title: Advantages of diffuse light for horticultural production and perspectives for further research.
abstract: Plants use diffuse light more efficiently than direct light, which is well established due to diffuse light penetrates deeper into the canopy and photosynthetic rate of a single leaf shows a non-linear response to the light flux density. Diffuse light also results in a more even horizontal and temporal light distribution in the canopy, which plays substantial role for crop photosynthesis enhancement as well as production improvement. Here we show some of the recent findings about the effect of diffuse light on light distribution over the canopy and its direct and indirect effects on crop photosynthesis and plant growth, and suggest some perspectives for further research which could strengthen the scientific understanding of diffuse light modulate plant processes and its application in horticultural production.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences Beijing, China ; Key Laboratory of Energy Conservation and Waste Management of Agricultural Structures, Ministry of Agriculture Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences Beijing, China ; Key Laboratory of Energy Conservation and Waste Management of Agricultural Structures, Ministry of Agriculture Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Qichang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yang
keywords: diffuse light; horticultural production; light distribution; photosynthesis; plant processes