Coronavirus restrictions have increased demands for greenery, and CTU may have an answer to the gardening craze dubbed ‘plantdemic’ that hits the country, so much so that it banks on a previous research to support ways of sustaining such a ‘new normal’ culture.
Prof. Jessa Rio’s experience at the National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC) Thailand could significantly factor in to plant production.
In 2018, Rio collaborated with BIOTEC scholars to focus on “Preliminary Study of Light Absorption Spectra, Regeneration of Cuttings of Three Varieties and Seed Germination of Coleus (Plectranthus scutellarioides) As Exposed to Different LED Light Spectrum Inside Plant Factory.”
For three months, she studied the growth of 3 varieties of Coleus plants— S. Aureole, S. Autumn, and S. Butter Creme — under the supervision of laboratory head Kriengkai Mosaleeyanon.
According to her, “coleus is cultivated in an open field for easy asexual cultivation and propagation. However, due to the irregular temperature, unexpected rain, and other natural calamities brought by climate change, the propagation and production of the plant become difficult. Therefore, cultivating the plant inside the plant factory by exposing it to different light spectrum (LED) and intensities opens a new era for continuous plant production.”
“The said research fellowship brings great techniques and knowledge in adapting to advance farming; it was a great experience where[sic] the knowledge and techniques learned from the training were shared and incorporated into instruction,” she added.
With CTU Barili’s newly established BIOTECH Lab, she referenced the training as the best way to kickstart innovative projects akin to that she conducted 3 years ago.
Rio is third from the College of Agriculture to do research in the renowned facility in Thailand. UICPA