Patent ID: 9131645
Filing Date: 2015-09-15
Classification: A01G,F21V,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A method of improving the growth and/or pathogen resistance of a plant, said method comprising the step of exposing at least part of said plant to a transient period of high intensity illumination, said high-intensity illumination providing a photon flux at the plant surface having at least one of the following characteristics: (a) a red photon flux comprising at least 1 micromoles photons per square meter per second, said photons having a wavelength of between 600 and 700 nm; (b) a blue photon flux comprising at least 1 micromoles photons per square meter per second, said photons having a wavelength of between 420 and 480 nm; and wherein said transient period has a duration of at least 10 seconds; and wherein at least 50% of the energy of the illuminating light falls within said definitions of red photon flux and/or blue photon flux; further comprising the step of measuring one or more photosystem II efficiencies of the plant, selected from the group consisting of: (a) photosystem II operating efficiency (Fq′/Fm′); (b) photosystem II maximal photochemical efficiency (Fv′/Fm′); and (c) photosystem II efficiency factor (Fq′/Fv′); and manipulating the photon flux to control one or more of said efficiencies to a desired level.