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Use of Lighting Technology in Controlled and Semi-Controlled Agriculture in Greenhouses and Protected Agriculture Systems—Part 1: Scientific and Bibliometric Analysis

Authors: Edwin Villagran,John Javier Espitia,Jader Rodriguez,Linda Gomez,Gina Amado,Esteban Baeza,Cruz Ernesto Aguilar-Rodríguez,Jorge Flores-Velazquez,Mohammad Akrami,Rodrigo Gil,Luis Alejandro Arias
Publisher: MDPI AG
Publish date: 2025-2-18
ISSN: 2071-1050 DOI: 10.3390/su17041712
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1. The review frequently promotes red and blue light combinations as universally optimal for photosynthesis and morphogenesis. However, spectral optimization is highly species-specific and even cultivar-dependent, especially in C3 vs. C4 plants or photoperiod-sensitive species. How do the authors account for the physiological trade-offs between spectral efficacy (e.g., PPFD vs. YPF) and photomorphogenic signaling (e.g., cryptochrome or phytochrome activation) across diverse horticultural crops? Shouldn’t the review have critically addressed the limitations of generalizing optimal spectra across crop systems and development stages?

2. The discussion emphasizes energy-efficient outcomes of LED lighting but largely interprets this from a photon output perspective. Did the authors consider distinguishing between quantum efficiency (photons per joule) and energy use efficiency (grams of biomass per kilowatt-hour) in the context of real greenhouse operations? In high-input systems, especially in cold climates where HPS can contribute to thermal loads, the assumption that higher photon efficacy directly equates to better system-level energy efficiency may not hold. Shouldn’t this distinction have been discussed in more depth when advocating for LED dominance?

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