title: Photosynthetic characteristics, antioxidant capacity and biomass yield of wheat exposed to intermittent light irradiation with millisecond-scale periods.
abstract: Energy consumption and output are two very important standards for evaluating the reliability of electric light sources when plants are grown in a controlled environment. As a primary source of energy, light is one of the most important environmental factors for wheat growth. The objective of this study was to investigate the influences of light/dark cycle operation with millisecond-scale period on the growth of wheat, photosynthetic characteristics, antioxidant capacity and biomass yield and quality during their life cycle. Four types of intermittent lighting with the same intensity were employed: a light/dark (0.5/0.5 ms) light (50%), a light/dark (0.7/0.3 ms) light (70%), a light/dark (0.8/0.2 ms) light (80%) and a continuous light (100%). The results showed that the wheat cultivated in the 80% light was characterized by highest photosynthetic rate and lowest lignin in inedible biomass, which was more beneficial to recycle substances in the processes of the environment regeneration. The data were comparable to those under continuous light condition in terms of chlorophyll concentration, antioxidant capacity, harvest index (HI) and thousand kernel weight (TKW). Wheat was sensitive to intermittent illumination which significantly affected those indices of growth and physiology, especially at heading and flowering stages.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China; International Joint Research Center of Aerospace Biotechnology & Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China. Electronic address: wenjian_dongchen@163.com.
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China; Institute of Environmental Biology and Life Support Technology, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China. Electronic address: shaolingzhi006@163.com.
authors.forename: Lingzhi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China. Electronic address: liugh1991@126.com.
authors.forename: Guanghui
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China; International Joint Research Center of Aerospace Biotechnology & Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China. Electronic address: wangminjuan@msn.com.
authors.forename: Minjuan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China; Institute of Environmental Biology and Life Support Technology, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China. Electronic address: janeplant@yeah.net.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China; Institute of Environmental Biology and Life Support Technology, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China. Electronic address: kakashowxbz@163.com.
authors.forename: Beizhen
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China. Electronic address: lbwbuaa@163.com.
authors.forename: Bowei
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China; International Joint Research Center of Aerospace Biotechnology & Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China. Electronic address: fuyuming@buaa.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Yuming
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China; Institute of Environmental Biology and Life Support Technology, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China; International Joint Research Center of Aerospace Biotechnology & Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China. Electronic address: LH64@buaa.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D018533:Biomass; D004780:Environment, Controlled; D008027:Light; D017440:Photoperiod; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013997:Time Factors; D014908:Triticum / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants
keywords: Bioregenerative life support system (BLSS); Crop productivity; Intermittent illumination; Millisecond-scale period; Wheat