光で草姿をデザインし、光合成を促進する ――レーザーダイオードが切り拓く次世代植物工場の精密光制御――

2026-06-10 東京大学

東京大学とスタンレー電気の研究グループは、植物工場向け人工光源として用いられるレーザーダイオード(LD)の波長域(波長の幅)が、植物の光合成や成長を大きく左右することを明らかにした。従来の研究は主に光の色(波長)に着目していたが、本研究では狭帯域のLDと広帯域のLEDを比較した。その結果、青色LDは葉を立ち上げて光を下層まで届きやすくし、下位葉の黄化や老化を抑制した。一方、植物工場で一般的な赤青混合光では、赤青LDが赤青LEDよりも光合成活性や電子伝達速度を高め、葉面積や新鮮重、乾燥重量を大幅に増加させた。さらに、LD照射ではクロロフィル量が増加し、ストレス指標であるアントシアニンの蓄積が減少したことから、植物への光ストレスも軽減されることが示された。LDは植物体を立体的な草姿に形成し、高密植栽培でも効率的な光利用を可能にするため、植物工場の生産性向上だけでなく、都市型農業や宇宙農業における精密な光環境制御技術として期待される。

光で草姿をデザインし、光合成を促進する ――レーザーダイオードが切り拓く次世代植物工場の精密光制御――
光合成と草姿を制御する赤・青レーザー光源による新たな栽培技術

<関連情報>

ピーク波長を超えて:青色および赤青色レーザーダイオードのスペクトル帯域幅は、光合成、キャノピー構造、クロロフィル維持、および植物全体の成長を調節する Beyond peak wavelength: spectral bandwidth of blue and red-blue laser diodes modulates photosynthesis, canopy architecture, chlorophyll maintenance, and whole-plant growth

Lie Li,Ryusei,SugitaHiroyuki Togawa,Ichiro Terashima,Wataru Yamori
Frontiers in Plant Science  Published:10 June 2026
DOI:https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2026.1817114

Abstract

High planting densities in indoor horticulture often accelerate lower-leaf chlorophyll degradation, increasing trimming frequency, reducing effective photosynthetic area, and raising labor costs. While spectral composition has been widely studied, the role of spectral bandwidth, particularly when peak wavelength is identical, remains poorly understood. Here, we used laser diodes (LDs) with an extremely narrow full width at half maximum of light spectrum (FWHM) to examine how spectral bandwidth influences photosynthesis, canopy architecture, chlorophyll degradation in leaves, and plant growth under monochromatic blue light and combined red and blue (R+B) light in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. ‘Wisconsin-38’), lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. ‘Red Fire’), and Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. ‘Col-0’. Under monochromatic blue light, narrow-band LD blue (LDB; FWHM = 1.6 nm) reduced CO2 assimilation rates and shoot dry weight compared with broad-band LED blue (LEDB; FWHM = 20.1 nm) across species. However, LEDB was accompanied by accelerated the chlorophyll degradation in lower leaves, whereas LDB promoted more upright canopy architecture, which was associated with higher chlorophyll maintenance in lower leaves. Under combined red and blue light, LD lighting (LDR+B) mitigated stress induced by 24-hour continuous illumination and promoted coordinated improvements in photosynthetic performance, leaf expansion, and canopy architecture. Compared with LEDR+B, these integrated responses resulted in higher shoot fresh weight and a healthier physiological state indicated by higher chlorophyll content and lower anthocyanin accumulation. However, there was no significant difference in shoot dry weight, suggesting that this growth enhancement was primarily driven by cellular water accumulation and leaf expansion rather than an absolute increase in dry matter carbon accumulation. Together, our results suggest that spectral bandwidth is an important factor associated with altered plant growth responses, even when peak wavelengths remain constant. The use of LD lighting offers the potential to modulate physiological traits traditionally linked in the classic ‘sun’ or ‘shade’ leaf syndromes, providing a localized approach to influence canopy architecture, chlorophyll maintenance, and overall plant growth. This study highlights LD lighting as powerful yet underutilized light system for optimizing canopy health and yield in indoor horticulture.

1204農業及び蚕糸
ad
ad
Follow
ad
タイトルとURLをコピーしました