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Light altering films (LAF) offer an innovative greenhouse covering, selectively transmitting around 80% photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) while reducing heat from non-PAR wavelengths. LAFs block 85% ultraviolet (UV), 58% far-red, and 26% red light, resulting in a 19% reduction in PAR. Light intensity and spectral quality affect photoreceptor activity and physiological processes. Light plays a key role in carotenoid synthesis, with plants adapting to light fluctuations through various cellular, biochemical, and molecular adjustments. The absorbed light drives photosynthesis and dissipates excess energy via thermal mechanisms. Photosystems I and II include Chi a, Chi b, B-Carotene, and xanthophylls (Zeaxanthin, antheraxanthin, violaxanthin), which quench excess PSII energy. Variations in light quality and quantity affect xanthophyll cycling, sustaining photoprotection. Non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) is crucial for dissipating excess light energy as heat, preventing oxidative damage. Currently there is limited knowledge of how the light spectrum affects foliar photoprotection and carotenoid-mediated nonphotochemical quenching affect crop yield.
This project seeks to generate new knowledge of how altering the light spectrum via Light altering films (LAFs) modulates carotenoid biosynthesis, NPQ and hence foliar photoprotection will impact crop yield in a variety specific manner. Smart, sustainable, resilient food systems require smart, sustainable, resilient transport systems at the location, regional, national and international scale. The development of short-term and long-term transport, land use and infrastructure plans to support such systems is contingent upon effective freight scenario planning, which encompasses potential drivers of change in the freight task and future trends in supply chains, including technology, demographics, climate change energy sources and emissions, and unplanned events. However, collecting accurate freight data poses significant challenges and is often expensive. Existing freight models lack the necessary flexibility to incorporate and reflect dynamic changes due to the nature of one-time data collection. Consequently, these limitations hinder a comprehensive assessment of the impacts of infrastructure and land use plans.
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