Abstract:
Insulating greenhouses to minimize energy costs reduces ventilation rate and produces an increase in humidity.
This can have a detrimental effect on growth and production.
With cucumber several physiological disorders were noticed in energy conservative greenhouses under high humidity levels and low ventilation rates.
A description is given of heat damage to leaves and the growing point, leaf malformation (calcium deficiency), glassiness and adventitious root growth.
The results indicate interactions between nutrition, hormones and greenhouse climate.
Research on physiological disorders should concentrate on factors affecting the plants' water-, nutrient- and hormonal status as well as on the effects of physiological disorders on economic production.
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