TOMSK, Feb 12 – RIA Tomsk. Scientists of Tomsk State (TSU) and Polytechnic (TPU) Universities with Institute of High Current Electronics SB RAS determined optimal parameters of ultraviolet radiation (UV) to grow plants with specified characteristics in conditions of artificial lighting and critical farming areas, the press service of TSU reported RIA Tomsk on Tuesday.
Within the framework of the project, scientists conducted tests on a new irradiation facility created by TPU scientists, which allows you to control the spectral composition and the intensity of illumination in manual and automatic mode. In particular, was evaluated the degree of impact of the device on the life processes of plants and were selected effective light regimes with taking into account the varietal and age characteristics of plants.
"The use of different parts of the spectrum of optical radiation allows to influence not only the structural and functional characteristics of plants, but also to regulate their yield, prolong storage life, change metabolism, improve nutritional properties ... get microgreen with the set properties", – informs the press service with reference to the employee of the Siberian Botanical Garden of Tomsk State University Tatyana Astafurova.
It is noted that the approach proposed by scientists will allow plants to be grown in conditions of artificial illumination, including in closed life support systems. Plant photoregulation is also promising for the development of areas with difficult climatic conditions, including the Arctic.
"However, this method will be effective only if there are high-tech radiation sources, so many countries are now actively working on their creation ... Interdisciplinary projects like ours help to get closer to this goal and provide new lighting devices with the new characteristics", – Astafurova specified.
Also within the framework of the project, TSU scientists, together with Institute of High Current Electronics (IHCE) of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, have developed a new method of pre-sowing seed treatment and their removal from dormancy.As a tool was used the UV irradiation from excilamps developed by the Institute’s staff: "The obtained results in the long term can serve as a basis for a new seed treatment technology to improve their germination and increase productivity".