Project
More roses for less: Balancing between crop growth, fungal diseases and energy use in greenhouses
Growing of cut-roses (rosa x hybrida) is very much affected by fungal diseases, such as powdery mildew (Sphaerotheca pannosa var. rosae). There is a tight feedback between (1.) cut-roses, (2.) powdery mildew development and (3.) greenhouse climate.
All these components can be modelled separately, however, all have their (dis)advantages. By combining these components into one 3D model, the complex plant-pathogen-climate feedbacks can be studied.
Within this study the focus is on the greenhouse climate and how this relates to mildew development. Therefore, two experiments are performed to study:
(1.) the effect of microclimate (i.e. light quality) the induced resistance of rose plants against powdery mildew and
(2.) the effect of plant architecture on the microclimate and how this can effect powdery mildew development.
Knowing these relations will enable us to develop the 3D FSP model that combines a rose architecture with microclimate and powdery mildew development.
This model will be used to study the effect of plant architecture on microclimate in more detail, so that we can explain the underlying mechanisms for greenhouse situations.
These results can be applied to come up with directions for measures on greenhouse climate and the rose crop.