Open Access

ARTICLE

Enhancement of Growth and Quality of Chinese Bayberry Using LED Supplemental Lighting

Ni Tang^1,2,3,*, Chenchun Hao^1,2, Rong Qiu^1,2

1 Joint Laboratory for Extreme Conditions Matter Properties, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, 621010, China
2 School of Mathematics and Physics, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, 621010, China
3 Key Laboratory of 3D Micro/Nano Fabrication and Characterization of Zhejiang Province, School of Engineering, Westlake University, 18 Shilongshan Road, Hangzhou, 310024, China

* Corresponding Author: Ni Tang. Email:

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany 2025, 94(8), 2551-2562. https://doi.org/10.32604/phyton.2025.070556

Received 18 July 2025; Accepted 12 August 2025; Issue published 29 August 2025

Abstract

Supplemental lighting has emerged as a widely adopted technique in greenhouse cultivation to enhance product visibility and improve the flavor characteristics of Chinese bayberry (Myrica rubra) in the international market. While studies on lighting have predominantly focused on colorimetry, limited research has addressed the precise control of chromatic parameters and their effect on fruit quality. This study examined the effects of varying lighting conditions, specifically correlated color temperatures and illuminance, on the growth and quality of Chinese bayberry varieties “Black Charcoal” and “Dongkui” using a precision control system. The bayberry plants were exposed to a constant illuminance of 155 μmol∙m⁻²∙s⁻¹ with chromatic levels ranging from 2250 to 6000 K. Black Charcoal demonstrated substantial improvements under different chromatic parameters, with fruit weight and size increasing by 40% and 14%, respectively. Furthermore, soluble solids content increased by 4% and vitamin C content rose by 142%, while organic acid content decreased by 30%. Dongkui, however, showed more modest responses under identical conditions, with fruit weight increasing by 2% and fruit size decreasing by 1%. Soluble solids and vitamin C contents showed minimal increases of 2% and 2.5%, respectively, while organic acid content decreased by 8%. The findings demonstrate that supplemental LED lighting significantly enhances both yield and quality parameters in Black Charcoal compared with Dongkui. These results provide valuable insights for optimizing Chinese bayberry cultivation, and the precise control methodology developed can be used to improve supplemental lighting strategies in other fruit and plant species.

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Keywords

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