Role of LED lighting and light spectrum management in growth, flowering, and quality of ornamental plants

Abstract

Floriculture is a prosperous horticultural sector that depends on meticulous control of development, flowering, and aesthetic quality to satisfy continuous market demand. Light serves as an energy source for photosynthesis and as a developmental signal regulating photomorphogenesis, flowering, pigmentation, and postharvest performance in ornamental plants. The constraints of natural sunlight and traditional lighting systems, along with climate-induced fluctuations, have raised the demand for sophisticated light management solutions in controlled environments. Light-emitting diode (LED) technology offers unique advantages through high energy efficiency, low thermal emission, and precise control over spectral composition, intensity, and photoperiod. This review consolidates existing knowledge on lighting principles, plant physiological reactions to light, and the functions of spectral bands in influencing ornamental crop structure, flowering, coloration, and quality. The physiological mechanisms of photosynthesis, photoreceptor signaling, and photoperiodic regulation are examined concerning LED spectrum management. Species-specific reactions and commercial utilizations of LED systems are highlighted emphasizing their potential to enhance productivity, aesthetic value, sustainability in modern floriculture.