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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Importance of UV in fruit ripening, essential oil production, pigmentation
« on: February 11, 2016, 02:28:19 PM »
Good to see you again, ladies and gentlemen! It's been some time since my last post.
Having tried metal halide lighting and experienced the pro's and cons first hand, I want to give LED lights a try. The model I have in mind is a 'Mars Hydro' 1200, which has a true wattage of 552W: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5X-Mars-II-1200-LED-Grow-Light-Hydro-Plant-Panel-Full-Spectrum-IR-Lamp-True-552W-/252109373367?hash=item3ab2e3bfb7:g:9PEAAOSwKtlWlMEj
Having watched a video on YouTube featuring tropical fruits grown under LED (the model was called 'Black Dog', if I recall correctly), I am rather excited about trying LED lights for indoor tropical fruit growing. Unfortunately, unlike the Black Dog LED (which is not readily obtainable in the UK- I would have to import one from the USA), the Mars Hydro (which is available in the UK) does not have UV-emitting LEDs incorporated into it. IR LEDs yes, but no UV whatsoever.
My question is: just how important is UV for vegetative growth, fruit development & ripening, pigment production (e.g. carotenoids, lycopenes) and the production of essential oil flavour components (e.g. terpenes) in the leaves and fruits?
Considering that the LED light I am interested in does not produce any UV, could I supply UV externally using a reptile lamp?
Having tried metal halide lighting and experienced the pro's and cons first hand, I want to give LED lights a try. The model I have in mind is a 'Mars Hydro' 1200, which has a true wattage of 552W: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5X-Mars-II-1200-LED-Grow-Light-Hydro-Plant-Panel-Full-Spectrum-IR-Lamp-True-552W-/252109373367?hash=item3ab2e3bfb7:g:9PEAAOSwKtlWlMEj
Having watched a video on YouTube featuring tropical fruits grown under LED (the model was called 'Black Dog', if I recall correctly), I am rather excited about trying LED lights for indoor tropical fruit growing. Unfortunately, unlike the Black Dog LED (which is not readily obtainable in the UK- I would have to import one from the USA), the Mars Hydro (which is available in the UK) does not have UV-emitting LEDs incorporated into it. IR LEDs yes, but no UV whatsoever.
My question is: just how important is UV for vegetative growth, fruit development & ripening, pigment production (e.g. carotenoids, lycopenes) and the production of essential oil flavour components (e.g. terpenes) in the leaves and fruits?
Considering that the LED light I am interested in does not produce any UV, could I supply UV externally using a reptile lamp?