 11-14.</p><br /> <p>Jeong, S., G. Niu, and S. Zhen. Light intensity regulates interactive effects between far-red light and temperature on plant growth and morphology in lettuce and basil. Southern Region ASHS, Feb. 03-05, 2023, Oklahoma City, OK.</p><br /> <p>Jeong, S., G. Niu, S. Zhen. The interactive effects between far-red and temperature on plant growth and morphology: dependency of the predictive power of phytochrome photoequilibrium on temperature. Annual Conference of ASHS, Chicago, July 31 to Aug 3.</p><br /> <p>Kennebeck EJ, Meng Q. 2022. Mustard &lsquo;Amara&rsquo; seedlings benefit from superelevated co2, but not far-red light (abstr). HortScience. 57(9S):S25.</p><br /> <p>Kobayashi, K.D. and B. Nelson.&nbsp; 2023. LED and fluorescent lighting effects on hydroponically grown &lsquo;UH Manoa&rsquo; lettuce and &lsquo;Hirayama&rsquo; kai choy.&nbsp; To be presented at the 2023 ASHS Conference, Orlando, FL. July 31-August 4, 2023.</p><br /> <p>Kohler AE, Birtell EM, Runkle ES, Meng Q. 2023. Day-extension blue light inhibits flowering of chrysanthemum when the short main photoperiod includes far-red light. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 148(2):89&ndash;98.</p><br /> <p>Kohler, A.E., E.M. Birtell, E.S. Runkle, and Q. Meng. 2023. Day-extension blue light inhibits flowering of chrysanthemum when the short main photoperiod includes far-red light. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 148:89-98.</p><br /> <p>Kong Y. and Zheng Y. 2022. Low-activity cryptochrome 1 plays a role in promoting stem elongation and flower initiation of mature Arabidopsis under blue light associated with low phytochrome activity. Canadian Journal of Plant Science. https://doi.org/10.1139/CJPS-2021-0122.</p><br /> <p>Kong Y. and Zheng Y. 2022. Phytochrome contributes to blue-light-mediated stem elongation and flower initiation in mature Arabidopsis thaliana plants. Canadian Journal of Plant Science. 102(2).&nbsp; https://doi.org/10.1139/cjps-2021-0018.</p><br /> <p>Kong, Y., J. Masabni, and G. Niu. 2023. Temperature and light spectrum affect lettuce and pak choy growth and morphology. Lone Star Hort Forum, College Station, Jan 9-11.</p><br /> <p>Kubota, C., E. Runkle, C. Mitchell, and R. Lopez. 2022. Answering key questions about indoor crops. Inside Grower Nov.:14-15.</p><br /> <p>Lemay J, Zheng Y, and Scott-Dupree C. 2022. Factors influencing the efficacy of biological control agents used to manage insect pests in indoor Cannabis (Cannabis sativa) cultivation. Front. Agron. 4:795989. doi: 10.3389/fagro.2022.795989</p><br /> <p>L&eacute;vesque, S., Graham, T., Bejan, D. &amp; Dixon, M. 2022. Comparative analysis of conventional and novel water treatment technologies for growing ornamental crops with recirculating hydroponics. Agricultural water management, 269:107673. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2022.107673</p><br /> <p>L&eacute;vesque, S., Graham, T., Bejan, D., Lawson, J., &amp; Dixon, M. (2023). Prevention of Phytotoxic Effects of Regenerative In Situ Electrochemical Hypochlorination in Recirculating Hydroponic Systems. HortScience, 58(1), 107&ndash;113. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI16734-22</p><br /> <p>Lewus, D. 2023. Can we improve high tunnel ventilation? 68th New Jersey Agricultural Convention and Trade Show. February 7.</p><br /> <p>Lewus, D.C. 2023. Simulation of high tunnel ventilation using computational fluid dynamics. Ph.D. Dissertation. Rutgers University Libraries. 189 pp.</p><br /> <p>Lewus, D.C. and A.J. Both. 2022. Using computational fluid dynamics to evaluate high tunnel roof vent designs. AgriEngineering 4(3), 719-734; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriengineering4030046</p><br /> <p>Llewellyn D, Golem S, Jones M and Zheng. 2023. Foliar symptomology, nutrient content, yield, and secondary metabolite variability of cannabis grown hydroponically with different single-element nutrient deficiencies. Plants 12 (3), https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12030422</p><br /> <p>Llewellyn D,. Shelford T,&nbsp; Zheng Y and Both A.J. 2022. Measuring and reporting lighting characteristics important for controlled environment plant production. Acta Horticulturae. 1337: 255-264. DOI 10.17660/ActaHortic.2022.1337.34</p><br /> <p>Llewellyn, D, Golem, S, Foley, E, Dinka, S, Jones, AMP and Zheng Y. 2022. Indoor grown cannabis yield increased proportionally with light intensity, but ultraviolet radiation did not affect yield or cannabinoid content. Frontiers in Plant Science 13:974018. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2022.974018</p><br /> <p>Llewellyn, D., T.J. Shelford, Y. Zheng, and A.J. Both. 2022. Measuring and reporting lighting characteristics important for controlled environment plant production. Acta Horticulturae 1337:255-264. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2022.1337.34</p><br /> <p>Lopez, R.G. and A. Soster. 2022. Producing succulents with the speed of light. Greenhouse Management 42(11):28&minus;30.</p><br /> <p>Lopez, R.G. and A. Soster. 2022. Superior succulents: Is the paradigm that indicates all succulents require high temperatures and DLI true? Greenhouse Management 42(12):50&minus;52.</p><br /> <p>Lopez, R.G. and N. Durussel. 2022. Avoiding caladium conundrums, Part 2. GrowerTalks 86(7):62&ndash;65.</p><br /> <p>Lopez, R.G., C. Spall, and N. Durussel. 2022. Avoiding caladium conundrums. GrowerTalks 86(6):66&ndash;67.</p><br /> <p>Lubna, F.A., D.C. Lewus, T.J. Shelford, and A.J. Both. 2022. What you may not realize about vertical farming. Horticulturae 8(4), 322. <a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8040322">https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8040322</a></p><br /> <p>Marie, T.R.J.G., Leonardos, E.D., Lanoue, J., Hao, X., Micallef, B.J. and Grodzinski, B., 2022. A Perspective Emphasizing Circadian Rhythm Entrainment to Ensure Sustainable Crop Production in Controlled Environment Agriculture: Dynamic Use of LED Cues. Front. Sustain. Food Syst. 6: 856162. https://doi: 10.3389/fsufs.</p><br /> <p>Mattson, N.S., Allred, J.A., de Villiers, D., Shelford, T.J. and K. Harbick 2022. Response of hydroponic baby leaf greens to LED and HPS supplemental lighting. ISHS LightSym2021. 9th International Symposium on Light in Horticultural Systems. Acta Horticulturae. 1337:395-402.</p><br /> <p>Meng Q, Runkle ES. 2023. Blue photons from broad-spectrum LEDs control growth, morphology, and coloration of indoor hydroponic red-leaf lettuce. Plants 12(5):1127.</p><br /> <p>Meng, Q. and E.S. Runkle. 2023. Blue photons from broad-spectrum LEDs control growth, morphology, and coloration of indoor hydroponic red-leaf lettuce. Plants 12(5):1127.</p><br /> <p>Moher M, Llewellyn D, Golem S, Foley E, Dinka S, Jones M and Zheng Y. 2023. Light spectra have minimal effects on rooting and vegetative growth responses of clonal cannabis cuttings. HortScience. 58 (2).&nbsp; https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI16752-22.</p><br /> <p>Moher M, Llewellyn D, Jones M, and Zheng Y. 2022. Light intensity can be used to modify the growth and morphological characteristics of cannabis during the vegetative stage of indoor production. Industrial Crops and Products. 183. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2022.114909.</p><br /> <p>Morrow, R., J. Wetzel, S. Moffatt, and M. Blair. 2022. The role of plants in a commercial space station. ASGSR Investigators Poster</p><br /> <p>Nelson, B. 2023.&nbsp; Farming on the final frontier: Space farming with Martian soil simulants.&nbsp; Horizons (in press).</p><br /> <p>Ojo, M. O., and Zahid, A. 2022. Deep learning in controlled environment agriculture: A review of recent advancements, challenges, and prospects, Sensors 2022, 22(20), 7965.</p><br /> <p>Ojo, M. O., and Zahid, A. 2023. Improving deep learning classifiers performance via preprocessing and class imbalance approaches in a plant disease detection pipeline. Agronomy, 13, 887.</p><br /> <p>Ojo, M., Zahid, A. 2022. Automatic crop disease scouting system based on deep neural networks model. In 2022 ASABE Annual International Meeting (Presentation)</p><br /> <p>Park, Y. and E.S. Runkle. 2023. Spectral-conversion film potential for greenhouses: Utility of green-to-red photons conversion and far-red filtration for plant growth. PLoS ONE 18(2):e0281996.</p><br /> <p>Pepe, M., Leonardos, E.D., Marie, T.R.J.G.*, Kyne, S.T., Hesami, M., Jones, A.M.P., and Grodzinski, B. 2022. A non-invasive gas exchange method to test and model photosynthetic proficiency and growth rates of in vitro plant cultures: Preliminary implication for Cannabis sativa L. Biology. 11(5), 729. https://doi: 10.3390/biology11050729.</p><br /> <p>Pepe, M., Marie, T.R.J.G., Leonardos, E.D., Hesami, M., Rana, N., Jones, A.M.P., and Grodzinski, B. 2022.&nbsp; Tissue culture coupled with a gas exchange system offers new perspectives on phenotyping the developmental biology of Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. 'Microtom'. Frontiers in Plant Science, Sec. Plant Physiology, Published 10 Nov. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2022.1025477</p><br /> <p>Plotnik, L., Gibbs, G., Graham, T., 2022. Psilocybin Conspectus: Status, Production Methods and Considerations. Int. J. Med. Mushrooms 24, 1&ndash;11.</p><br /> <p>Rodgers, D., Won, E., Timmons, M.B. and Mattson, N., 2022. Complementary nutrients in decoupled aquaponics enhance basil performance. Horticulturae, 8(2), p.111.</p><br /> <p>Runkle, E. 2022. Far-red light in greenhouse and indoor farming. Greenhouse Product News 32(10):50.</p><br /> <p>Runkle, E. 2022. Getting started with supplemental greenhouse LED lighting. Greenhouse Product News 32(11):42.</p><br /> <p>Runkle, E. 2022. The pros and cons of cool nights. Greenhouse Product news 32(9):42.</p><br /> <p>Runkle, E. 2023. Advancements in horticultural lighting. Greenhouse Product News 33(3):10.</p><br /> <p>Runkle, E. 2023. Several consequences of growing too cool. Greenhouse Product news 33(1):12.</p><br /> <p>Runkle, E., J. Shin, and N. Kelly. A closer look at the effect of white LEDs on plant performance. Greenhouse Grower 41(1):26-28.</p><br /> <p>Shelford, T. and A.J. Both. 2023. Lighting: The design phase. Consider six vital factors when designing sole-source or traditional greenhouse lighting. Produce Grower, April issue.</p><br /> <p>Shelford, T., Both, A.J. and Mattson, N.S. 2022. A greenhouse daily light integral control algorithm that takes advantage of day ahead market electricity pricing. ISHS LightSym2021. 9th International Symposium on Light in Horticultural Systems. Acta Horticulturae. 1337:277-282.</p><br /> <p>Spall, C. and R.G. Lopez. 2022. Emerging specialty cut flowers: A study of flower induction in marigold and witchgrass. GrowerTalks 86(3):76&ndash;82.</p><br /> <p>Spall. C.S. and R.G. Lopez. 2022. Daily light integral and/or photoperiod during the young plant and finishing stages influence floral initiation and quality of witchgrass and marigold cut flowers. Front. Plant Sci. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2022.956157</p><br /> <p>Spall. C.S. and R.G. Lopez. 2023. Supplemental lighting quality influences time to flower and finished quality of three long-day specialty cut flowers. Horticulturae 9(1):73.</p><br /> <p>Stallknecht, E.J., C.K. Herrera C. Yang, I. King, T.D. Sharkey, R.R. Lunt, and E.S. Runkle. 2023. Designing plant-transparent agrivoltaics. Sci. Rep. 13:1903.</p><br /> <p>Stasiak M. and Dixon M. 2022. Growing Facilities and Environmental Control. In Zheng Y. (Ed.) Handbook of Cannabis Production in Controlled Environments. Boca Raton: CRC Press/Taylor &amp; Francis.</p><br /> <p>Stoochnoff, J., Johnston, M., Hoogenboom, J., Graham, T., &amp; Dixon, M. A. 2022. Intracanopy lighting strategies to improve green bush bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) compatibility with vertical farming. Frontiers in Agronomy, 73.</p><br /> <p>Stutte, G., Yorio, N., Edney, S., Richards, J., Hummerick, M., Stasiak, M., and Dixon, M. 2022. Effect of Reduced Atmospheric Pressure on Yield and Quality of Two Lettuce Cultivars. Life Science in Space Research. 34, 37-44. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lssr.2022.06.001">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lssr.2022.06.001</a></p><br /> <p>Tarr, S. and R.G. Lopez. 2023. Influence of day and night temperature and radiation intensity on growth, quality, and economics of indoor green butterhead and red oakleaf lettuce production. Sustainability 15(1):829.</p><br /> <p>Va&scaron;takaitė-Kairienė, V., A. Brazaitytė, J. Miliauskienė, and E.S. Runkle. 2022. Red to blue light ratio and iron nutrition influence growth, metabolic response, and mineral nutrients of spinach grown indoors. Sustainability 14:12564.</p><br /> <p>Walters, K.J. and R.G. Lopez. 2022. Basil seedling production environment influences subsequent yield and flavor compound concentration during greenhouse production. PLoS ONE https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0273562</p><br /> <p>Warner, R., B.-S. Wu, S. MacPherson, M. Lefsrud. 2023. How the distribution of photon delivery impacts crops in indoor plant environments: a review. Sustainability-2165879.</p><br /> <p>Wetzel, J., R. Morrow, G. Tellez, D. Wyman, and M. DeMars. 2022. XROOTS aeroponics and hydroponics nutrient delivery in microgravity.&nbsp; ASGSR Oral Presentation</p><br /> <p>Xia, J. and Mattson, N., 2022. Response of common ice plant (<em>Mesembryanthemum crystallinum</em> L.) to photoperiod/daily light integral in vertical hydroponic production. Horticulturae, 8(7), p.653.</p><br /> <p>Xia, J. and Mattson, N., 2022. Response of common ice plant (<em>Mesembryanthemum crystallinum</em> L.) to sodium chloride concentration in hydroponic nutrient solution. HortScience, 57(7), pp.750-756.</p><br /> <p>Xia, J., Mattson, N., Stelick, A. and Dando, R., 2022. Sensory Evaluation of Common Ice Plant (<em>Mesembryanthemum crystallinum</em> L.) in Response to Sodium Chloride Concentration in Hydroponic Nutrient Solution. Foods, 11(18), p.2790.</p><br /> <p>Yamori, N., Levine, C.P., Mattson, N.S. and Yamori, W., 2022. Optimum root zone temperature of photosynthesis and plant growth depends on air temperature in lettuce plants. Plant Molecular Biology, pp.1-11.</p><br /> <p>Zhang, Q., J. Masabni, and G. Niu. 2023. Organic fertilizer type and rate affect watermelon seedling production. Southern Region ASHS, Feb. 03-05, 2023, Oklahoma City, OK</p><br /> <p>Zhang, Q., J. Masabni, and G. Niu. 2023. Organic fertilizer type and rate affect watermelon seedling production. Lone Star Hort Forum, January 9, 2023, College Station, TX</p><br /> <p>Zheng Y. 2022. Rootzone management in cannabis cultivation. In Handbook of Cannabis Production in Controlled Environments, ed. Y. Zheng. Boca Raton and London: CRC Press, Taylor &amp; Francis.</p><br /> <p>Zheng Y. and Llewellyn D. 2022. Lighting and CO2 in cannabis cultivation. In Handbook of Cannabis Production in Controlled Environments, ed. Y. Zheng. Boca Raton and London: CRC Press, Taylor &amp; Francis.</p>

Impact Statements

1. Nationwide, Extension and NRCS personnel and commercial greenhouse growers have been exposed to research and outreach efforts through various presentations and publications. It is estimated that this information has led to proper designs of controlled environment plant production facilities and to updated operational strategies that saved an average sized (1-acre) business a total of $25,000 in operating and maintenance costs annually. Energy conservation and crop lighting presentations as well as written materials on controlled environment crop production techniques have been prepared and delivered to local and regional audiences. Greenhouse growers who implemented the information resulting from our research and outreach materials have been able to realize energy savings between 5 and 30%.

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Brief Summary of Minutes

See attached file below for NCERA101's 2023/2024 full annual report.

Accomplishments

Publications

Impact Statements

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