Impact of a High-PAR-Transmittance Plastic Cover on Photosynthetic Activity and Production of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) Crops in a Mediterranean Solar Greenhouse

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Main Authors: MORENO TERUEL, MARÍA DE LOS ÁNGELES, MOLINA-AIZ, Francisco Domingo, López Martínez, Alejandro, Valera, Diego, Peña, Araceli, Baptista, Fátima
Format: Recurso digital
Language:English
Published: Zenodo 2026
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author MORENO TERUEL, MARÍA DE LOS ÁNGELES
MOLINA-AIZ, Francisco Domingo
López Martínez, Alejandro
Valera, Diego
Peña, Araceli
Baptista, Fátima
author_facet MORENO TERUEL, MARÍA DE LOS ÁNGELES
MOLINA-AIZ, Francisco Domingo
López Martínez, Alejandro
Valera, Diego
Peña, Araceli
Baptista, Fátima
contents <p>The optical properties of greenhouse cover materials play a critical role in controlling the internal light environment, directly affecting photosynthetic performance and crop productivity. This study evaluates the impact of a high photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) transmittance and high-light-diffusivity polyethylene film on the microclimate, photosynthetic activity, yield, and disease incidence of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) crops grown in a Mediterranean passive solar greenhouse. Trials were conducted over two consecutive autumn–winter seasons using a multi-span greenhouse divided into two sectors: one covered with an experimental high-transmittance film and the other with a standard commercial plastic. The experimental cover increased PAR transmission by 8.7% and 11.6% at canopy level in the first and second seasons, respectively, leading to improvements in leaf-level net photosynthesis of 9.3% and 17.9%. These effects contributed to yield increases of 5.0% and 17.3% in the respective seasons. The internal air temperature rose by up to 1.3 ◦C without exceeding critical thresholds, and no significant differences were observed in plant morphology or fruit quality between treatments. Additionally, the experimental film reduced the incidence of major fungal diseases, particularly under higher disease pressure conditions. The use of high-PAR-transmittance films enhances radiation use efficiency and crop performance in resource-limited environments without increasing<br>energy inputs. This approach offers a sustainable, low-cost strategy to improve yield and disease resilience in protected cropping systems under passive climate control.</p>
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id zenodo_https___doi_org_10_3390_agronomy16030354
institution Zenodo
language eng
publishDate 2026
publisher Zenodo
record_format zenodo
spellingShingle Impact of a High-PAR-Transmittance Plastic Cover on Photosynthetic Activity and Production of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) Crops in a Mediterranean Solar Greenhouse
MORENO TERUEL, MARÍA DE LOS ÁNGELES
MOLINA-AIZ, Francisco Domingo
López Martínez, Alejandro
Valera, Diego
Peña, Araceli
Baptista, Fátima
<p>The optical properties of greenhouse cover materials play a critical role in controlling the internal light environment, directly affecting photosynthetic performance and crop productivity. This study evaluates the impact of a high photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) transmittance and high-light-diffusivity polyethylene film on the microclimate, photosynthetic activity, yield, and disease incidence of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) crops grown in a Mediterranean passive solar greenhouse. Trials were conducted over two consecutive autumn–winter seasons using a multi-span greenhouse divided into two sectors: one covered with an experimental high-transmittance film and the other with a standard commercial plastic. The experimental cover increased PAR transmission by 8.7% and 11.6% at canopy level in the first and second seasons, respectively, leading to improvements in leaf-level net photosynthesis of 9.3% and 17.9%. These effects contributed to yield increases of 5.0% and 17.3% in the respective seasons. The internal air temperature rose by up to 1.3 ◦C without exceeding critical thresholds, and no significant differences were observed in plant morphology or fruit quality between treatments. Additionally, the experimental film reduced the incidence of major fungal diseases, particularly under higher disease pressure conditions. The use of high-PAR-transmittance films enhances radiation use efficiency and crop performance in resource-limited environments without increasing<br>energy inputs. This approach offers a sustainable, low-cost strategy to improve yield and disease resilience in protected cropping systems under passive climate control.</p>
title Impact of a High-PAR-Transmittance Plastic Cover on Photosynthetic Activity and Production of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) Crops in a Mediterranean Solar Greenhouse
url https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16030354