UV, lue and far-red light can prevent Edemo on some tomato plants
Edema is a physiological disorder characterized by watery blisters or tumors that often form along leaf veins. It can develop on plants, especially those in the family Solanaceae, when more water is taken up by the plant than is transpired. Numerous factors influence the development of edema, sometimes called intumescence, in plants. High relative humidity is the most common factor associated with edema. Light quality, which is the composition of wavelengths that contribute to the light spectrum, can also contribute to edema development.
It is more common to observe plants with edema when they are grown without broadband radiation (sunlight), such as in a completely enclosed environment. Plants grown in an enclosed environment may not be exposed to a range of wavelengths of light, such as those outside of the visible spectrum, namely ultraviolet radiation and far-red light. Exposing plants to some UV radiation, especially UV-B, or far-red light can inhibit the development of edema in some plants. But can wavelengths inside the visible spectrum also inhibit edema development?
Find out in this publication of MSU' Floricultire Extension
