chazbolin
Well-Known Member
Some of you may already be well versed in this from different perspectives so I thought I'd throw it out here for discussion.
Recently I was introduced to a discussion that centered around how humans process light by means of a third ocular photoreceptor that had not previously been recognized by researchers for the contribution these cells made to our overall health and well being. Of course that got me to thinking about how plants reaction to lack of certain spectrums that conventional theory had been thought 'unnecessary' to photochemical response might also be influencing a type of plant circadian rhythm.
Little more than a decade ago discussion that the eye might contain another photoreceptor, different from the rods and cones, generated either polite amusement or a hostile rebuttal. The dogma was that all light detection took place by these photoreceptors whilst the other cells of the retina act only to process visual signals. However, several lines of research led to the discovery that the vertebrate eye, including humans, contains another class of photoreceptor based upon a small number of photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (pRGCs). These specialized neurons detect environmental irradiance and regulate a wide range of physiology and behavior including the regulation of human 24h body clocks, sleep, alertness, mood and even pupil size. The discovery, and recent unpublished findings, relating this third class of ocular photoreceptor suggests that the broad spectrum quality of the light the pRG cells process affects our health in ways that had not been fully understood before. While I see a trend toward widening SSL bandwidths to accommodate broader plant photochemical morphology might it be that it is, like in humans, the subtle nuances these spectrums bring to humans might also benefit the plants overall well being, ability to fight off disease and infestation while increasing yields and quality?
While I explore this any input and reference to published material is appreciated.
Recently I was introduced to a discussion that centered around how humans process light by means of a third ocular photoreceptor that had not previously been recognized by researchers for the contribution these cells made to our overall health and well being. Of course that got me to thinking about how plants reaction to lack of certain spectrums that conventional theory had been thought 'unnecessary' to photochemical response might also be influencing a type of plant circadian rhythm.
Little more than a decade ago discussion that the eye might contain another photoreceptor, different from the rods and cones, generated either polite amusement or a hostile rebuttal. The dogma was that all light detection took place by these photoreceptors whilst the other cells of the retina act only to process visual signals. However, several lines of research led to the discovery that the vertebrate eye, including humans, contains another class of photoreceptor based upon a small number of photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (pRGCs). These specialized neurons detect environmental irradiance and regulate a wide range of physiology and behavior including the regulation of human 24h body clocks, sleep, alertness, mood and even pupil size. The discovery, and recent unpublished findings, relating this third class of ocular photoreceptor suggests that the broad spectrum quality of the light the pRG cells process affects our health in ways that had not been fully understood before. While I see a trend toward widening SSL bandwidths to accommodate broader plant photochemical morphology might it be that it is, like in humans, the subtle nuances these spectrums bring to humans might also benefit the plants overall well being, ability to fight off disease and infestation while increasing yields and quality?
While I explore this any input and reference to published material is appreciated.
