Photobiology in Hydroponics: Effects of Artificial Light Quality on Crop Growth, Metabolism and Resilience

Hydroponic cultivation has emerged as a highly efficient method for producing high-quality crops in controlled environments, where artificial lighting plays a central role in determining plant performance.This study synthesizes current knowledge on how artificial light spectra (particularly blue, red, green, far-red and UV-A/B) affect plant growth, metabolism and stress resilience in soilless cultivation systems.The review highlights an integrated framework of light quality-metabolism-stress resistance and discusses how spectral composition influences both productivity and functional quality.Red and blue wavelengths, widely used due to their photosynthetic roles, are shown to increase yields by approximately 15%-25% compared with monochromatic or broad-spectrum light.Emerging evidence further emphasizes the functional relevance of green, far-red and ultraviolet light in modulating biomass accumulation, secondary metabolite production and abiotic stress responses.The study underscores the importance of tailoring light quality according to species, growth stage and desired agronomic outcomes, integrating dynamic lighting strategies, crop-specific "light recipes" and AI-assisted control.Understanding and leveraging photobiological responses in hydroponics are essential to achieving sustainable, high-performance food production.