Peperomia, the commonly cultivated house plants, are known for their superior shade tolerance, and suitability as ornamental indoor plants. Here, the effects of different color temperatures of white light-emitting diodes (LEDs) were experimentally inv...
Peperomia, the commonly cultivated house plants, are known for their superior shade tolerance, and suitability as ornamental indoor plants. Here, the effects of different color temperatures of white light-emitting diodes (LEDs) were experimentally investigated on Peperomia. Three white LEDs with different color temperatures of 3000, 4100, and 6500 K, respectively, were used in the cultivation of Peperomia species and cultivars namely: P. obtusifolia, P. caperata cv. Napoli Nights (‘Napoli Nights’), and P. caperata cv. Eden Rosso (‘Eden Rosso’) for experimental purposes. Results showed that the sizes of the plants P. obtusifolia and ‘Napoli Nights’ were optimal under 4100 and 6500 K white LEDs, whereas, ‘Eden Rosso’ exhibited optimal growth under 6500 K white LED. Compared to the other plants, P. obtusifolia exhibited superior biomass production under 4100 K white LED. Conversely, ‘Eden Rosso’ and ‘Napoli Nights’ had the highest biomass under 6500 and 3000 K white LEDs, respectively. Regarding the leaf color, L * and b * values demonstrated an inverse relationship with plant biomass, suggesting that leaves turn yellow when the growth of a plant is inhibited. Fv/Fm ranged from 0.77 to 0.81 across all treatments, and these values are generally acceptable. Compared to the other plants, P. obtusifolia and ‘Eden Rosso’ had higher ΦDo, ABS/RC, and DIo/RC under 6500 and 3000 K white LEDs, respectively, contradicting the results observed for plant sizes. In addition, PIABS values were higher for P. obtusifolia under 4100 and 6500 K white LEDs and the highest for ‘Eden Rosso’ under 6500 K white LED. In conclusion, P. obtusifolia can be cultivated under 4100-6500 K white LEDs, whereas, ‘Eden Rosso’ and ‘Napoli Nights’, under 6500 and 4100 K white LEDs, respectively.