Inorganic Phosphors for Plant Growth Enabling Photosynthesis and Photomorphogenesis by Controlling the Light Quality of Sunlight

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K12429
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 64050:Sound material-cycle social systems-related
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo (2023); Tottori University (2019)
• Principal Investigator: ISHIGAKI Tadashi 東京大学, 大学院工学系研究科(工学部), 技術専門職員 (70451995)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 西原 英治 鳥取大学, 農学部, 教授 (40452544) ; 久郷 和人 公益財団法人かずさDNA研究所, 先端研究開発部, 研究員 (60554425) ; 大観 光徳 鳥取大学, 工学研究科, 教授 (90243378)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 無機蛍光体 / 光質変換

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This research focused on improving the efficiency of crop cultivation through light quality conversion. The plan was changed due to the corona disaster, and alternative measures were taken to carry out the research. The main results are as follows: 1. Inorganic phosphors with fluorescent properties suitable for plant cultivation were synthesized, and films containing these phosphors were fabricated using an inflation device; 2. Optical simulations were performed for the phosphors and scattering materials in the films, and the results were compared by measurement; 3. The films were used for optical measurements using an integrating sphere, instead of the usual optical measurement using direct light, to reproduce the use under sunlight; 4. Using the prepared film, the light quality treatment was applied in the promotion treatment to cherry cut branches, and the color of petals was confirmed to be darker and quantitatively compared by anthocyanin extraction.

Free Research Field

無機材料科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

これまで耐久性の点で不十分であった光質変換型の農業用フィルムについて、無機蛍光体を初めて用い作製した。無機蛍光体自体は蛍光灯全廃により需要が大きく減るが、新たな用途の可能性も見出された。また、無機蛍光体による光の散乱効果を測定の面でも確認することができ、これを用いた植物体への施用により、効果があることの一端を明らかにすることができた。供試体植物(ケイオウザクラ)の品質向上も期待でき、今後の展開にも期待できる。