Osram introduces the Phytofy RL, a special lighting system for horticultural research

     Osram has introduced the Phytofy RL, its latest LED-based plant lighting system. The lighting system was developed specifically for research purposes to meet the growing demand of researchers in universities, private institutions, and in fields such as greenhouse and vertical farm plant production. Researchers and modern farm workers can use Phytofy RL in the laboratory or climate chamber to develop novel plant light and growth formulations that allow plants to achieve the desired results in terms of quality, yield and flavor.

     The Phytofy RL plant lighting system can selectively intervene in the metabolic process of agricultural crops and ornamental crops by using various wavelengths and intensifies of light, and control the yield, color, taste and other characteristics. The latest research shows that plant metabolic processes are not only affected by photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) in the range of 400-700 nanometers (nm), shorter and longer wavelengths also affect plant growth and development.

     Using Phytofy RL, researchers can separately process six spectral channels from natural far-red to ultraviolet light, and precisely plan and control photosynthetically effective light quantum flux density (PPFD) in real time, including: 385 nm, 450 nm, 521 nm, 660 nm, 730 nm and a warm white light channel (2,700 K). At the same time, a large number of LED lamps in the system also achieve higher photosynthetic luminous flux (PPF).

     One of the characteristics of the Phytofy RL plant lighting system is its highly uniform light distribution. The calibrated system provides an accurate map of the light distribution, calculated by software, without the need to measure the luminous flux. In addition, Phytofy RL can be used to evaluate a variety of light formulations without having to change the luminaries between different tests. Users can program different combinations of wavelengths in different light profiles and throughout the photoperiod, and upon registration, users also receive five light formulations specially developed by OSram.

     The system software was developed by Osram in collaboration with plant biologists, and its intuitive graphical user interface is very easy to use. In addition, the software can also be integrated into the climate chamber system, so that climate chamber manufacturers can also benefit. The Phytofy RL measures 667 x 299 x 44 mm, weighs less than 9 kg and is designed to be flat and robust, optimised for vertical farms, rack systems and growth chambers.