Emergent Molecular Traits of Lettuce and Tomato Grown Under Wavelength-Selective Solar Cells

In this study, researchers sought to characterize crop responses to semi-transparent organic solar cells (ST-OSCs) in greenhouses. Lettuce and tomato crops were grown under three ST-OSCs filters that created different light spectra. Lettuce yield and early tomato development were not negatively affected by the modified light environment. A genomic analysis revealed that lettuce production exhibited beneficial traits involving nutrient content and nitrogen utilization while select ST-OSCs impact regulation of flowering initiation in tomato. These results suggest that ST-OSCs integrated into greenhouses are not only a promising technology for energy-neutral, sustainable and climate-change protected crop production, but can deliver benefits beyond energy considerations.