Different LED Light Wavelengths and Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density Effect on Colletotrichum acutatum Growth

Abstract

The study aimed to evaluate the effect of different photon flux density (PFD) and light-emitting diodes (LED) wavelengths on strawberry Colletotrichum acutatum growth characteristics. The C. acutatum growth characteristics under the blue 450 nm (B), green 530 nm (G), red 660 nm (R), far-red 735 nm (FR), and white 5700 K (W) LEDs at PFD 50, 100 and 200 μmol m−2 s−1 were evaluated. The effect on C. acutatum mycelial growth evaluated by daily measuring until five days after inoculation (DAI). The presence of conidia and size (width and length) evaluated after 5 DAI. The results showed that the highest inhibition of fungus growth was achieved after 1 DAI under B and G at 50 μmol m−2 s−1 PFD. Additionally, after 1–4 DAI under B at 200 μmol m−2 s−1 PFD. The lowest conidia width was under FR at 50 μmol m−2 s−1 PFD and length under FR at 100 μmol m−2 s−1 PFD. Various LED light wavelengths influenced differences in C. acutatum colonies color. In conclusion, different photosynthetic photon flux densities and wavelengths influence C. acutatum growth characteristics. The changes in C. acutatum morphological and phenotypical characteristics could be related to its ability to spread and infect plant tissues. This study’s findings could potentially help to manage C. acutatum by LEDs in controlled environment conditions.