UV-SINTEC


UV-LEDs for Sustainable, Innovative, Technology-Enabled Cropping


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Light quality for crop flavour, colour and plant shape

 

Those of us lucky enough to have holidayed in the Mediterranean may recall the strong, fragrant smell of wild rosemary or thyme growing on a sun drenched, rocky coast. Indeed, the link between sun exposure and crop quality is well known and marketed through concepts such as “sun ripened tomatoes”. So, is there any truth in sun ripened crops having a better aroma, colour and overall flavour, and can we, based at more northerly latitudes, improve our crops to capture that Mediterranean feel?

Our project aims to improve crop lighting to better reflect natural sunlight, and using the benefits of light to improve the crop's colour, flavour and plant architecture.

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News

22 Mar 2024

UV4Plants conference in Göttingen

The last few days saw the members of the UV4Plants Association gather in Göttingen, Germany for the 5th Network Meeting of the UV4Plants Association. Natalie Cunningham, a PhD researcher from Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences at UCC in Cork, presented her work on the effects of UV-B on the morphology of plants. Professor Marcel Jansen presented his work on "Plants, plastics and UV-B". He explained how UV-mediated breakdown of plastics are having an unexpected yet important impact on plants.
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19 Jan 2024

UNEP Report 2023 published

The 2023 Report from UNEP EEAP is now published online. This latest report is an update assessment, which this year has focused on "Plastics in the environment in the context of UV radiation, climate change and the Montreal Protocol". The report will be officially presented to governments around the world.
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14 Jun 2023

UNEP Assessment Report published

The 2022 Assessment Report on "Environmental Effects of Stratospheric Ozone Depletion, UV Radiation, and Interactions with Climate Change" has recently been published by UNEP. It has now been followed by an accompanying supplement: "Questions and Answers about the Effects of Ozone Depletion, UV Radiation, and Climate on Humans and the Environment" 
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Figure from Crestani, G., Cunningham, N., Csepregi, K. et al. From stressor to protector, UV-induced abiotic stress resistance. Photochem Photobiol Sci (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43630-023-00441-1
07 Jun 2023

New paper: UV exposure makes plants more stress resistant

A new paper has been published in Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences, describing how plants exposed to a low dose of UV irradiance can alleviate drought effect caused by a change in humidity.
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Information Leaflet

Our one page leaflet summarises what the project is about. Download the leaflet from our Stakeholders Page.

We are keen to work with growers and other interested parties. If you would like more information on the project or on how we could work together, please contact us.

UV LED for Crops Research Group

School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University College Cork, Distillery Fields, North Mall, Cork, Ireland, T23 TK30

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