Optimizing spectral quality with quantum dots to enhance crop yield in controlled environments

• DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-01646-1
• Publication Date: 2021-01-27T11:07:46Z
• Authors: Charles H. Parrish; Damon Hebert; Aaron Jackson; Karthik Ramasamy; Hunter McDaniel; Gene A. Giacomelli; Matthew R. Bergren
• Keywords: Ultraviolet

Abstract Bioregenerative life-support systems (BLSS) involving plants will be required to realize self-sustaining human settlements beyond Earth. To improve plant productivity in BLSS, the quality of solar spectrum can modified by lightweight, luminescent films. CuInS 2 /ZnS quantum dot (QD) films were used down-convert ultraviolet/blue photons red emissions centered at 600 and 660 nm, resulting increased biomass accumulation romaine lettuce. All growth parameters, except for spectral quality, uniform across three production environments. Lettuce grown under nm-emitting QD respectively edible dry mass (13 9%), fresh (11% each), total leaf area (8 13%) compared with a control film containing no QDs. Spectral modifications improved photosynthetic efficiency lettuce could enhance greenhouses on Earth, or space where, further conversion is expected from greater availability ultraviolet photons.