Methods for improving crop yield

Abstract

Provided are systems and methods for increasing yield in a plant through the administration of UV light.

Description

METHODS FOR IMPROVING CROP YIELDCROSS-REFERENCE

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 711,926 filed on October 25, 2024, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 858,026 filed on August 5, 2025, which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND

[0002] Agriculture is a cornerstone of human civilization, providing the necessary sustenance for populations worldwide. As global demand for food continues to rise due to increasing populations and changing dietary preferences, there is an urgent need to enhance crop yields to ensure food security.

[0003] Numerous methods have been developed to improve crop yields, including the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), improved irrigation and fertilization techniques, and seed coatings to increase seedling vigor. Each of these approaches offers potential benefits; however, they also come with challenges and limitations.

[0004] Moreover, environmental factors, such as climate change, pose additional threats to agricultural productivity. Changes in temperature, rainfall patterns, and the frequency of extreme weather events can adversely affect crop growth, making it crucial to adopt adaptive strategies that not only boost yields but also enhance resilience to these stresses. Therefore, there is a pressing need for innovative methods that can increase crop yields sustainably while addressing the various challenges facing modern agriculture.SUMMARY

[0005] Described herein are methods for increasing agricultural crop yields across multiple generations of crops utilizing Ultraviolet (UV) light administration.

[0006] In certain aspects, described herein is a method for increasing a crop yield of a child crop, the method comprising: providing an untreated parent crop seed; administering light enriched for UV of a wavelength of about 275 nm to about 310 nm to the untreated parent crop seed to produce a treated parent crop seed; sowing the treated parent crop seed and growing a parent crop; harvesting a child seed from the parent crop; sowing the child seed and growing achild crop; and harvesting the child crop. In some embodiments, the crop yield of the child crop is increased as compared to a child crop yield from an untreated parent crop seed. In some embodiments, the crop yield of the child crop is increased as compared to a parent crop yield from a treated parent crop seed. In some embodiments, the increase in crop yield is determined by comparison to the method without administering light enriched for UV of a wavelength of about 275 nm to about 310 nm. In some embodiments, crop yield is determined by one or more of crop weight, number of crops harvested, Brix content, crop width, crop length, leaf size, leaf surface area, dry weight, nitrogen content, shoot dry weight, shoot fresh weight, root dry weight, vegetable development, nitrogen content, flower per plant, bushels per acre (bu / ac), weight of fruiting parts, total lipid percent, total non- structural carbohydrates, or metabolizable energy. In some embodiments, the crop comprises seeds, leaves, roots, stems, flowers, fruits, or vegetables. In some embodiments, the crop is selected from soybean, lettuce, beans, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, cucumber, melon, onion, peas, peppers, pumpkin, spinach, squash, tomato, watermelon, alfalfa, canola, corn, cotton, sorghum, sugarbeets, wheat, mint, sunflowers, almond, barley, cacao, chickpea, coconut, coffee, fig, grapefruit, garlic, hemp, hops, oats, rice, rye, sugarcane, sweet potato , tobacco, tomato, walnut, peanut, vanilla, and quinoa. In some embodiments, the crop is a hybrid crop. In some embodiments, the crop is selected from com, barley, cacao, coffee, hemp, hops, oats, rice, tobacco, and tomato. In some embodiments, the crop is a member of the Poaceae family. In some embodiments, the crop is corn. In some embodiments, the untreated parent crop seed is inbred corn. In some embodiments, the child crop is hybrid corn. In some embodiments, the expression of a gene or the presence or absence of an epigenetic marker is altered in young plants grown from the treated parent seeds as compared to in young plants grown from the untreated parent seed. In some embodiments, the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is altered in young plants grown from the child com seeds as compared to young plants grown from the treated parent corn seeds. In some embodiments, i) the expression of a gene or the presence or absence of an epigenetic marker is increased in young plants grown from the treated parent seed as compared to young plants from untreated parent seed; ii) the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is increased in young plants grown from the child seed; optionally wherein the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker in young plants grown from the child seed is greater than the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker in young plants grown from treated parentseed. In some embodiments, i) the expression of a gene or the presence or absence of an epigenetic marker is decreased in young plants grown from the treated parent seed as compared to young plants from untreated parent seed; ii) the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is decreased in young plants grown from the child seed; optionally wherein the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker in young plants grown from the child seed is less than the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker in young plants grown from treated parent seed. In some embodiments, the UV light does not comprise UV-A light. In some embodiments, the light enriched for UV comprises UV-B light with wavelengths from 280 nm to 300 nm. In some embodiments, the light enriched for UV comprises UV-B light with wavelengths from 280 nm to 290 nm. In some embodiments, the light enriched for UV comprises a wavelength peaking at 280 nm. In some embodiments, the light enriched for UV comprises a wavelength peaking at 284 nm. In some embodiments, the dosage of UV is in a range of about 0.3 kJ m-2to about 3.0 kJ m-2, about 2.0 kJ m-2to about 12.0 kJ m-2, about 0.1 kJ m-2to about 1.0 kJ m-2, about 2 kJ m-2to about 10 kJ m-2, or about 1.2 kJ m-2to about 7 kJ m-2. In some embodiments, the dosage of UV is about 0.1 kJ m-2, about 0.2 kJ m-2, about 0.3 kJ m-2, about 0.4 kJ m-2, about 0.5 kJ m-2, about 0.6 kJ m-2, about 0.7 kJ m-2, about 0.8 kJ m-2, about 0.9 kJ m-2, or about 1.0 kJ m-2. In some embodiments, a duration of administering UV is from 0.5 to 60 minutes, 1 to 30 minutes, 1 to 20 minutes, or 3 to 15 minutes. In some embodiments, a duration of administering UV is at least 10 hours, at least 15 hours, at least 20 hours, at least 25 hours, or at least 30 hours. In some embodiments, a duration of administering UV is at least 1 day or at least 14 days. In some embodiments, a duration of administering UV is about 1 day, about 2 days, about 3 days, about 4 days, about 5 days, about 6 days, or about 7 days. In some embodiments, the child seed is not administered light.

[0007] In certain aspects, described herein is a method for increasing a crop yield of a child crop, the method comprising: sowing a treated parent crop seed and growing a parent crop, wherein the treated parent crop seed has been treated by administering light enriched for UV of a wavelength of about 275 nm to about 310 nm to an untreated parent crop seed; harvesting a child seed from the parent crop; sowing the child seed and growing a child crop; and harvesting the crop yield from the child crop. In some embodiments, the crop yield of the child crop is increased as compared to a child crop yield from an untreated parent crop seed. In some embodiments, the crop yield of the child crop is increased as compared to a parent crop yieldfrom a treated parent crop seed. In some embodiments, the increase in crop yield is determined by comparison to the method without administering light enriched for UV of a wavelength of about 275 nm to about 310 nm. In some embodiments, crop yield is determined by one or more of crop weight, number of crops harvested, Brix content, crop width, crop length, leaf size, leaf surface area, dry weight, nitrogen content, shoot dry weight, shoot fresh weight, root dry weight, vegetable development, nitrogen content, flower per plant, bushels per acre (bu / ac), weight of fruiting parts, total lipid percent, total non- structural carbohydrates, or metabolizable energy. In some embodiments, the crop comprises seeds, leaves, roots, stems, flowers, fruits, or vegetables. In some embodiments, the crop is selected from soybean, lettuce, beans, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, cucumber, melon, onion, peas, peppers, pumpkin, spinach, squash, tomato, watermelon, alfalfa, canola, corn, cotton, sorghum, sugarbeets, wheat, mint, sunflowers, almond, barley, cacao, chickpea, coconut, coffee, fig, grapefruit, garlic, hemp, hops, oats, rice, rye, sugarcane, sweet potato , tobacco, tomato, walnut, peanut, vanilla, and quinoa. In some embodiments, the crop is a hybrid crop. In some embodiments, the crop is selected from com, barley, cacao, coffee, hemp, hops, oats, rice, tobacco, and tomato. In some embodiments, the crop is a member of the Poaceae family. In some embodiments, the crop is corn. In some embodiments, the untreated parent crop seed is inbred corn. In some embodiments, the child crop is hybrid corn. In some embodiments, the expression of a gene or the presence or absence of an epigenetic marker is altered in young plants grown from the treated parent seeds as compared to in young plants grown from the untreated parent seed. In some embodiments, the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is altered in young plants grown from the child com seeds as compared to young plants grown from the treated parent corn seeds. In some embodiments, i) the expression of a gene or the presence or absence of an epigenetic marker is increased in young plants grown from the treated parent seed as compared to young plants from untreated parent seed; ii) the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is increased in young plants grown from the child seed; optionally wherein the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker in young plants grown from the child seed is greater than the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker in young plants grown from treated parent seed. In some embodiments, i) the expression of a gene or the presence or absence of an epigenetic marker is decreased in young plants grown from the treated parent seed as compared to young plants from untreated parent seed; ii) the expression of the gene or the presence orabsence of the epigenetic marker is decreased in young plants grown from the child seed; optionally wherein the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker in young plants grown from the child seed is less than the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker in young plants grown from treated parent seed. In some embodiments, the UV light does not comprise UV-A light. In some embodiments, the light enriched for UV comprises UV-B light with wavelengths from 280 nm to 300 nm. In some embodiments, the light enriched for UV comprises UV-B light with wavelengths from 280 nm to 290 nm. In some embodiments, the light enriched for UV comprises a wavelength peaking at 280 nm. In some embodiments, the light enriched for UV comprises a wavelength peaking at 284 nm. In some embodiments, the dosage of UV is in a range of about 0.3 kJ m-2to about 3.0 kJ m-2, about 2.0 kJ m-2to about 12.0 kJ m-2, about 0.1 kJ m-2to about 1.0 kJ m-2, about 2 kJ m-2to about 10 kJ m-2, or about 1.2 kJ m-2to about 7 kJ m-2. In some embodiments, the dosage of UV is about 0.1 kJ m-2, about 0.2 kJ m-2, about 0.3 kJ m-2, about 0.4 kJ m-2, about 0.5 kJ m-2, about 0.6 kJ m-2, about 0.7 kJ m-2, about 0.8 kJ m-2, about 0.9 kJ m-2, or about 1.0 kJ m-2. In some embodiments, a duration of administering UV is from 0.5 to 60 minutes, 1 to 30 minutes, 1 to 20 minutes, or 3 to 15 minutes. In some embodiments, a duration of administering UV is at least 10 hours, at least 15 hours, at least 20 hours, at least 25 hours, or at least 30 hours. In some embodiments, a duration of administering UV is at least 1 day or at least 14 days. In some embodiments, a duration of administering UV is about 1 day, about 2 days, about 3 days, about 4 days, about 5 days, about 6 days, or about 7 days. In some embodiments, the child seed is not administered light.

[0008] In certain aspects, described herein is a method for increasing a crop yield of a child crop, the method comprising: sowing a child seed and growing a child crop, wherein the child seed is grown from a parent crop, wherein the parent crop was grown from a parent seed treated by administering light enriched for UV of a wavelength of about 275 nm to about 310 nm to an untreated parent crop seed; and harvesting the crop yield from the child crop. In some embodiments, the crop yield of the child crop is increased as compared to a child crop yield from an untreated parent crop seed. In some embodiments, the crop yield of the child crop is increased as compared to a parent crop yield from a treated parent crop seed. In some embodiments, the increase in crop yield is determined by comparison to the method without administering light enriched for UV of a wavelength of about 275 nm to about 310 nm. In some embodiments, crop yield is determined by one or more of crop weight, number of cropsharvested, Brix content, crop width, crop length, leaf size, leaf surface area, dry weight, nitrogen content, shoot dry weight, shoot fresh weight, root dry weight, vegetable development, nitrogen content, flower per plant, bushels per acre (bu / ac), weight of fruiting parts, total lipid percent, total non- structural carbohydrates, or metabolizable energy. In some embodiments, the crop comprises seeds, leaves, roots, stems, flowers, fruits, or vegetables. In some embodiments, the crop is selected from soybean, lettuce, beans, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, cucumber, melon, onion, peas, peppers, pumpkin, spinach, squash, tomato, watermelon, alfalfa, canola, corn, cotton, sorghum, sugarbeets, wheat, mint, sunflowers, almond, barley, cacao, chickpea, coconut, coffee, fig, grapefruit, garlic, hemp, hops, oats, rice, rye, sugarcane, sweet potato , tobacco, tomato, walnut, peanut, vanilla, and quinoa. In some embodiments, the crop is a hybrid crop. In some embodiments, the crop is selected from corn, barley, cacao, coffee, hemp, hops, oats, rice, tobacco, and tomato. In some embodiments, the crop is a member of x Poaceae family. In some embodiments, the crop is corn. In some embodiments, the untreated parent crop seed is inbred com. In some embodiments, the child crop is hybrid corn. In some embodiments, the expression of a gene or the presence or absence of an epigenetic marker is altered in young plants grown from the treated parent seeds as compared to in young plants grown from the untreated parent seed. In some embodiments, the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is altered in young plants grown from the child corn seeds as compared to young plants grown from the treated parent corn seeds. In some embodiments, i) the expression of a gene or the presence or absence of an epigenetic marker is increased in young plants grown from the treated parent seed as compared to young plants from untreated parent seed; ii) the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is increased in young plants grown from the child seed; optionally wherein the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker in young plants grown from the child seed is greater than the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker in young plants grown from treated parent seed. In some embodiments, i) the expression of a gene or the presence or absence of an epigenetic marker is decreased in young plants grown from the treated parent seed as compared to young plants from untreated parent seed; ii) the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is decreased in young plants grown from the child seed; optionally wherein the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker in young plants grown from the child seed is less than the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic markerin young plants grown from treated parent seed. In some embodiments, the UV light does not comprise UV-A light. In some embodiments, the light enriched for UV comprises UV-B light with wavelengths from 280 nm to 300 nm. In some embodiments, the light enriched for UV comprises UV-B light with wavelengths from 280 nm to 290 nm. In some embodiments, the light enriched for UV comprises a wavelength peaking at 280 nm. In some embodiments, the light enriched for UV comprises a wavelength peaking at 284 nm. In some embodiments, the dosage of UV is in a range of about 0.3 kJ m-2to about 3.0 kJ m-2, about 2.0 kJ m-2to about 12.0 kJ m-2, about 0.1 kJ m-2to about 1.0 kJ m-2, about 2 kJ m-2to about 10 kJ m-2, or about 1.2 kJ m-2to about 7 kJ m-2. In some embodiments, the dosage of UV is about 0.1 kJ m-2, about 0.2 kJ m-2, about 0.3 kJ m-2, about 0.4 kJ m-2, about 0.5 kJ m-2, about 0.6 kJ m-2, about 0.7 kJ m-2, about 0.8 kJ m-2, about 0.9 kJ m-2, or about 1.0 kJ m-2. In some embodiments, a duration of administering UV is from 0.5 to 60 minutes, 1 to 30 minutes, 1 to 20 minutes, or 3 to 15 minutes. In some embodiments, a duration of administering UV is at least 10 hours, at least 15 hours, at least 20 hours, at least 25 hours, or at least 30 hours. In some embodiments, a duration of administering UV is at least 1 day or at least 14 days. In some embodiments, a duration of administering UV is about 1 day, about 2 days, about 3 days, about 4 days, about 5 days, about 6 days, or about 7 days. In some embodiments, the child seed is not administered light.

[0009] In certain aspects, described herein is a method for amplifying the effects of heterosis in a hybrid crop, the method comprising: providing two or more varieties of untreated parent seeds; administering light enriched for UV of a wavelength of about 275 nm to about 310 nm to at least one variety of untreated parent seeds to produce treated parent seeds; sowing the treated parent seeds and optionally untreated parent seeds and growing a hybrid parent crop, wherein the treated parent seeds and optionally untreated parent seeds are placed to allow cross pollination across the two or more varieties; harvesting hybrid child seeds from the hybrid parent crop; sowing the hybrid child seeds and growing a hybrid child crop; and harvesting the hybrid child crop. In some embodiments, one variety of untreated parent seeds is administered light enriched for UV. In some embodiments, two varieties of untreated parent seeds are administered light enriched for UV. In some embodiments, the hybrid crop is selected from almond, barley, cacao, chickpea, coconut, corn, coffee, fig, grapefruit, garlic, hemp, hops, oats, rice, rye, sugarcane, sweet potato, tobacco, tomato, walnut, peanut, vanilla, and quinoa. In some embodiments, the hybrid crop is selected from corn and rice. In some embodiments, the effects of heterosis are determined by comparison to the method without administering light enrichedfor UV of a wavelength of about 275 nm to about 310 nm. In some embodiments, the effects of heterosis are determined by comparing the expression of a gene or the presence or absence of an epigenetic marker in young plants grown from one or more of untreated parent seeds, treated parent seeds, and hybrid child seeds. In some embodiments, the expression of a gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is altered in young plants grown from the treated parent seed as compared to in young plants grown from the untreated parent seed. In some embodiments, the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is altered in young plants grown from the hybrid child seed as compared to in young plants grown from the treated parent seed. In some embodiments, the epigenetic marker comprises methylation, acetylation, ubiquitylation, phosphorylation, sumoylation, ribosylation, citrullination, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is altered by from about 1% to about 100%. In some embodiments, the effects of heterosis are determined by comparing the crop yield between the hybrid child crop with and without the administering light enriched for UV of a wavelength of about 275 nm to about 310 nm to the untreated parent seeds. In some embodiments, the crop yield is increased by at least 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or 100%. In some embodiments, crop yield is increased by about 5% to 100%, by about 10% to 90%, or by about 20% to 80%. In some embodiments, the UV light does not comprise UV-A light. In some embodiments, the light enriched for UV comprises UV-B light with wavelengths from 280 nm to 300 nm. In some embodiments, the light enriched for UV comprises UV-B light with wavelengths from 280 nm to 290 nm. In some embodiments, the light enriched for UV comprises a wavelength peaking at 280 nm. In some embodiments, the light enriched for UV comprises a wavelength peaking at 284 nm. In some embodiments, the dosage of UV is in a range of about 0.3 kJ m-2to about 3.0 kJ m-2, about 2.0 kJ m-2to about 12.0 kJ m-2, about 0.1 kJ m-2to about 1.0 kJ m-2, about 2 kJ m-2to about 10 kJ m-2, or about 1.2 kJ m-2to about 7 kJ m-2. In some embodiments, the dosage of UV is about 0.1 kJ m-2, about 0.2 kJ m-2, about 0.3 kJ m-2, about 0.4 kJ m-2, about 0.5 kJ m-2, about 0.6 kJ m-2, about 0.7 kJ m-2, about 0.8 kJ m-2, about 0.9 kJ m-2, or about 1.0 kJ m-2. In some embodiments, a duration of administering UV is from 0.5 to 60 minutes, 1 to 30 minutes, 1 to 20 minutes, or 3 to 15 minutes. In some embodiments, a duration of administering UV is at least 10 hours, at least 15 hours, at least 20 hours, at least 25 hours, or at least 30 hours. In some embodiments, a duration of administering UV is at least 1 day or at least 14 days. In some embodiments, a duration of administering UV isabout 1 day, about 2 days, about 3 days, about 4 days, about 5 days, about 6 days, or about 7 days. In some embodiments, the child seed is not administered light.

[0010] In certain aspects, described herein is a method for improving a crop yield, wherein the crop is hybrid corn, the method comprising: providing two or more varieties of untreated parent corn seeds; administering light enriched for UV of a wavelength of about 275 nm to about 310 nm to at least one variety of the untreated parent com seeds to produce treated parent corn seeds; sowing the treated parent corn seeds and optionally the untreated parent corn seeds and growing a hybrid seed crop, wherein the treated parent com seeds and optionally the untreated parent corn seeds are sown in locations to allow cross pollination across the two or more varieties; harvesting hybrid child corn seeds from the parent crop; sowing the hybrid child corn seeds and growing a hybrid child crop; and harvesting the hybrid child crop. In some embodiments, one variety of untreated parent corn seeds is administered light enriched for UV. In some embodiments, two varieties of untreated parent com seeds are administered light enriched for UV. In some embodiments, the increase in crop yield of the hybrid child crop is determined by comparison to the crop yield of a hybrid child corn seed produced by the method without administering light enriched for UV of a wavelength of about 275 nm to about 310 nm to either a) a parent corn seed, b) a hybrid corn seed, or c) both. In some embodiments, crop yield is increased by at least about 10 bu / ac, about 30 bu / ac, or about 50 bu / ac. In some embodiments, crop yield is increased by about 10 to about 150 bu / ac, about 30 to about 100 bu / ac, or about 40 to about 90 bu / ac. In some embodiments, crop yield is increased by about 5 to 100%, by about 10 to 90%, or by about 20 to 80%. In some embodiments, the expression of a gene or the presence or absence of an epigenetic marker is altered in young plants grown from the treated parent corn seeds as compared to in young plants grown from the untreated parent corn seed. In some embodiments, the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is altered in young plants grown from the hybrid child com seeds as compared to young plants grown from the treated parent com seeds. In some embodiments, the epigenetic marker comprises methylation, acetylation, ubiquitylation, phosphorylation, sumoylation, ribosylation, citrullination, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is altered by from about 1% to about 100%. In some embodiments, i) the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is increased in young plants grown from the treated parent corn seed as compared to young plants from untreated parent com seed; and ii) the expression of the gene orthe presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is increased in young plants grown from the child corn seed; optionally wherein the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker in young plants grown from the hybrid child corn seed is greater than the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker in young plants grown from treated parent com seed. In some embodiments, i) the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is decreased in young plants grown from the treated parent corn seed as compared to young plants from untreated parent corn seed; and ii) the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is decreased in young plants grown from the hybrid child corn seed; optionally wherein iii) the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker in young plants grown from the hybrid child corn seed is less than the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker in young plants grown from treated parent corn seed. In some embodiments, the UV light does not comprise UV-A light. In some embodiments, the light enriched for UV comprises UV-B light with wavelengths from 280 nm to 300 nm. In some embodiments, the light enriched for UV comprises UV-B light with wavelengths from 280 nm to 290 nm. In some embodiments, the light enriched for UV comprises a wavelength peaking at 280 nm. In some embodiments, the light enriched for UV comprises a wavelength peaking at 284 nm. In some embodiments, the dosage of UV is in a range of about 0.3 kJ m-2to about 3.0 kJ m-2, about 2.0 kJ m-2to about 12.0 kJ m-2, about 0.1 kJ m-2to about 1.0 kJ m-2, about 2 kJ m-2to about 10 kJ m-2, or about 1.2 kJ m-2to about 7 kJ m-2. In some embodiments, the dosage of UV is about 0.1 kJ m-2, about 0.2 kJ m-2, about 0.3 kJ m-2, about 0.4 kJ m-2, about 0.5 kJ m-2, about 0.6 kJ m-2, about 0.7 kJ m-2, about 0.8 kJ m-2, about 0.9 kJ m-2, or about 1.0 kJ m-2. In some embodiments, a duration of administering UV is from 0.5 to 60 minutes, 1 to 30 minutes, 1 to 20 minutes, or 3 to 15 minutes. In some embodiments, a duration of administering UV is at least 10 hours, at least 15 hours, at least 20 hours, at least 25 hours, or at least 30 hours. In some embodiments, a duration of administering UV is at least 1 day or at least 14 days. In some embodiments, a duration of administering UV is about 1 day, about 2 days, about 3 days, about 4 days, about 5 days, about 6 days, or about 7 days. In some embodiments, the child seed is not administered light.

[0011] In certain aspects, described herein is a plant comprising an alteration in at least one epigenetic marker, wherein the change is at least 10% as compared to an untreated parent seed. In some embodiments, the at least one epigenetic marker comprises methylation, acetylation,ubiquitylation, phosphorylation, sumoylation, ribosylation, citrullination, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the plant comprises an alteration in at least two epigenetic markers, at least three epigenetic markers, at least four epigenetic markers, at least five epigenetic markers, at least six epigenetic markers, at least seven epigenetic markers, at least eight epigenetic markers, at least nine epigenetic markers, or at least ten epigenetic markers. In some embodiments, the plant is derived from a child seed derived from a treated parent seed and the at least one epigenetic marker is altered as compared to the levels in an untreated parent plant, the levels in a plant derived from a child seed that is derived from an untreated parent seed, or the levels in a treated parent plant. In some embodiments, the plant is a seed.INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

[0012] All publications, patents, and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent, or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The novel features of the disclosure are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. A better understanding of the features and advantages of the present disclosure will be obtained by reference to the following detailed description that sets forth illustrative embodiments, in which the principles of the invention are utilized, and the accompanying drawings of which:

[0014] FIG. 1A - FIG. 1C show crop yields of hybrid child corn plants. The hybrid child corn plants (Cl) were grown from hybrid child corn seeds (Cl) obtained from crossing two varieties of inbred parent corn (P). The inbred parent com seeds (P) were treated with UV light and compared against inbred parent com seeds (P) which were not treated with UV light. The hybrid child corn seeds (Cl) were not treated with UV light directly.

[0015] FIG. 2 shows a schematic of self-pollinating parent crop (P) to harvest child seeds (Cl) to grow child crop (Cl).

[0016] FIG. 3 shows a schematic of two varieties of parent seeds (P) grown to produce two parent crops (P). The two parent crop varieties are planted to allow for pollination and production of a child seed (Cl), which is then sown and grows to produce a child crop (Cl).

[0017] FIG. 4 shows root dry weight of hybrid child com plants (Cl) grown from hybrid child corn seeds (Cl). Hybrid child com seeds (Cl) from the plants of parent com seeds (P) that received UV light treatment were compared to hybrid child corn seeds (Cl) from the plants of parent corn seeds (P) that did not receive UV light treatment.

[0018] FIG. 5A depicts a front view of one embodiment of a seed treatment device.

[0019] FIG. 5B depicts a side view of one embodiment of a seed treatment device.

[0020] FIG. 5C depicts a top view of one embodiment of a seed treatment device.

[0021] FIG. 6 depicts the effects of same-generation UV treatment on yields of hybrid com varieties grown from UV-treated and untreated hybrid seed. In this trial, the inbred parent lines used to generate the hybrid corn varieties were not treated with UV. Instead, the hybrid com seeds were treated. Each graph indicates a different field site and the title differentiates between the location of the field site. On average, UV-treated hybrid seeds yielded a corn crop with a 4.7 Bu / ac higher yield, or an increase of 2.7%.

[0022] FIG. 7 depicts the effects of same-generation UV treatment on yields of inbred corn varieties grown from untreated inbred seed and parent seed (P) treated by three UV-treatment regimens.

[0023] FIG. 8A depicts the seedling emergence percentage of UV-treated parent seeds (P) compared to untreated controls in Arabidopsis .

[0024] FIG. 8B depicts the seedling emergence percentage of child seeds (Cl) harvested from UV-treated parent seeds (P) or untreated parent seeds (P) in Arabiposis.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] The present disclosure offers a novel method for increasing agricultural crop yields utilizing ultraviolet (UV) light administration across multiple generations of crops. The methods disclosed herein utilizes the application of UV light to the seeds of a parent generation to stimulate plant growth, thereby leading to enhanced crop productivity. However, the method does not merely affect the treated generation of crops. Remarkably, the benefits of UV light treatment are seen to extend to subsequent generations of crops without the need for additional UV light treatment. This approach enhances crop productivity not only for the treated crop but also for their offspring, leading to large increases in agricultural yield.

[0026] Commercial growth of hybrid corn involves a carefully planned process to crossbreed two different varieties of corn, each with its own desirable traits. The process begins with the selection of parent com varieties known for their individual strengths, such as pest resistance, drought tolerance, or high yield. In the field, these selected varieties are planted in alternating rows. One row, called the female row, has its tassels (the pollen-producing part) removed in a process known as detasseling, so it can only receive pollen, not produce it. The adjacent row, the male row, is left to produce pollen. The wind naturally carries pollen from the male row to the female row, resulting in cross-pollination. The com kernels that grow on the detasseled plants are the hybrid seeds, containing the combined traits of both parent varieties. These hybrid seeds are then harvested, processed, and sold to farmers for planting in the next growing season. The resultant hybrid corn typically displays heterosis, or hybrid vigor, where it outperforms its parents in terms of growth rate, resilience, and yield, making it highly valued in commercial agriculture. As such, over 85% of commercial corn is hybrid corn.

[0027] Disclosed herein are novel methods leading to surprisingly large increases in commercial corn yields. In some embodiments, the methods herein treat the varieties of parent corn seeds with UV light. The resulting parent crop shows a 5 to 10% increase in the hybrid corn crop. However, sowing and growing the hybrid com seeds leads to even larger increases in yield of 20% or more. FIG. 1A, IB, and 1C show increases of 43%, 77% and 34% respectively in field trials.

[0028] Additional field trials were performed, which confirm that the treatment of the parent line is linked to the large increases in yield observed in the hybrid corn crop. Separate batches of hybrid seeds were generated by crossing untreated inbred parents. The hybrid seeds themselves were treated with UV, sown, and harvested (see Fig. 6) at 18 separate field trial locations. The average increase in yield for these same-generation field trials was 2.7%.

[0029] The magnitude of this increasing yield is unusually large. Seed treatments in commercial corn farming can protect the seed and improve potential yields. Fungicide treatment can protect against a variety of soil-bome and seed-borne fungal diseases. By preventing these diseases, fungicide treatments can help to increase germination success, plant stand, and eventually yield. Fungicide yield increases can vary significantly depending on disease pressure, but some studies report an average yield increase of 5-15%. Insecticide treatments can provide protection against early-season com pests, including wireworms and rootworms. Like fungicides, yield benefits depend on pest pressure and can range from 5-20%. Nutrient coatingscan provide the seeds with essential micro and macro nutrients and can improve germination and early growth leading to yield improvements of up to 5-10%. The data in the instant application show increases of more than 20%, which is an unexpected improvement over known seed treatments.

[0030] Notwithstanding the large increase in commercially grown hybrid corn, the yields of the inbred parent lines are also increased (see Fig. 7). Growing inbred com crops presents several significant challenges due to the genetic limitations inherent in inbreeding. One of the most prominent issues is inbreeding depression, which results in reduced plant vigor, poor growth, lower biomass, and underdeveloped root systems. These plants typically yield far less than hybrid varieties and are more susceptible to environmental stresses such as drought, nutrient deficiencies, pests, diseases, and temperature extremes. Inbred corn also tends to grow slowly, mature later, and produce fewer, weaker reproductive structures, leading to poor pollination and limited seed set. Therefore, seed production from inbred lines is inefficient, with fewer and smaller kernels, often requiring greater inputs and precise management. Furthermore, maintaining genetic purity during seed production demands field isolation and careful handling. With all these challenges, yield increases to the inbred parents can have large effects on a grower’s overall yield. Experiments provided herein show an average increase of 7.3% on a variety of inbred com lines.

[0031] A reduction in chemical inputs (e.g. fungicides, insecticides, seed coatings) is also desirable, as many chemicals have been linked to negative health effects in humans and livestock. However, this reduction in chemical inputs often comes at a cost, usually in terms of yield, which is generally passed on to the eventual consumer. The claimed methods provide an important way to preserve or increase yields while reducing the costs of growing crops without the heavy use of chemical inputs.

[0032] Additionally, known seed treatments affect the directly treated seeds and have minimal effect on subsequent generations. Surprisingly, the claimed methods increase the benefits of UV administration of the parent generation, the child generation, or in a hybrid generation. Such compounding yield increases further separate the claimed methods from any known art.

[0033] Lastly, there is no expectation that the effects of UV administration would amplify the positive effects of heterosis. The process of heterosis itself is not well understood despite widespread use and economic importance. The exact underlying mechanism remains subject toongoing research and debate. Without a clear understanding of this important process, a person of skill in the art would certainly not expect the administration of UV light to a parent generation to generate large yield increases in hybrid generations.

[0034] In some embodiments, the methods described herein lead to large increases in the yield of alfalfa, almonds, barley, beans, broccoli, cabbage, cacao, cannabis, canola, carrot, cauliflower, chickpeas, coconut, coffee, com, cotton, cucumber, eggplant, figs, garlic, grapefruit, green lettuce, hemp, hops, lettuce, melon, mint, oats, onion, peanut, peas, peppers, pumpkin, quinoa, red lettuce, rice, rye, sorghum, soybean, spinach, squash, strawberry, sugarbeets, sugarcane, sunflowers, sweet potato, tobacco, tomato, vanilla, walnut, watermelon, or wheat.METHODS

[0035] Described herein are methods of improving a crop yield. In some embodiments, described herein are methods of improving a child crop yield. In some embodiments, the methods comprise exposing a parent crop seed to light enriched for UV. In some embodiments, the methods comprise exposing a parent crop seed to light enriched for UV-B. In some embodiments, the methods comprise exposing a parent crop seed to light enriched for UV of a wavelength of about 275 nm to about 310 nm. In some embodiments, the methods comprise sowing a parent crop seed and growing a parent crop. In some embodiments, the methods comprise harvesting a child seed from a parent crop. In some embodiments, the methods comprise sowing a child seed and growing a child crop. In some embodiments, the methods comprise harvesting a crop yield from the child crop.

[0036] In some embodiments, the improvement in crop yield is an improvement in child crop yield. In some embodiments, the improved child crop yield comprises an improvement in of crop weight, number of crops harvested, Brix content, crop width, crop length, leaf size, leaf surface area, dry weight, nitrogen content, shoot dry weight, shoot fresh weight, root dry weight, vegetable development, nitrogen content, flower per plant, bushels per acre (bu / ac), weight of fruiting parts, total lipid percent, total non- structural carbohydrates, or metabolizable energy.

[0037] Also described herein are methods of improving a child crop yield, comprising sowing a treated parent crop seed and growing a parent crop, wherein the treated parent crop seed has been treated by administering light enriched for UV of a wavelength of about 275 nm to about 310 nm to an untreated parent crop seed; harvesting a child seed from the parent crop; sowing the child seed and growing a child crop; and harvesting the crop yield from the childcrop. In some embodiments, the improvement in crop yield comprises and improvement of crop weight, number of crops harvested, Brix content, crop width, crop length, leaf size, leaf surface area, dry weight, nitrogen content, shoot dry weight, shoot fresh weight, root dry weight, vegetable development, nitrogen content, flower per plant, bushels per acre (bu / ac), weight of fruiting parts, total lipid percent, total non- structural carbohydrates, or metabolizable energy.

[0038] In some embodiments, a parent seed (P) may be administered UV-B light. A child seed (C) may be harvested. The parent seed may be an inbred plant line. The child seed may be a hybrid plant line. In some embodiments, only the parent seed is administered UV-B light. In some embodiments, only one parent seed is administered UV-B light. In some embodiments, no child seed is administered UV-B light.

[0039] In some embodiments, the child seed (C) may refer to any generation of child seed, including but not limited to a first generation child seed, a second-generation child seed, a third-generation child seed, a fourth-generation child seed, a fifth generation child seed, a sixth generation child seed, a seventh-generation child seed, an eight generation child seed, a ninth generation child seed, or a tenth generation child seed. In some embodiments, the child seed may be a seed Cl, representing a first-generation child seed. The child seed may be a seed C2, representing a second-generation child seed. The child seed may be a seed C3, representing a third-generation child seed. The child seed may be a seed C4, representing a fourth-generation child seed. The child seed may be a seed C5, representing a fifth-generation child seed. The child seed may be a seed C6, representing a sixth-generation child seed. The child seed may be a seed C7, representing a seventh-generation child seed. The child seed may be a seed C8, representing an eighth-generation child seed. The child seed may be a seed C9, representing a ninth-generation child seed. The child seed may be a seed CIO, representing a tenth-generation child seed. In some embodiments, treatment of a parent seed (P) with UV-B generates one or more new traits in the parent seed (P). In some embodiments, treatment of a parent seed (P) with UV-B alters one or more traits in the parent seed (P). In some embodiments, the generated or altered trait is inherited by a child seed Cl. In some embodiments, the trait is inherited in a child seed C2. In some embodiments, the trait is inherited in a child seed C3. In some embodiments, the trait is inherited in a child seed C4. In some embodiments, the trait is inherited in a child seed C5. In some embodiments, the trait is inherited in a child seed C6. In some embodiments, the trait is inherited in a child seed C7. In some embodiments, the trait is inherited in a child seed C8. In some embodiments, the trait is inherited in a child seed C9. In some embodiments,the generated trait is inherited in a child seed CIO. In some embodiments, the child seed may be seed Cl, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, C7, C8, C9, or CIO. In some embodiments, the child seed Cl, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, C7, C8, C9, or CIO is a hybrid seed. In some embodiments, the child seed Cl, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, C7, C8, C9, or CIO is a self-pollinated seed. In some embodiments, the child seed Cl, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, C7, C8, C9, or CIO is an inbred seed. In some embodiments, the child seed Cl, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, C7, C8, C9, or CIO is a multi -generation child seed. In some embodiments, the child seed Cl, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, C7, C8, C9, or CIO may be crossed with a parent seed (P). In some embodiments, the multi -generation child seed of parent 1 (Pl) may be crossed with a parent seed 2 (P2). In some embodiments, the multi -generation child seed of parent 1 (Pl) may be crossed with a parent seed 1 (Pl). In some embodiments, only the parent seed is administered UV-B light. In some embodiments, only one parent seed is administered UV-B light. In some embodiments, no child seed is administered UV-B light.

[0040] A non-limiting example of the method is depicted in FIG. 2. A parent seed (P) may be treated with UV-B 201. The UV-B light is enriched for UV-B with a wavelength of about 275 nm to about 310 nm. The parent seed (P) may be planted 202. The resultant parent plant from the parent seed may be grown 203. The Cl child seed may be harvested from the parent crop 204. The Cl child seed may be sown 205. The resultant Cl child plant may be grown 206. A crop may be harvested from the Cl child plant 207. The crop may be any crop described herein. In some embodiments, the crop harvested from the Cl child plant comprises plant material from the Cl child plant (for instance, leaves from the Cl child plant). In some embodiments, the crop harvested from the Cl child plant comprises fruit from the Cl child plant. In some embodiments, the crop harvested from the Cl child plant may comprise seeds comprising the C2 generation.

[0041] Also described herein are methods for improving a crop yield of a child crop, the method comprising: sowing a child seed and growing a child crop, wherein the child seed is grown from a parent crop, wherein the parent crop was grown from a parent seed treated by administering light enriched for UV of a wavelength of about 275 nm to about 310 nm to an untreated parent crop seed; and harvesting the crop yield from the child crop. In some embodiments, the improvement in crop yield comprises and improvement of crop weight, number of crops harvested, Brix content, crop width, crop length, leaf size, leaf surface area, dry weight, nitrogen content, shoot dry weight, shoot fresh weight, root dry weight, vegetabledevelopment, nitrogen content, flower per plant, bushels per acre (bu / ac), weight of fruiting parts, total lipid percent, total non-structural carbohydrates, or metabolizable energy.

[0042] Also described herein are methods improving a crop yield, wherein the crop yield is hybrid corn yield, the method comprising: providing two varieties of untreated parent inbred corn seeds; administering light enriched for UV of a wavelength of about 275 nm to about 310 nm to the untreated two varieties of untreated parent inbred com seeds to produce two varieties of treated inbred parent corn seeds; sowing the two varieties of treated inbred parent com seeds and growing a hybrid seed crop, wherein the two varieties are placed to allow cross pollination across the two varieties; harvesting hybrid child corn seeds from the hybrid seed crop; sowing the hybrid child corn seeds and growing a hybrid child crop. In some embodiments, the improvement in crop yield comprises and improvement of crop weight, number of crops harvested, Brix content, crop width, crop length, leaf size, leaf surface area, dry weight, nitrogen content, shoot dry weight, shoot fresh weight, root dry weight, vegetable development, nitrogen content, flower per plant, bushels per acre (bu / ac), weight of fruiting parts, total lipid percent, total non-structural carbohydrates, or metabolizable energy.

[0043] FIG. 3. illustrates one embodiment of producing a hybrid crop from two inbred parent lines, using the methods described herein. A parent seed (P) from a first inbred line may be treated with UV-B 301. The UV-B light is enriched for UV-B with a wavelength of about 275 nm to about 310 nm. The parent seed (P) from the first inbred line may be planted 302. The resultant parent plant from the parent seed from the first inbred line may be grown 303. A parent seed (P) from a second inbred line may be treated with UV-B 304. The UV-B light is enriched for UV-B with a wavelength of about 275 nm to about 310 nm. The parent seed (P) from the second inbred line may be planted 305. The resultant parent plant from the parent seed from the second inbred line may be grown 306. The resultant parent plant from the first inbred line and the resultant parent plant from the second inbred line may cross pollinate. The hybrid Cl child seed may be harvested from the parent crop 307. The hybrid Cl child seed may be sown 308. The resultant hybrid Cl child plant may be grown 309. A crop may be harvested from the hybrid Cl child plant 310. The crop may be any crop described herein. In some embodiments, the crop harvested from the hybrid Cl child plant comprises plant material from the hybrid Cl child plant (for instance, leaves from the hybrid Cl child plant). In some embodiments, the crop harvested from the hybrid Cl child plant comprises fruit from the hybrid Cl child plant. In someembodiments, the crop harvested from the hybrid Cl child plant may comprise seeds comprising the C2 generation.

[0044] Also described herein are methods for amplifying the effects of heterosis in a hybrid crop, the method comprising providing two or more varieties of untreated parent seeds; administering light enriched for UV of a wavelength of about 275 nm to about 310 nm to the untreated parent seeds to produce treated parent seeds; sowing the treated parent seeds and growing a hybrid seed crop, wherein the treated parent seeds are placed to allow cross pollination across the two or more varieties; harvesting hybrid child seeds from the hybrid seed crop; sowing the hybrid child seeds and growing a hybrid child crop; and harvesting the hybrid child crop. In some embodiments, the effects of heterosis are determined by comparison to a method without administering light enriched for UV of a wavelength of about 275 nm to about 310 nm. In some embodiments, the improvement in crop yield comprises and improvement of crop weight, number of crops harvested, Brix content, crop width, crop length, leaf size, leaf surface area, dry weight, nitrogen content, shoot dry weight, shoot fresh weight, root dry weight, vegetable development, nitrogen content, flower per plant, bushels per acre (bu / ac), weight of fruiting parts, total lipid percent, total non- structural carbohydrates, or metabolizable energy.

[0045] Also described herein are methods for improving a crop yield, wherein the crop is hybrid corn, the method comprising: providing two or more varieties of untreated parent corn seeds; administering light enriched for UV of a wavelength of about 275 nm to about 310 nm to the untreated parent corn seeds to produce treated parent com seeds; sowing the treated parent corn seeds and growing a hybrid seed crop, wherein the treated parent corn seeds are sown in locations to allow cross pollination across the two or more varieties; harvesting hybrid child corn seeds from the parent crop; sowing the hybrid child com seeds and growing a hybrid child crop; and harvesting the hybrid child crop. In some embodiments, the improvement in crop yield comprises bushels per acre (bu / ac).

[0046] Also described are methods for amplifying the effects of heterosis in a hybrid crop, the method comprising: providing two or more varieties of untreated parent seeds; administering light enriched for UV of a wavelength of about 275 nm to about 310 nm to at least one variety of untreated parent seeds to produce treated parent seeds; sowing the treated parent seeds and optionally untreated parent seeds and growing a hybrid parent crop, wherein the treated parent seeds and optionally untreated parent seeds are placed to allow cross pollination across the two or more varieties; harvesting hybrid child seeds from the hybrid parent crop; sowing the hybridchild seeds and growing a hybrid child crop; and harvesting the hybrid child crop. In some embodiments, one variety of untreated parent seeds is administered light enriched for UV. In some embodiments, two varieties of untreated parent seeds are administered light enriched for UV. In some embodiments, the hybrid crop is selected from almond, barley, cacao, chickpea, coconut, coffee, fig, grapefruit, garlic, hemp, hops, oats, rice, rye, sugarcane, sweet potato, tobacco, tomato, walnut, peanut, vanilla, and quinoa. In some embodiments, the hybrid crop is selected from corn, barley, cacao, coffee, hemp, hops, oats, rice, tobacco, and tomato. In some embodiments, the hybrid crop is selected from corn. In some embodiments, the effects of heterosis are determined by comparison to the method without administering light enriched for UV of a wavelength of about 275 nm to about 310 nm.

[0047] In some embodiments, the effects of heterosis are determined by comparing the crop yield between the hybrid child crop with and without the administering light enriched for UV of a wavelength of about 275 nm to about 310 nm to the untreated parent seeds.

[0048] Also described herein are methods for evaluating whether a plant will have improved crop yield. In some embodiments, the methods comprise determining whether the plant has an increase or decrease in an expression of at least one gene or epigenetic marker. In some embodiments, the methods comprise determining whether the plant has an increase or decrease in an expression of at least one gene or epigenetic marker of a gene or epigenetic marker following illumination with UV light.

[0049] In some embodiments, a parent crop seed exposed to UV light via a method as disclosed herein comprises an increase or a decrease in expression of a gene or an epigenetic marker as compared to a parent crop seed not exposed to UV light via a method as disclosed herein.

[0050] In some embodiments, a child crop of a parent crop seed exposed to UV light via a method as disclosed herein comprises an increase or a decrease in expression of a gene or an epigenetic marker as compared to a child crop of a parent crop seed not exposed to UV light via a method as disclosed herein.A. UV Light

[0051] Throughout this specification the term “ultraviolet (UV) irradiation” should be taken as meaning electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength shorter than visible light, but longer than X-rays, and is in between the range of 10 nm to 400 nm (corresponding to 3 eV to 124 eV).The ultraviolet (UV) irradiation spectrum is considered to be invisible to humans, and therefore differentiated from visible light in the spectrum of about 400 nm to 700 nm.

[0052] The ultraviolet spectrum can be further broken down into UV-A (400-320 nm), UV-B (320-280 nm) and UV-C (280-100 nm).

[0053] In some embodiments, use of a wavelength or wavelengths in a specific and narrow focused range within UV radiation between about 275-310 nm leads to beneficial results. In some embodiments, use of a wavelength or wavelengths in a specific and narrow focused range within UV-B radiation between 280-310 nm leads to beneficial results. In some embodiments, part of the UV-B spectrum above about 310 nm does not lead to the beneficial results seen. As will be discussed further, the UV-B spectrum covers 280 nm to about 315 nm (however, defined separations between UV wavebands are approximate, and are subject to at least two common variations in the literature, i.e. including an upper limit for UV-B of 320 nm (IARC monographs on the evaluation of carcinogenic risks to humans. Volume 55 - Solar and ultraviolet radiation; Chapter 1; Exposure data (1992)). It is possible that broader treatment within the UV-B spectrum or uncontrolled UV treatment may lead to deleterious results.

[0054] Without wishing to be bound by theory, the commercial end result of an improved child crop yield and / or quality of the crop at harvest is thought be at least partially attributed to an exposure of a parent crop seed to UV light.

[0055] In some embodiments, using UV radiation outside of the UV-B range (for example the UV-A or UV-C wavelengths) does not lead to beneficial results. In some embodiments, beneficial effects dramatically diminish or disappear entirely when moving out of the UV-B spectrum, for instance into the UV-A spectrum (400 to 315 nm). In some embodiments, only UV-B light is administered. In some embodiments, UV-A light is not administered. In some embodiments, UV-C light is not administered.

[0056] Methods as described herein, in some embodiments, comprise exposure to UV wavelength of about 280 to about 305 nm. In some embodiments, the beneficial effects are most pronounced within a narrower band of the UV-B spectrum, particularly between 280-305 nm. In some embodiments, UV-B light with a wavelength greater than 305 nm is not administered. In some embodiments, UV-B light with a wavelength greater than 310 nm is not administered. In some embodiments, UV-B light with a wavelength greater than 315 nm is not administered.

[0057] In some embodiments, beneficial results are still seen beyond 305 nm, but the beneficial results drop sharply after moving beyond a wavelength of about 310 nm. Forexample, a UV light treatment peaking at 319 nm is still within the UV-B waveband of the spectrum, yet do not appear to produce desired effects. The present disclosure, in some embodiments, uses wavelengths in the short-wave range of the UV-B spectrum, a proportion of which exist outside of the natural spectrum of sunlight that reach the earth’s surface. In some embodiments, UV treatment in the UV-A spectrum (at 354 nm) or treatment in the UV-C spectrum (at 270 nm) is not effective to improve crop yield.

[0058] In some embodiments, the method includes exposure to a peak UV wavelength of about 280 to about 290 nm. In some embodiments, treatment with UV light peaking between 280-290 nm showed promising results. In some embodiments, the method includes only a specific wavelength (or at least a wavelength peak) between 280-310 nm. In some embodiments, methods as described herein comprise a small amount of UV light that extends partially outside of the 280-310 nm range. In some embodiments, methods comprise insignificant background irradiation. This effect would be minor and would be appreciated by someone skilled in the art to have no real influence on the disclosure’s benefits.

[0059] Methods as described herein comprise administration of UV in a range of about 275 nm to about 320 nm. In some embodiments, UV is administered at 280 nm (±5 nm), 286 nm (±5 nm), 294 nm (±5 nm), or about 317 nm. The UV can be about 280 nm, about 281 nm, about 282 nm, about 283 nm, about 284 nm, about 285 nm, about 286 nm, about 287 nm, about 288 nm, about 289 nm, about 290 nm, about 291 nm, about 292 nm, about 293 nm, about 294 nm, about 295 nm, about 296 nm, about 297 nm, about 298 nm, about 299 nm, about 300 nm, about 301 nm, about 302 nm, about 303 nm, about 304 nm, about 305 nm, about 306 nm, about 307 nm, about 308 nm, about 309 nm, about 310 nm, about 311 nm, about 312 nm, about 313 nm, about 314 nm, about 315 nm, about 316 nm, about 317 nm, about 318 nm, about 319 nm, or about 320 nm. In some embodiments, UV is peaking at 280 nm (±5 nm), 286 nm (±5 nm), 294 nm (±5 nm), or about 317 nm. The UV can be about 280 nm, about 281 nm, about 282 nm, about 283 nm, about 284 nm, about 285 nm, about 286 nm, about 287 nm, about 288 nm, about 289 nm, about 290 nm, about 291 nm, about 292 nm, about 293 nm, about 294 nm, about 295 nm, about 296 nm, about 297 nm, about 298 nm, about 299 nm, about 300 nm, about 301 nm, about 302 nm, about 303 nm, about 304 nm, about 305 nm, about 306 nm, about 307 nm, about 308 nm, about 309 nm, about 310 nm, about 311 nm, about 312 nm, about 313 nm, about 314 nm, about 315 nm, about 316 nm, about 317 nm, about 318 nm, about 319 nm, or about 320 nm. In some embodiments, the UV is administered or peaking in a range of about 280 nm to about 290 nm,about 280 nm to about 300 nm, about 280 nm to about 310 nm, about 280 nm to about 320 nm, about 290 nm to about 300 nm, about 290 nm to about 310 nm, about 290 nm to about 320 nm, about 300 nm to about 310 nm, about 300 nm to about 320 nm, or about 310 nm to about 320 nm. In some embodiments, the UV is administered or peaking in a range of 280 nm (±5 nm) to 284 nm (±5 nm), 279 nm (±5 nm) to about 288 nm, about 289 nm to about 300 nm, or 286 nm (±5 nm) to about 305 nm. In some embodiments, UV is peaking at 282 nm. In some embodiments, UV is peaking at 292 nm.

[0060] In some embodiments, the wavelength within the 280-310 nm range during the method treatment for a given plant species is altered. In some embodiments, a combination of different wavelengths within the UV spectrum are concurrently used.

[0061] In some embodiments, methods as described herein do not comprise the use of other UV wavelengths such as UV-A or UV-C in combination with the specific UV-B treatment. In some embodiments, other wavelengths outside of the 280-310 nm UV-B treatment do not comprise part of the methods as described herein. In some embodiments, there is a significant advantage over treatment methods which use multiple wavelengths in more than one spectrum.

[0062] The preferred dosage regime(s) of UV light may vary and consider various parameters including, but not limited to, the type of crop, the intensity of the UV light (W m'2s' ’), the length of treatment (days) and the rest period (on / off) between each UV application during treatment.

[0063] In some embodiments, the dosage of UV is in a range of about 0.3 kJ m2to about 3.0 kJ m-2, 2.0 kJ m-2to about 12.0 kJ m-2, 0.1 kJ m-2to about 1.0 kJ m-2, 2 kJ m-2to about 10 kJ m-2, 1.2 kJ m-2to about 7 kJ m-2, 0.1 kJ m-2, about 0.2 kJ m-2, about 0.3 kJ m-2, about 0.4 kJ m-2, about 0.5 kJ m-2, about 0.6 kJ m-2, about 0.7 kJ m-2, about 0.8 kJ m-2, about 0.9 kJ m-2, or about 1.0 kJ m-2.

[0064] Devices and systems as described herein administer various dosages of UV. In some instances, the dosage is in the range of about 0.01 kJ m'2to about 1440 kJ m'2. In some instances, the dosage is in the range of about 0.01 kJ m'2to about 368 kJ m'2. In some instances, the dosage is about 0.01 kJ m2-368 kJ m'2, 0.1 kJ m'2-300 kJ m'2, 1 kJ m'2-250 kJ m'2, 10 kJ m'2-200 kJ m'2, 100 kJ m'2-150 kJ m'2, 200 kJ m'2-300 kJ m'2, 250 kJ m'2-350 kJ m'2, or 300 kJ m'2-368 kJ m'2. In some instances, the dosage is in the range of about 0.1 to about 12 kJ m'2. In some instances, the dosage is about 13 kJ m'2. The light treatment may be at a dosage of about 13 kJ m'2, exactly 13 kJ m'2, or at least 13 kJ m'2. In some instances, the dosage is about 37 kJ m'2. Insome instances, the dosage is about 69 kJ m'2. In some instances, the dosage is about 78 kJ m'2. In some instances, the dosage is about 98 kJ m'2. In some instances, the dosage is about 100 kJ m'2. The light treatment may be at a dosage of about 100 kJ m'2, exactly 100 kJ m'2, or more than 100 kJ m'2. In some instances, the dosage is about 125 kJ m'2. In some instances, the dosage is about 204 kJ m'2. The light treatment may be at a dosage range of about 13 kJ m'2to 100 kJ m"2. The UV can be at a dosage in a range of about 1 kJ m'2-1000 kJ m'2, 10 kJ m'2-800 kJ m'2, 20 kJ m'2-600 kJ m'2, 30 kJ m'2-400 kJ m'2, 50 kJ m'2-200 kJ m'2, 100 kJ m'2-150 kJ m'2, 30 kJ m'2-60 kJ m'2, or 150 kJ m'2-250 kJ m'2. In some instances, the UV is in a range of 0 kJ m'2-20 kJ m"2, 20 kJ m'2-40 kJ m'2, 40 kJ m'2-60 kJ m'2, 60 kJ m'2-80 kJ m'2, or 80 kJ m'2-100 kJ m'2. In some instances, the UV is UV-B.

[0065] In some embodiments, a duration of administering UV comprises 0.5 to 60 minutes, 1 to 30 minutes, 1 to 20 minutes, or 3 to 15 minutes. In some embodiments, a duration of administering UV comprises at least or about 10 hours, at least 15 hours, at least 20 hours, at least 25 hours, or at least 30 hours. In some embodiments, a duration of administering UV comprises at least or about 1 day or at least 14 days. In some embodiments, a duration of administering UV is about 1 day, about 2 days, about 3 days, about 4 days, about 5 days, about 6 days, or about 7 days. Duration of UV administration may include at least or about 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours 4 hours, 5 hours, 6 hours, 7 hours, 8 hours, 9 hours, 10 hours, 11 hours, 12 hours, 13 hours, 14 hours, 15 hours, 16 hours, 17 hours, 18 hours, 19 hours, 20 hours, 21 hours, 22 hours, 23 hours, 24 hours, 25 hours, 26 hours, 27 hours, 28 hours, 29 hours, 30 hours, or more than 30 hours. In some instances, UV duration is about 8 hours, about 18 hours, about 20 hours, about 21 hours, about 24 hours, about 27 hours or about 28 hours.

[0066] In some embodiments, the duration of UV administration is about 1 minute to about 90 minutes. In some embodiments, the duration of UV administration is about 1 minute to about 3 minutes, about 1 minute to about 5 minutes, about 1 minute to about 7 minutes, about 1 minute to about 10 minutes, about 1 minute to about 15 minutes, about 1 minute to about 20 minutes, about 1 minute to about 30 minutes, about 1 minute to about 40 minutes, about 1 minute to about 50 minutes, about 1 minute to about 60 minutes, about 1 minute to about 90 minutes, about 3 minutes to about 5 minutes, about 3 minutes to about 7 minutes, about 3 minutes to about 10 minutes, about 3 minutes to about 15 minutes, about 3 minutes to about 20 minutes, about 3 minutes to about 30 minutes, about 3 minutes to about 40 minutes, about 3 minutes to about 50 minutes, about 3 minutes to about 60 minutes, about 3 minutes to about 90 minutes,about 5 minutes to about 7 minutes, about 5 minutes to about 10 minutes, about 5 minutes to about 15 minutes, about 5 minutes to about 20 minutes, about 5 minutes to about 30 minutes, about 5 minutes to about 40 minutes, about 5 minutes to about 50 minutes, about 5 minutes to about 60 minutes, about 5 minutes to about 90 minutes, about 7 minutes to about 10 minutes, about 7 minutes to about 15 minutes, about 7 minutes to about 20 minutes, about 7 minutes to about 30 minutes, about 7 minutes to about 40 minutes, about 7 minutes to about 50 minutes, about 7 minutes to about 60 minutes, about 7 minutes to about 90 minutes, about 10 minutes to about 15 minutes, about 10 minutes to about 20 minutes, about 10 minutes to about 30 minutes, about 10 minutes to about 40 minutes, about 10 minutes to about 50 minutes, about 10 minutes to about 60 minutes, about 10 minutes to about 90 minutes, about 15 minutes to about 20 minutes, about 15 minutes to about 30 minutes, about 15 minutes to about 40 minutes, about 15 minutes to about 50 minutes, about 15 minutes to about 60 minutes, about 15 minutes to about 90 minutes, about 20 minutes to about 30 minutes, about 20 minutes to about 40 minutes, about 20 minutes to about 50 minutes, about 20 minutes to about 60 minutes, about 20 minutes to about 90 minutes, about 30 minutes to about 40 minutes, about 30 minutes to about 50 minutes, about 30 minutes to about 60 minutes, about 30 minutes to about 90 minutes, about 40 minutes to about 50 minutes, about 40 minutes to about 60 minutes, about 40 minutes to about 90 minutes, about 50 minutes to about 60 minutes, about 50 minutes to about 90 minutes, or about 60 minutes to about 90 minutes. In some embodiments, the duration of UV administration is about 1 minute, about 3 minutes, about 5 minutes, about 7 minutes, about 10 minutes, about 15 minutes, about 20 minutes, about 30 minutes, about 40 minutes, about 50 minutes, about 60 minutes, or about 90 minutes. In some embodiments, the duration of UV administration is at least about 1 minute, about 3 minutes, about 5 minutes, about 7 minutes, about 10 minutes, about 15 minutes, about 20 minutes, about 30 minutes, about 40 minutes, about 50 minutes, or about 60 minutes. In some embodiments, the duration of UV administration is at most about 3 minutes, about 5 minutes, about 7 minutes, about 10 minutes, about 15 minutes, about 20 minutes, about 30 minutes, about 40 minutes, about 50 minutes, about 60 minutes, or about 90 minutes.

[0067] In some instances, UV irradiance varies. For example, irradiance is administered in a range of about 40 uW cm'2to about 200 uW cm'2. In some embodiments, irradiance is administered in a range of about about 20 uW cm-2 to about 250 uW cm-2. In some embodiments, irradiance is administered in a range of about about 20 uW cm-2 to about 40 uWcm-2, about 20 uW cm-2 to about 60 uW cm-2, about 20 uW cm-2 to about 80 uW cm-2, about 20 uW cm-2 to about 100 uW cm-2, about 20 uW cm-2 to about 120 uW cm-2, about 20 uW cm-2 to about 140 uW cm-2, about 20 uW cm-2 to about 160 uW cm-2, about 20 uW cm-2 to about 180 uW cm-2, about 20 uW cm-2 to about 200 uW cm-2, about 20 uW cm-2 to about 220 uW cm-2, about 20 uW cm-2 to about 250 uW cm-2, about 40 uW cm-2 to about 60 uW cm-2, about 40 uW cm-2 to about 80 uW cm-2, about 40 uW cm-2 to about 100 uW cm-2, about 40 uW cm-2 to about 120 uW cm-2, about 40 uW cm-2 to about 140 uW cm-2, about 40 uW cm-2 to about 160 uW cm-2, about 40 uW cm-2 to about 180 uW cm-2, about 40 uW cm-2 to about 200 uW cm-2, about 40 uW cm-2 to about 220 uW cm-2, about 40 uW cm-2 to about 250 uW cm-2, about 60 uW cm-2 to about 80 uW cm-2, about 60 uW cm-2 to about 100 uW cm-2, about 60 uW cm-2 to about 120 uW cm-2, about 60 uW cm-2 to about 140 uW cm-2, about 60 uW cm-2 to about 160 uW cm-2, about 60 uW cm-2 to about 180 uW cm-2, about 60 uW cm-2 to about 200 uW cm-2, about 60 uW cm-2 to about 220 uW cm-2, about 60 uW cm-2 to about 250 uW cm-2, about 80 uW cm-2 to about 100 uW cm-2, about 80 uW cm-2 to about 120 uW cm-2, about 80 uW cm-2 to about 140 uW cm-2, about 80 uW cm-2 to about 160 uW cm-2, about 80 uW cm-2 to about 180 uW cm-2, about 80 uW cm-2 to about 200 uW cm-2, about 80 uW cm-2 to about 220 uW cm-2, about 80 uW cm-2 to about 250 uW cm-2, about 100 uW cm-2 to about 120 uW cm-2, about 100 uW cm-2 to about 140 uW cm-2, about 100 uW cm-2 to about 160 uW cm-2, about 100 uW cm-2 to about 180 uW cm-2, about 100 uW cm-2 to about 200 uW cm-2, about 100 uW cm-2 to about 220 uW cm-2, about 100 uW cm-2 to about 250 uW cm-2, about 120 uW cm-2 to about 140 uW cm-2, about 120 uW cm-2 to about 160 uW cm-2, about 120 uW cm-2 to about 180 uW cm-2, about 120 uW cm-2 to about 200 uW cm-2, about 120 uW cm-2 to about 220 uW cm-2, about 120 uW cm-2 to about 250 uW cm-2, about 140 uW cm-2 to about 160 uW cm-2, about 140 uW cm-2 to about 180 uW cm-2, about 140 uW cm-2 to about 200 uW cm-2, about 140 uW cm-2 to about 220 uW cm-2, about 140 uW cm-2 to about 250 uW cm-2, about 160 uW cm-2 to about 180 uW cm-2, about 160 uW cm-2 to about 200 uW cm-2, about 160 uW cm-2 to about 220 uW cm-2, about 160 uW cm-2 to about 250 uW cm-2, about 180 uW cm-2 to about 200 uW cm-2, about 180 uW cm-2 to about 220 uW cm-2, about 180 uW cm-2 to about 250 uW cm-2, about 200 uW cm-2 to about 220 uW cm-2, about 200 uW cm-2 to about 250 uW cm-2, or about 220 uW cm-2 to about 250 uW cm-2. In some embodiments, irradiance is administered in a range of about about 20 uW cm-2, about 40 uW cm-2, about 60 uW cm-2, about 80 uW cm-2, about 100 uW cm-2, about 120 uW cm-2, about 140 uW cm-2, about 160uW cm-2, about 180 uW cm-2, about 200 uW cm-2, about 220 uW cm-2, or about 250 uW cm-2. In some embodiments, irradiance is administered in a range of about at least about 20 uW cm-2, about 40 uW cm-2, about 60 uW cm-2, about 80 uW cm-2, about 100 uW cm-2, about 120 uW cm-2, about 140 uW cm-2, about 160 uW cm-2, about 180 uW cm-2, about 200 uW cm-2, or about 220 uW cm-2. In some embodiments, irradiance is administered in a range of about at most about 40 uW cm-2, about 60 uW cm-2, about 80 uW cm-2, about 100 uW cm-2, about 120 uW cm-2, about 140 uW cm-2, about 160 uW cm-2, about 180 uW cm-2, about 200 uW cm-2, about 220 uW cm-2, or about 250 uW cm-2.

[0068] In some instances, irradiance is administered in a range of about 1.5 pmol m'1s-1to about 8 pmol m'1s'1. In some instances, irradiance is administered at least or about 1.5 pmol m'1s'1, 2 pmol m'1s'1, 2.5 pmol m'1s'1, 3 pmol m'1s'1, 3.5 pmol m'1s'1, 4 pmol m'1s'1, 4.5 pmol m'1s'1, 5 pmol m'1s'1, 5.5 pmol m'1s'1, 6 pmol m'1s'1, 6.5 pmol m'1s'1, 7 pmol m'1s'1, 7.5 pmol m'1s'1, 8 pmol m'1s'1, 8.5 pmol m'1s'1, 9 pmol m'1s'1, 9.5 pmol m'1s'1, 10 pmol m'1s'1, or more than 10 pmol m'1s'1.

[0069] In some embodiments, the UV-B light is administered using the system or device depicted in FIGS. 5A-C. In one embodiment, the device comprises a conveyor system 101 which has a first distal end 107 and a second distal end 108. The conveyor system 101 may be configured to move the plurality of seeds from the first distal end 107 to the second distal end 108. The seeds may be any seeds described herein. The seeds may be corn seeds. The seeds may be inbred com seeds. The conveyor system may be coupled to a frame 106. The conveyor system may comprise a motor 109. A seed feeder (not pictured) located near the first distal end 107 of the conveyor system may provide the plurality of seeds to the conveyor system. The system may comprise a seed collector 102. The seed collector 102 may be positioned near the second distal end 108 of the conveyor system. A light source 103 may illuminate the seeds as they move along the conveyor system 101. The light source 103 may be coupled to a frame 106. The light source 103 may comprise LEDs or a panel of LEDS. The device may comprise a driver 110 for the light source. A temperature regulation module (not shown) may be incorporated into the light source 103. A temperature regulation module (not shown) may be partially coupled to the frame 106. The system may comprise a cover 104. The cover 104 may be coupled to the frame 106. In some embodiments, the system comprises additional elements such as a controller, a sensor, or a temperature regulation module.B. Crops

[0070] Application to a number of crops is consistent with the disclosure herein. In some embodiments, exemplary crops to be subjected to methods as disclosed herein include, seeds, parent seeds, plant seedlings, runners, post-seedling plants, leaves, roots, stems flowers, shoot meristems, or whole plants, such as whole plants grown hydroponically or aeroponically. In some embodiments, a crop comprises a fruit or vegetable. In some embodiments, the plant seedling or crop is selected from the group consisting of green lettuce, red lettuce, tomato, cucumber, broccoli, herb crops, cannabis, strawberry, and eggplant. In some embodiments, the crop is from at least one of tomato, strawberry, and cannabis.

[0071] In some embodiments, a crop comprises a hybrid crop, or an inbred crop. In some instances, a hybrid child crop is derived from crosses between at least two, three, four, or five inbred parent lines. In some instances, a hybrid child crop is derived from a cross between a hybrid parent crop and an inbred parent crop.

[0072] In some embodiments, a hybrid crop comprises broccoli, cucumber, spinach, tomato, watermelon, corn, or rice. In some embodiments, a hybrid crop comprises corn, barley, cacao, coffee, hemp, hops, oats, rice, tobacco, and tomato.

[0073] In some embodiments, a crop comprises almonds, barley, cacao, chickpeas, coconut, coffee, figs, grapefruit, garlic, hemp, hops, oats, rice, rye, sugarcane, sweet potato, tobacco, walnut, peanut, vanilla, quinoa, lettuce, beans, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, cucumber, melon, onion, peas, peppers, pumpkin, spinach, squash, soybean, tomato, watermelon, alfalfa, canola, corn, cotton, sorghum, sugarbeets, wheat, mint, or sunflowers.

[0074] In some embodiments, a crop comprises alfalfa, almonds, barley, beans, broccoli, cabbage, cacao, cannabis, canola, carrot, cauliflower, chickpeas, coconut, coffee, com, cotton, cucumber, eggplant, figs, garlic, grapefruit, green lettuce, hemp, hops, lettuce, melon, mint, oats, onion, peanut, peas, peppers, pumpkin, quinoa, red lettuce, rice, rye, sorghum, soybean, spinach, squash, strawberry, sugarbeets, sugarcane, sunflowers, sweet potato, tobacco, tomato, vanilla, walnut, watermelon, or wheat.

[0075] In some embodiments, the crop is a grass. In some embodiments, the crop is a forage grass. In some embodiments, the crop is a ryegrass (including annual ryegrass) or a bluegrass. In some embodiments, the crop is ryegrass. In some embodiments, the crop comprises a member ofthe Poaceae family. In some instances, the crop is a commercially important crop. The method may also be applicable to a wide variety of other crop types without limitation.

[0076] In some embodiments, the crop comprises corn. In some embodiments, the crop comprises hybrid corn or inbred com. In some embodiments, hybrid corn comprises a crop obtained by providing two varieties of untreated parent inbred corn seeds; administering light enriched for UV of a wavelength of about 275 nm to about 310 nm to the untreated two varieties of untreated parent inbred corn seeds to produce two varieties of treated inbred parent corn seeds; sowing the two varieties of treated inbred parent corn seeds and growing a hybrid seed crop, wherein the two varieties are placed to allow cross pollination across the two varieties; harvesting hybrid child corn seeds from the hybrid seed crop; sowing the hybrid child corn seeds and growing a hybrid child crop; and harvesting the hybrid child corn crop.

[0077] In some embodiments, the crop is a commercially important crop. The method may also be applicable to a wide variety of other crop types without limitation.

[0078] UV may be administered to a seed of a crop as disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the UV is administered to a parent seed of a crop.

[0079] UV may be administered at a propagation stage of the crop. In some embodiments, the propagation stage comprises runners. In some embodiments, the propagation stage comprises shoots. In some embodiments, the propagation stage comprises cuttings.

[0080] Various cultivation systems for use with methods and devices as described herein may be used. For example, the crop may be grown in soil. In some embodiments, the crop is grown using hydroponics or aeroponics. In some embodiments, plants are grown in controlled greenhouse conditions, such as conventional greenhouse conditions or vertical farming conditions. In some embodiments, plants are grown outdoors.C. Crop Yield

[0081] Crop yield in crops treated using methods as described herein may result in improved child crop yield as compared to a counterpart crop that has not been treated using a method as disclosed herein. In some embodiments, hardiness of the crop is improved using methods as described herein.

[0082] In some embodiments, crop yield comprises at least one of flavonoid levels, anthocyanin levels, size, dry weight, nitrogen index, shoot dry weight, shoot fresh weight, shoot length, radical length, pigment production, leaf size, hypocotyl length, chlorophyll level, leafarea, and root dry weight. In some embodiments, crop yield comprises child crop yield. In some embodiments, crop yield comprises at least one of crop weight, number of crops harvested, Brix content, crop width, crop length, leaf size, leaf surface area, dry weight, nitrogen content, shoot dry weight, shoot fresh weight, root dry weight, vegetable development, nitrogen content, flower per plant, bushels per acre (bu / ac), weight of fruiting parts, total lipid percent, total non-structural carbohydrates, or metabolizable energy.

[0083] In some embodiments, child crop yield is determined by crop weight, number of crops harvested, Brix content, crop width, crop length, leaf size, leaf surface area, dry weight, nitrogen content, shoot dry weight, shoot fresh weight, root dry weight, vegetable development, nitrogen content, flower per plant, bushels per acre (bu / ac), weight of fruiting parts, total lipid percent, total non- structural carbohydrates, or metabolizable energy.

[0084] In some embodiments, crop yield comprises crop weight. In some embodiments, crop yield comprises number of crops harvested. In some embodiments, crop yield comprises Brix content. In some embodiments, crop yield comprises crop width. In some embodiments, crop yield comprises crop length. In some embodiments, crop yield comprises leaf size. In some embodiments, crop yield comprises leaf surface area. In some embodiments, crop yield comprises dry weight. In some embodiments, crop yield comprises nitrogen content. In some embodiments, crop yield comprises shoot dry weight. In some embodiments, crop yield comprises shoot fresh weight. In some embodiments, crop yield comprises root dry weight. In some embodiments, crop yield comprises vegetable development. In some embodiments, crop yield comprises nitrogen content. In some embodiments, crop yield comprises flower per plant. In some embodiments, crop yield comprises bushels per acre (bu / ac). In some embodiments, crop yield comprises weight of fruiting parts. In some embodiments, crop yield comprises total lipid percent. In some embodiments, crop yield comprises total non- structural carbohydrates. In some embodiments, crop yield comprises metabolizable energy.

[0085] In some embodiments, child crop yield comprises crop weight. In some embodiments, child crop yield comprises number of crops harvested. In some embodiments, child crop yield comprises Brix content. In some embodiments, child crop yield comprises crop width. In some embodiments, child crop yield comprises crop length. In some embodiments, child crop yield comprises leaf size. In some embodiments, child crop yield comprises leaf surface area. In some embodiments, child crop yield comprises dry weight. In some embodiments, child crop yield comprises nitrogen content. In some embodiments, child cropyield comprises shoot dry weight. In some embodiments, child crop yield comprises shoot fresh weight. In some embodiments, child crop yield comprises root dry weight. In some embodiments, child crop yield comprises vegetable development. In some embodiments, child crop yield comprises nitrogen content. In some embodiments, child crop yield comprises flower per plant. In some embodiments, child crop yield comprises bushels per acre (bu / ac). In some embodiments, child crop yield comprises weight of fruiting parts. In some embodiments, child crop yield comprises total lipid percent. In some embodiments, child crop yield comprises total non- structural carbohydrates. In some embodiments, child crop yield comprises metabolizable energy.

[0086] In some embodiments, crop yield comprises improved crop weight. In some embodiments, crop yield comprises improved number of crops harvested. In some embodiments, crop yield comprises improved Brix content. In some embodiments, crop yield comprises improved crop width. In some embodiments, crop yield comprises improved crop length. In some embodiments, crop yield comprises improved leaf size. In some embodiments, crop yield comprises improved leaf surface area. In some embodiments, crop yield comprises improved dry weight. In some embodiments, crop yield comprises improved nitrogen content. In some embodiments, crop yield comprises improved shoot dry weight. In some embodiments, crop yield comprises improved shoot fresh weight. In some embodiments, crop yield comprises improved root dry weight. In some embodiments, crop yield comprises improved vegetable development. In some embodiments, crop yield comprises improved nitrogen content. In some embodiments, crop yield comprises improved flower per plant. In some embodiments, crop yield comprises improved bushels per acre (bu / ac). In some embodiments, crop yield comprises improved weight of fruiting parts. In some embodiments, crop yield comprises improved total lipid percent. In some embodiments, crop yield comprises improved total non- structural carbohydrates. In some embodiments, crop yield comprises improved metabolizable energy.

[0087] In some embodiments, child crop yield comprises improved crop weight. In some embodiments, child crop yield comprises improved number of crops harvested. In some embodiments, child crop yield comprises improved Brix content. In some embodiments, child crop yield comprises improved crop width. In some embodiments, child crop yield comprises improved crop length. In some embodiments, child crop yield comprises improved leaf size. In some embodiments, child crop yield comprises improved leaf surface area. In some embodiments, child crop yield comprises improved dry weight. In some embodiments, childcrop yield comprises improved nitrogen content. In some embodiments, child crop yield comprises improved shoot dry weight. In some embodiments, child crop yield comprises improved shoot fresh weight. In some embodiments, child crop yield comprises improved root dry weight. In some embodiments, child crop yield comprises improved vegetable development. In some embodiments, child crop yield comprises improved nitrogen content. In some embodiments, child crop yield comprises improved flower per plant. In some embodiments, child crop yield comprises improved bushels per acre (bu / ac). In some embodiments, child crop yield comprises improved bushels of corn per acre (bu / ac). In some embodiments, child crop yield comprises improved weight of fruiting parts. In some embodiments, child crop yield comprises improved total lipid percent. In some embodiments, child crop yield comprises improved total non- structural carbohydrates. In some embodiments, child crop yield comprises improved metabolizable energy.

[0088] In some embodiments, crop yield comprises improved crop yield of alfalfa, almonds, barley, beans, broccoli, cabbage, cacao, cannabis, canola, carrot, cauliflower, chickpeas, coconut, coffee, corn, cotton, cucumber, eggplant, figs, garlic, grapefruit, green lettuce, hemp, hops, lettuce, melon, mint, oats, onion, peanut, peas, peppers, pumpkin, quinoa, red lettuce, rice, rye, sorghum, spinach, squash, strawberry, sugarbeets, sugarcane, sunflowers, sweet potato, tobacco, tomato, vanilla, walnut, watermelon, or wheat.

[0089] In some embodiments, crop yield comprises improved child crop yield of alfalfa, almonds, barley, beans, broccoli, cabbage, cacao, cannabis, canola, carrot, cauliflower, chickpeas, coconut, coffee, corn, cotton, cucumber, eggplant, figs, garlic, grapefruit, green lettuce, hemp, hops, lettuce, melon, mint, oats, onion, peanut, peas, peppers, pumpkin, quinoa, red lettuce, rice, rye, sorghum, spinach, squash, strawberry, sugarbeets, sugarcane, sunflowers, sweet potato, tobacco, tomato, vanilla, walnut, watermelon, or wheat.

[0090] In some embodiments, methods as described herein result in improved crop yields of at least or about 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 100% or greater than 100%.

[0091] In some embodiments, methods as described herein result in improved crop yields of about 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79,80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, or 100%, or greater than 100%.

[0092] In some embodiments, methods as described herein result in improved crop yields of at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, or 100%, or at least greater than 100%.

[0093] In some embodiments, methods as described herein result in improved crop yields of about 10-20, 10-30, 10-40, 10-50, 10-60, 10-70, 10-80, 10-90, 10-100, 20-30, 20-40, 20-50, 20-60, 20-70, 20-80, 20-90, 20-100, 30-40, 30-50, 30-60, 30-70, 30-80, 30-90, 30-100, 40-50, 40-60, 40-70, 40-80, 40-90, 40-100, 50-60, 50-70, 50-80, 50-90, 50-100, 60-70, 60-80, 60-90, 60-100, 70-80, 80-90, 90-100, 80-90, 80-100, or 90-100%.

[0094] In some embodiments, methods as described herein result in improved crop yields of at least 10-20, 10-30, 10-40, 10-50, 10-60, 10-70, 10-80, 10-90, 10-100, 20-30, 20-40, 20-50, 20-60, 20-70, 20-80, 20-90, 20-100, 30-40, 30-50, 30-60, 30-70, 30-80, 30-90, 30-100, 40-50, 40-60, 40-70, 40-80, 40-90, 40-100, 50-60, 50-70, 50-80, 50-90, 50-100, 60-70, 60-80, 60-90, 60-100, 70-80, 80-90, 90-100, 80-90, 80-100, or 90-100%.

[0095] In some embodiments, methods as described herein result in improved crop yield as determined by an increase in bushels of crop harvested per acre. In some embodiments, methods as described herein result in improved crop yield as determined by an increase in bushels of crop harvested per acre (Bu / ac). In some embodiments, crops exposed to a method as disclosed herein result in an increase of Bu / ac of at least or about 1-100%. In some embodiments, crops exposed to a method as disclosed herein result in an increase of Bu / ac of at least or about 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 100% or greater than 100%. In some embodiments, crops exposed to a method as disclosed herein result in an increase of Bu / ac of at least or about 1-1000, 1-900, 1-800, 1-700, 1-600, 1-500, 1-400, 1-300, 1-200, 1-100, 1-50, 1-25, 10-150, 30-100, or 1-10 Bu / ac. In some embodiments, crops exposed to a method as disclosed herein result in an increase of Bu / ac of at least 30 Bu / ac.

[0096] In some embodiments, the increase in yield is about 1 % to about 100 %. In some embodiments, the increase in yield is about 1 % to about 2 %, about 1 % to about 5 %, about 1% to about 10 %, about 1 % to about 20 %, about 1 % to about 30 %, about 1 % to about 40 %, about 1 % to about 50 %, about 1 % to about 70 %, about 1 % to about 80 %, about 1 % to about 90 %, about 1 % to about 100 %, about 2 % to about 5 %, about 2 % to about 10 %, about 2 % to about 20 %, about 2 % to about 30 %, about 2 % to about 40 %, about 2 % to about 50 %, about 2 % to about 70 %, about 2 % to about 80 %, about 2 % to about 90 %, about 2 % to about 100 %, about 5 % to about 10 %, about 5 % to about 20 %, about 5 % to about 30 %, about 5 % to about 40 %, about 5 % to about 50 %, about 5 % to about 70 %, about 5 % to about 80 %, about 5 % to about 90 %, about 5 % to about 100 %, about 10 % to about 20 %, about 10 % to about 30 %, about 10 % to about 40 %, about 10 % to about 50 %, about 10 % to about 70 %, about 10 % to about 80 %, about 10 % to about 90 %, about 10 % to about 100 %, about 20 % to about 30 %, about 20 % to about 40 %, about 20 % to about 50 %, about 20 % to about 70 %, about 20 % to about 80 %, about 20 % to about 90 %, about 20 % to about 100 %, about 30 % to about 40 %, about 30 % to about 50 %, about 30 % to about 70 %, about 30 % to about 80 %, about 30 % to about 90 %, about 30 % to about 100 %, about 40 % to about 50 %, about 40 % to about 70 %, about 40 % to about 80 %, about 40 % to about 90 %, about 40 % to about 100 %, about 50 % to about 70 %, about 50 % to about 80 %, about 50 % to about 90 %, about 50 % to about 100 %, about 70 % to about 80 %, about 70 % to about 90 %, about 70 % to about 100 %, about 80 % to about 90 %, about 80 % to about 100 %, or about 90 % to about 100 %. In some embodiments, the increase in yield is about 1 %, about 2 %, about 5 %, about 10 %, about 20 %, about 30 %, about 40 %, about 50 %, about 70 %, about 80 %, about 90 %, or about 100 %. In some embodiments, the increase in yield is at least about 1 %, about 2 %, about 5 %, about 10 %, about 20 %, about 30 %, about 40 %, about 50 %, about 70 %, about 80 %, or about 90 %. In some embodiments, the increase in yield is at most about 2 %, about 5 %, about 10 %, about 20 %, about 30 %, about 40 %, about 50 %, about 70 %, about 80 %, about 90 %, or about 100 %.

[0097] In some embodiments, the increase in yield is about 1 Bu / ac to about 1,000 Bu / ac. In some embodiments, the increase in yield is about 1 Bu / ac to about 25 Bu / ac, about 1 Bu / ac to about 50 Bu / ac, about 1 Bu / ac to about 100 Bu / ac, about 1 Bu / ac to about 200 Bu / ac, about 1 Bu / ac to about 300 Bu / ac, about 1 Bu / ac to about 400 Bu / ac, about 1 Bu / ac to about 500 Bu / ac, about 1 Bu / ac to about 700 Bu / ac, about 1 Bu / ac to about 800 Bu / ac, about 1 Bu / ac to about 900 Bu / ac, about 1 Bu / ac to about 1,000 Bu / ac, about 25 Bu / ac to about 50 Bu / ac, about 25 Bu / ac to about 100 Bu / ac, about 25 Bu / ac to about 200 Bu / ac, about 25 Bu / ac to about 300 Bu / ac, about 25 Bu / ac to about 400 Bu / ac, about 25 Bu / ac to about 500 Bu / ac, about 25 Bu / ac to about 700Bu / ac, about 25 Bu / ac to about 800 Bu / ac, about 25 Bu / ac to about 900 Bu / ac, about 25 Bu / ac to about 1,000 Bu / ac, about 50 Bu / ac to about 100 Bu / ac, about 50 Bu / ac to about 200 Bu / ac, about 50 Bu / ac to about 300 Bu / ac, about 50 Bu / ac to about 400 Bu / ac, about 50 Bu / ac to about 500 Bu / ac, about 50 Bu / ac to about 700 Bu / ac, about 50 Bu / ac to about 800 Bu / ac, about 50 Bu / ac to about 900 Bu / ac, about 50 Bu / ac to about 1,000 Bu / ac, about 100 Bu / ac to about 200 Bu / ac, about 100 Bu / ac to about 300 Bu / ac, about 100 Bu / ac to about 400 Bu / ac, about 100 Bu / ac to about 500 Bu / ac, about 100 Bu / ac to about 700 Bu / ac, about 100 Bu / ac to about 800 Bu / ac, about 100 Bu / ac to about 900 Bu / ac, about 100 Bu / ac to about 1,000 Bu / ac, about 200 Bu / ac to about 300 Bu / ac, about 200 Bu / ac to about 400 Bu / ac, about 200 Bu / ac to about 500 Bu / ac, about 200 Bu / ac to about 700 Bu / ac, about 200 Bu / ac to about 800 Bu / ac, about 200 Bu / ac to about 900 Bu / ac, about 200 Bu / ac to about 1,000 Bu / ac, about 300 Bu / ac to about 400 Bu / ac, about 300 Bu / ac to about 500 Bu / ac, about 300 Bu / ac to about 700 Bu / ac, about 300 Bu / ac to about 800 Bu / ac, about 300 Bu / ac to about 900 Bu / ac, about 300 Bu / ac to about 1,000 Bu / ac, about 400 Bu / ac to about 500 Bu / ac, about 400 Bu / ac to about 700 Bu / ac, about 400 Bu / ac to about 800 Bu / ac, about 400 Bu / ac to about 900 Bu / ac, about 400 Bu / ac to about 1,000 Bu / ac, about 500 Bu / ac to about 700 Bu / ac, about 500 Bu / ac to about 800 Bu / ac, about 500 Bu / ac to about 900 Bu / ac, about 500 Bu / ac to about 1,000 Bu / ac, about 700 Bu / ac to about 800 Bu / ac, about 700 Bu / ac to about 900 Bu / ac, about 700 Bu / ac to about 1,000 Bu / ac, about 800 Bu / ac to about 900 Bu / ac, about 800 Bu / ac to about 1,000 Bu / ac, or about 900 Bu / ac to about 1,000 Bu / ac. In some embodiments, the increase in yield is about 1 Bu / ac, about 25 Bu / ac, about 50 Bu / ac, about 100 Bu / ac, about 200 Bu / ac, about 300 Bu / ac, about 400 Bu / ac, about 500 Bu / ac, about 700 Bu / ac, about 800 Bu / ac, about 900 Bu / ac, or about 1,000 Bu / ac. In some embodiments, the increase in yield is at least about 1 Bu / ac, about 25 Bu / ac, about 50 Bu / ac, about 100 Bu / ac, about 200 Bu / ac, about 300 Bu / ac, about 400 Bu / ac, about 500 Bu / ac, about 700 Bu / ac, about 800 Bu / ac, or about 900 Bu / ac. In some embodiments, the increase in yield is at most about 25 Bu / ac, about 50 Bu / ac, about 100 Bu / ac, about 200 Bu / ac, about 300 Bu / ac, about 400 Bu / ac, about 500 Bu / ac, about 700 Bu / ac, about 800 Bu / ac, about 900 Bu / ac, or about 1,000 Bu / ac.

[0098] In some embodiments, methods as described herein result in improved child com crop yield as determined by an increase in bushels of child com crop harvested per acre (Bu / ac). In some embodiments, child com crops exposed to a method as disclosed herein result in an increase of Bu / ac of at least or about 1-100%, 5-100%, 10-90%, or 20-80-%. In someembodiments, child corn crops exposed to a method as disclosed herein result in an increase of Bu / ac of at least or about 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 100% or greater than 100%. In some embodiments, child corn crops exposed to a method as disclosed herein result in an increase of Bu / ac of at least or about 1-1000, 1-900, 1-800, 1-700, 1-600, 1-500, 1-400, 1-300, 1-200, 1-100, 1-50, 1-25, 10-150, 30-100, 40-90, or 1-10 Bu / ac.

[0099] In some embodiments, methods as described herein result in improved crop yield as determined by an increase in number of fruit harvested. In some embodiments, methods and devices described herein result in at least or about 3000, 4000, 5000, 6000, 7000, 8000, 9000, 10000, 12000, 14000, 16000, 18000, 20000, 24000, 28000, 32000, 36000, 40000, 50000, 60000, 80000, 100000, or more than 100000 pounds of fruit harvested per acre. In some embodiments, methods and devices described herein result in a range of about 3000 to about 100000, about 4000 to about 80000, about 6000 to about 60000, about 10000 to about 40000, or about 20000 to about 30000 pounds of fruit harvested per acre. In some embodiments, methods and devices described herein result in more than 50000 pounds harvested per acre. In some embodiments, methods and devices described herein result in at least or about 3000, 4000, 5000, 6000, 7000, 8000, 9000, 10000, 12000, 14000, 16000, 18000, 20000, 24000, 28000, 32000, or more than 32000 trays per acre. In some embodiments, each try comprises about 9.5 pounds to about 10 pounds.

[0100] In some embodiments, methods as described herein result in improved crop yield as determined by an increase in average fruit or vegetable biomass. In some embodiments, methods and devices described herein result in at least or about 0.1, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2.0, 2.25, 2.5, 2.75, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 5.0, or more than 5.0 pounds of fruit per foot of row. In some embodiments, methods and devices described herein result in a range of about 0.1 to about 5.0, about 0.2 to about 4.0, about 0.3 to about 3.5, about 0.4 to about 3.0, about 0.5 to about 2.5, or about 0.75 to about 2 pounds of fruit per foot of row. In some embodiments, the fruit is tomato, strawberry, or cannabis. In some embodiments, the fruit is strawberry. In some embodiments, the vegetable comprises a vegetable as disclosed herein. In some embodiments the fruit or vegetable comprises broccoli, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, corn, , cucumber, eggplant, figs, garlic, grapefruit, green lettuce, lettuce, melon, mint, , onion, peanut, peas, peppers, pumpkin, quinoa, red lettuce, rye, spinach, squash, strawberry, sugarbeets, sweet potato, tomato, or watermelon.

[0101] In some embodiments, crop yield is improved by a significant percentage when compared to a counterpart crop that has not been irradiated with a UV regimen disclosed herein. Crop yield may be improved by about 5%-100%, 10%-90%, 20%-80%, 30%-70%, 40%-60%, 50%-95%, 65%-85%, or 75%-95%. Crop yield may be improved by at least about 4%, 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%, 10%, 11%, 12%, 13%, 14%, 15%, 16%, 17%, 18%, 19%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 99%, or 100%. Crop yield may be improved by at least or about 5%. Crop yield may be improved by at least or about 10%. Crop yield may be improved by at least or about 30%. Crop yield may be improved by at least or about 50%.

[0102] In some embodiments, improved crop yield occurs following administration of light enriched or supplemented with UV to a parent crop seed. In some embodiments, improved yield occurs at least or about 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 4 days, 5 days, 6 days, 7 days, 8 days, 9 days, 10 days, 12 days, 14 days, 16 days, 18 days, 20 days, 24 days, 30 days, 32 days, 50 days, 72 days, or more than 72 days following administration of light enriched or supplemented with UV to a parent crop seed. In some embodiments, improved yield occurs at least or about 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 4 weeks, 5 weeks, 6 weeks, 7 weeks, 8 weeks, 9 weeks, 10 weeks, 11 weeks, 12 weeks, or more than 12 weeks following administration of light enriched or supplemented with UV to a parent crop seed.

[0103] Improved crop yield may be measured by resistance to infection. Infection may be caused by organisms including, but not limited to, fungi, oomycetes, bacteria, viruses, viroids, virus-like organisms, phytoplasmas, protozoa, nematodes, and parasitic plants. In some embodiments, following UV treatment of the parent crop seed as described in the methods herein, crop yield is unaffected or improved despite infections caused by such organisms. In some embodiments, following UV treatment of the parent crop seed as described in the methods herein, yield is improved despite infections caused by such organisms as compared to non-UV irradiated crop. In some embodiments, crop yield is inspected for infections caused by such organisms. Often crop yield is inspected for at least one of leaf disease, ear rot disease, stalk rot disease, and seeding and root disease.

[0104] In some embodiments, improved crop yield is measured by at least one of a reduction in fertilizer, herbicide, insecticide, and pesticide use without affecting crop yield. Reduction to fertilizer, herbicide, insecticide, or pesticide use may be determined by comparison to the industry use for a crop over ten years, to the state-wide average, or the national average. Thereduction of fertilizer, use may be at least 5%. In some embodiments, the reduction of fertilizer is in the range of about 5%-100%, 10%-90%, 20%-80%, 30%-70%, 40%-60%, 50%-95%, 65%-85%, or 75%-95%. In some embodiments, the reduction of herbicide use is at least 5%. In some embodiments, the reduction of herbicide is in the range of about 5%-100%, 10%-90%, 20%-80%, 30%-70%, 40%-60%, 50%-95%, 65%-85%, or 75%-95%. In some embodiments, the reduction of insecticide use is at least 5%. In some embodiments, the reduction of insecticide is in the range of about 5%-100%, 10%-90%, 20%-80%, 30%-70%, 40%-60%, 50%-95%, 65%-85%, or 75%-95%. In some embodiments, the reduction of pesticide use is at least 5%. In some embodiments, the reduction of pesticide is in the range of about 5%-100%, 10%-90%, 20%-80%, 30%-70%, 40%-60%, 50%-95%, 65%-85%, or 75%-95%.

[0105] Accordingly, UV supplementation or enrichment enables methods of growing crops such that pesticide use, herbicide use, fertilizer administration, or water administration may be reduced relative to untreated crop without any concomitant decrease in crop yield. In some embodiments, UV supplementation enables a substantial decrease in overall environmental impact without decrease in crop yield.

[0106] Improvements in child crop yield may be determined by comparison of child crop yields following administration of UV irradiation to parent crop seeds and non- administration of UV irradiation to parent crop seeds. In some embodiments, improvements in child crop yield is determined in the resultant child crops from UV irradiated crop that are compared to crops grown under similar conditions but from crop that are not administered UV using methods described herein. Similar conditions may be similar environment or similar growing conditions. Environmental factors include, but are not limited to, sun exposure, temperature, soil composition, soil moisture, wind, humidity, and soil pH. Growing conditions, include but are not limited to, amount of watering, amount of pesticide, amount of herbicide, amount of insecticide, duration of priming, duration of germination, and timing of sowing. In some embodiments, the child crops are compared to crops grown at a same time. For example, the crops grown at the same time are grown on an adjacent or nearby field. In some embodiments, the child crops are compared to crops from a previous growing season. In some embodiments, a yield of the child crops is compared to a comparable crop. In some embodiments, yield from a comparable crop is referred to standard yield. In some embodiments, the comparable crop is a crop that is grown at a same time or subject to similar growing conditions.

[0107] Improvements in crop yield may be determined by comparison of a field comprising child crops of UV irradiated parent crop seeds to a field comprising child crops of non-UV irradiated parent crop seed.

[0108] In some embodiments, improvements in crop yield may be determined by comparison of a field comprising child crops of UV irradiated parent crop seeds to a field comprising child crops of non-UV irradiated parent crop seeds grown under similar conditions from child crops of parent crop seeds that are not administered UV using methods described herein. Similar conditions may be similar environment or similar growing conditions.Environmental factors include, but are not limited to, sun exposure, temperature, soil composition, soil moisture, wind, humidity, and soil pH. Growing conditions, include but are not limited to, amount of watering, amount of pesticide, amount of herbicide, amount of insecticide, duration of priming, duration of germination, and timing of sowing. In some embodiments, the fields may be adjacent fields or nearby fields. In some embodiments, the fields may be fields of comparable size. In some embodiments, the field comprising child crops of UV irradiated parent crop seeds is compared to a historical average of fields comprising child crops of non-UV irradiated parent crop seeds. In some embodiments, the field comprising child crops of UV irradiated parent crop seeds is compared to an expected average yield for a field comprising non-UV irradiated parent crop seeds. In some embodiments, the expected average yield for a field is based on a national average. In some embodiments, the expected average yield for a field is based on a historical average for a particular growing region.

[0109] An exemplary method to evaluate the benefits of the disclosure is a “Hardiness index” as described below in detail. This is an integrated method for assessing the response of seedlings to UV light, as related to key combined physiological changes in plants in response to the treatment. In other words, the observation of several key physiological responses which have occurred simultaneously is one indication that plants have responded to treatment in a manner which should be beneficial for long term plant growth and subsequently improved crop yield and / or quality.

[0110] It should be appreciated that seedlings of different crop type, variety, and growing location may require amended hardiness indices, in order to fully assess hardiness in those particular seedlings. Amendments to the hardiness index may include the integration of other seedling or growing environment variables as required. / . Hardiness index

[0111] Throughout this specification the term hardiness index is defined according to the calculation provided below,H = SWiA , SSLS£WNSS7..VVN7 / SMNwherein:H = HardinessSDW = Shoot dry weightSSLW = Shoot specific leaf weightSLA = Shoot leaf areaT= Treated plants; andN= Non treated plants.

[0112] The shoot specific leaf weight (SSLW) defines the ratio of the dry weight of the leaf per unit leaf area, whereas the term shoot leaf area (SLA) simply defines the leaf area.

[0113] Furthermore, it should be appreciated that the use of the “1 / SLA” function may be merely to provide a positive H value for ease of reference, and is not essential to the disclosure.

[0114] Without this 1 / SLA function, the H value may be more difficult (but not impossible) to comprehend in certain circumstances. This is because the H value may, in some embodiments, decrease with improved hardiness. This result may arise when the plant’s shoot leaf area (SLA) increases as a result of UV exposure according to the present disclosure. This increase in SLA may be seen as an improvement to hardiness in some plant varieties.

[0115] Yet, in other plant varieties, UV treatment may lead to an increase in SLA, which may actually increase hardiness in that variety. In such a case, it may be beneficial to adapt the Hardiness index as shown below, such that the SLA is not 1 / SLA.

[0116] Regardless, it is clear the hardiness index may be adapted and may be able to account for these differences in plant varieties.

[0117] For instance, plant seedlings with a H value between 3.01 to 15 could be identified as those which are displaying increased hardiness following treatment.

[0118] The lower H value of 3.01 reflects that each of the three values should display a value of over equal to or over 1, reflecting a positive change to the plant seedling as a result of UV treatment. Therefore, an H value of 15 represents a very significant improvement or prediction for plant hardiness.

[0119] A range of H values between 3.01 to 15 is considered to be beneficial because this range corresponds to overall plant characteristics that are more likely to withstand typical stresses in the outdoor environment.

[0120] Even small increases in the H value may mean comparatively large increases in relative hardiness characteristics. For example, an increase in the H value by 0.1, indicates a 10% increase in relative hardiness.

[0121] It should be appreciated that measuring the H value typically requires destruction of the plant seedling. Therefore, individual test seedlings from a batch may be used to determine a representative H value for the batch before selecting batches or individual plant seedlings from a batch.

[0122] In some embodiments, hardiness comprises improved resilience following at least one of heat, flood, drought, frost, unusual climate events, salinity stress, and high visible light stress. In some embodiments, improved resilience in child crops of UV irradiated parent seeds comprises ability to germinate despite exposure to stress. In some embodiments, the plant seedling or crop are inspected following at least one of heat, flood, drought, frost, unusual climate events, salinity stress, and high visible light stress.

[0123] Hardiness in child crops of parent seeds irradiated with UV may be increased by a significant percentage when compared to counterpart seedlings or crop that have not been irradiated with a UV regimen disclosed herein. Hardiness may be increased by about 5%-100%, 10%-90%, 20%-80%, 30%-70%, 40%-60%, 50%-95%, 65%-85%, or 75%-95%. Hardiness may be increased by at least about 4%, 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%, 10%, 11%, 12%, 13%, 14%, 15%, 16%, 17%, 18%, 19%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 99%, or 100%. Hardiness may be increased by at least or about 5%. Hardiness may be increased by at least or about 10%. Hardiness may be increased by at least or about 30%. Hardiness may be increased by at least or about 50%.

[0124] Additional methods to evaluate or predict hardiness and / or yield of crop at harvest include, but are not limited to, relative growth rate, or “RGR” (change in growth parameter between a first and second time point, divided by days between time points, expressed relative to original size at first time point (this is often used to measure the actual crop yield at the point of harvest), incorporation of increases in leaf phenolic chemical content; incorporation of increases in seedling photosynthetic health; and / or incorporation of reduction of seedling hypocotyl length.

[0125] In some embodiments, methods treatments as described herein and the use of the hardiness index and / or RGR are used to measure the beneficial outcomes in relation to hardiness and / or subsequent increased crop yield or quality. In some embodiments, the methodology allows mechanisms for selecting seedlings or related seedlings undergoing the same or similar UV treatment for a subsequent growth phase or using a particular UV-dosage regime for subsequent seedling treatments. For example, seedlings shown to first have an increased hardiness index often then go on to provide an increase in crop yield and quality. Alternatively, subsequent treatments may be fine-tuned depending on the RGR of preliminary trials to further improve results.

[0126] Provided herein are methods comprising using UV in a specific wavelength range to provide the beneficial results. In some embodiments, the method is seen to beneficially improve crop yield and / or quality across a wide range of plants. In some embodiments, the method is seen to increase seedling dry weight, increase in leaf weight or specific leaf weight and / or decreases in leaf area. In some embodiments, the method also appears to protect the plants against stresses including weather damage, disease and insect pest attack that may otherwise be detrimental in vulnerable plants. In some embodiments, the method is seen to work well with a wide variety of plants in preliminary studies.D. Genetic and Epigenetic Expression

[0127] In some embodiments, the methods described herein may result in an alteration in the level of expression of a gene or in the presence or absence of an epigenetic marker. In some embodiments, an alteration in the level of expression of a gene or in the presence or absence of an epigenetic marker may comprise an alteration in both level of expression of a gene and in the presence or absence of an epigenetic marker. In some embodiments, increasing the expression of a gene refers to increasing the level of transcription of the gene compared to a reference. In some embodiments, decreasing the expression of a gene refers to decreasing the level of transcription of the gene compared to a reference. In some instances, altering the presence or absence of an epigenetic marker may refer to altering the quantity of an epigenetic marker in addition to determining whether it is present or absent depending on the context. In some embodiments, “increasing the presence or absence of an epigenetic marker” or “increasing an epigenetic marker” refers to increasing the frequency of the epigenetic marker in a plant or plant material. In some embodiments, “increasing the presence or absence of an epigenetic marker” or“increasing an epigenetic marker” refers to increasing the presence of the epigenetic marker at one or multiple locations in a plant or plant material. In some embodiments, “decreasing the presence or absence of an epigenetic marker” or “decreasing an epigenetic marker” refers to decreasing the frequency of the epigenetic marker in a plant or plant material. In some embodiments, “decreasing the presence or absence of an epigenetic marker” or “decreasing an epigenetic marker” refers to increasing the absence of the epigenetic marker at one or multiple locations in the plant or plant material.

[0128] In some embodiments, a parent crop seed exposed to UV light via a method as disclosed herein comprises an increase or a decrease in expression of a gene or an epigenetic marker as compared to a parent crop seed not exposed to UV light via a method as disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the methods comprise an alteration in expression or a gene or in the presence or absence of an epigenetic marker. In some embodiments, the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is increased or decreased by from about 1% to about 100%. In some embodiments, the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is increased or decreased by at least or about 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 100% or greater than 100%. In some embodiments, the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is increased or decreased by at least or about 1 to 100-fold. In some embodiments, the epigenetic marker comprises any epigenetic marker. In some embodiments, the epigenetic marker comprises methylation, acetylation, ubiquitylation, phosphorylation, sumoylation, ribosylation, citrullination, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the epigenetic marker is a histone modification. In some embodiments, the epigenetic marker is a DNA modification. In some embodiments, the epigenetic marker is a noncoding RNA, such as a long noncoding RNA.

[0129] In some embodiments, i) the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is increased in young plants grown from the treated parent seed as compared to young plants from untreated parent seed; ii) the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is increased in young plants grown from the child seed; and iii) the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker in young plants grown from the child seed is greater than the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker in young plants grown from treated parent seed.

[0130] In some embodiments, i) the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is decreased in young plants grown from the treated parent seed as compared to young plants from untreated parent seed; ii) the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is decreased in young plants grown from the child seed; and iii) the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker in young plants grown from the child seed is less than the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker in young plants grown from treated parent seed.

[0131] In some embodiments, i) the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is decreased in young plants grown from the treated parent seed as compared to young plants from untreated parent seed; ii) the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is increased in young plants grown from the child seed.

[0132] In some embodiments, i) the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is increased in young plants grown from the treated parent seed as compared to young plants from untreated parent seed; ii) the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is decreased in young plants grown from the child seed.

[0133] In some embodiments, i) the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is increased in young plants grown from the treated parent com seed as compared to young plants from untreated parent com seed; ii) the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is increased in young plants grown from the child corn seed; and iii) the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker in young plants grown from the hybrid child com seed is greater than the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker in young plants grown from treated parent corn seed.

[0134] In some embodiments, i) the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is decreased in young plants grown from the treated parent corn seed as compared to young plants from untreated parent com seed; ii) the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is decreased in young plants grown from the hybrid child corn seed; and iii) the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker in young plants grown from the hybrid child corn seed is less than the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker in young plants grown from treated parent com seed.

[0135] In some embodiments, i) the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is decreased in young plants grown from the treated parent corn seed as compared to young plants from untreated parent com seed; ii) the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is increased in young plants grown from the hybrid child corn seed.

[0136] In some embodiments, i) the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is increased in young plants grown from the treated parent com seed as compared to young plants from untreated parent com seed; ii) the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is decreased in young plants grown from the hybrid child corn seed.

[0137] In some embodiments, a child crop seed of a parent crop seed exposed to UV light via a method as disclosed herein comprises an increase or a decrease in expression of a gene or the presence or absence of an epigenetic marker as compared to a child crop seed with a parent crop seed not exposed to UV light via a method as disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is increased or decreased by from about 1% to about 100%. In some embodiments, the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is increased or decreased by at least or about 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 100% or greater than 100%. In some embodiments, the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is increased or decreased by at least or about 1 to 100-fold. In some embodiments, the epigenetic marker comprises any epigenetic marker. In some embodiments, the epigenetic marker comprises methylation, acetylation, ubiquitylation, phosphorylation, sumoylation, ribosylation, citrullination, or a combination thereof.

[0138] In some embodiments, a child crop seed of a parent crop seed exposed to UV light via a method as disclosed herein comprises greater expression of a gene or the presence or absence of an epigenetic marker as compared the parent crop seed. In some embodiments, the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is increased by from about 1% to about 100%. In some embodiments, the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is increased or decreased by at least or about 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 100% or greater than 100%. In some embodiments, the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is increased or decreased by at least or about 1 to 100 fold. Insome embodiments, the epigenetic marker comprises any epigenetic marker. In some embodiments, the epigenetic marker comprises methylation, acetylation, ubiquitylation, phosphorylation, sumoylation, ribosylation, citrullination, or a combination thereof.

[0139] In some embodiments, a child hybrid crop seed of a parent crop seed exposed to UV light via a method as disclosed herein comprises an increase or a decrease in expression of a gene or the presence or absence of an epigenetic marker as compared to a hybrid child crop seed with a parent crop seed not exposed to UV light via a method as disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is increased or decreased by from about 1% to about 100%. In some embodiments, the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is increased or decreased by at least or about 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 100% or greater than 100%. In some embodiments, the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is increased or decreased by at least or about 1 to 100 fold. In some embodiments, the epigenetic marker comprises any epigenetic marker. In some embodiments, the epigenetic marker comprises methylation, acetylation, ubiquitylation, phosphorylation, sumoylation, ribosylation, citrullination, or a combination thereof.

[0140] In some embodiments, a hybrid child crop seed of a parent crop seed exposed to UV light via a method as disclosed herein comprises greater expression of a gene or the presence or absence of an epigenetic marker as compared the parent crop seed. In some embodiments, the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is increased by from about 1% to about 100%. In some embodiments, the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is increased or decreased by at least or about 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 100% or greater than 100%. In some embodiments, the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is increased or decreased by at least or about 1 to 100-fold. In some embodiments, the epigenetic marker comprises any epigenetic marker. In some embodiments, the epigenetic marker comprises methylation, acetylation, ubiquitylation, phosphorylation, sumoylation, ribosylation, citrullination, or a combination thereof.NUMBERED EMBODIMENTS

[0141] Also disclosed herein are the following embodiments:1. A method for increasing a crop yield of a child crop, the method comprising:a. providing an untreated parent crop seed;b. administering light enriched for UV of a wavelength of about 275 nm to about 310 nm to the untreated parent crop seed to produce a treated parent crop seed; c. sowing the treated parent crop seed and growing a parent crop;d. harvesting a child seed from the parent crop;e. sowing the child seed and growing a child crop; andf. harvesting the child crop.2. A method for increasing a crop yield of a child crop, the method comprising:a. sowing a treated parent crop seed and growing a parent crop,i. wherein the treated parent crop seed has been treated by administering light enriched for UV of a wavelength of about 275 nm to about 310 nm to an untreated parent crop seed;b. harvesting a child seed from the parent crop;c. sowing the child seed and growing a child crop; andd. harvesting the crop yield from the child crop.3. A method for increasing a crop yield of a child crop, the method comprising:a. sowing a child seed and growing a child crop,i. wherein the child seed is grown from a parent crop,ii. wherein the parent crop was grown from a parent seed treated by administering light enriched for UV of a wavelength of about 275 nm to about 310 nm to an untreated parent crop seed; and b. harvesting the crop yield from the child crop.4. The method of any one of embodiments 1 to 3, wherein the increase in crop yield is determined by comparison to the method without administering light enriched for UV of a wavelength of about 275 nm to about 310 nm.5. The method of any one of embodiments 1 to 4, wherein crop yield is determined by one or more of crop weight, number of crops harvested, Brix content, crop width, crop length, leaf size, leaf surface area, dry weight, nitrogen content, shoot dry weight, shootfresh weight, root dry weight, vegetable development, nitrogen content, flower per plant, bushels per acre (bu / ac), weight of fruiting parts, total lipid percent, total non- structural carbohydrates, or metabolizable energy.The method of any one of embodiments 1 to 5, wherein the crop comprises seeds, leaves, roots, stems, flowers, fruits, or vegetables.The method of any one of embodiments 1 to 6, wherein the crop is selected from lettuce, beans, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, cucumber, melon, onion, peas, peppers, pumpkin, spinach, squash, tomato, watermelon, alfalfa, canola, corn, cotton, sorghum, sugarbeets, wheat, mint, sunflowers, almond, barley, cacao, chickpea, coconut, coffee, fig, grapefruit, garlic, hemp, hops, oats, rice, rye, sugarcane, sweet potato , tobacco, tomato, walnut, peanut, vanilla, and quinoa.The method of any one of embodiments 1 to 6, wherein the crop is a hybrid crop.The method of embodiment 7 or 8, wherein the crop is selected from corn, barley, cacao, coffee, hemp, hops, oats, rice, tobacco, and tomato.The method of any one of embodiments 1 to 5, wherein the crop is a member of the Poaceae family.The method of embodiment 10, wherein the crop is corn.The method of embodiment 11, wherein the untreated parent crop seed is inbred com. The method of any one of embodiments 1 to 12, wherein the child crop is hybrid corn. The method of any one of embodiments 1 to 13, wherein the expression of a gene or an epigenetic marker is increased or decreased in young plants grown from the treated parent seed as compared to in young plants grown from the untreated parent seed.The method of any one of embodiments 1 to 14, wherein the expression of the gene or the epigenetic marker is increased or decreased in young plants grown from the child seed as compared to in young plants grown from the treated parent seed.The method of any one of embodiments 1 to 15, wherein the epigenetic marker comprises methylation, acetylation, ubiquitylation, phosphorylation, sumoylation, ribosylation, citrullination, or a combination thereof.The method of any one of embodiments 1 to 16, wherein the expression of the gene or the epigenetic marker is increased or decreased by from about 1% to about 100%.The method of any one of embodiments 1 to 17, whereini) the expression of the gene or the epigenetic marker is increased in young plants grown from the treated parent seed as compared to young plants from untreated parent seed;ii) the expression of the gene or the epigenetic marker is increased in young plants grown from the child seed; andiii) the expression of the gene or the epigenetic marker in young plants grown from the child seed is greater than the expression of the gene or the epigenetic marker in young plants grown from treated parent seed.The method of any one of embodiments 1 to 17, whereini) the expression of the gene or the epigenetic marker is decreased in young plants grown from the treated parent seed as compared to young plants from untreated parent seed;ii) the expression of the gene or the epigenetic marker is decreased in young plants grown from the child seed; andiii) the expression of the gene or the epigenetic marker in young plants grown from the child seed is less than the expression of the gene or the epigenetic marker in young plants grown from treated parent seed.The method of any one of embodiments 1 to 17, whereini) the expression of the gene or the epigenetic marker is decreased in young plants grown from the treated parent seed as compared to young plants from untreated parent seed;ii) the expression of the gene or the epigenetic marker is increased in young plants grown from the child seed.The method of any one of embodiments 1 to 17, whereini) the expression of the gene or the epigenetic marker is increased in young plants grown from the treated parent seed as compared to young plants from untreated parent seed;ii) the expression of the gene or the epigenetic marker is decreased in young plants grown from the child seed.A method for amplifying the effects of heterosis in a hybrid crop, the method comprising:a. providing two or more varieties of untreated parent seeds;b. administering light enriched for UV of a wavelength of about 275 nm to about 310 nm to at least one variety of untreated parent seeds to produce treated parent seeds;c. sowing the treated parent seeds and optionally untreated parent seeds and growing a hybrid parent crop,i. wherein the treated parent seeds and optionally untreated parent seeds are placed to allow cross pollination across the two or more varieties; d. harvesting hybrid child seeds from the hybrid parent crop;e. sowing the hybrid child seeds and growing a hybrid child crop; andf. harvesting the hybrid child crop.The method of embodiment 22, wherein one variety of untreated parent seeds is administered light enriched for UV.The method of embodiment 22, wherein two varieties of untreated parent seeds are administered light enriched for UV.The method of any one of embodiments 22 to 24, wherein the hybrid crop is selected from almond, barley, cacao, chickpea, coconut, coffee, fig, grapefruit, garlic, hemp, hops, oats, rice, rye, sugarcane, sweet potato , tobacco, tomato, walnut, peanut, vanilla, and quinoa.The method of embodiment 25, wherein the hybrid crop is selected from corn, barley, cacao, coffee, hemp, hops, oats, rice, tobacco, and tomato.The method of embodiment 26, wherein the hybrid crop is selected from corn.The method of any one of embodiments 22 to 27, wherein the effects of heterosis are determined by comparison to the method without administering light enriched for UV of a wavelength of about 275 nm to about 310 nm.The method of any one of embodiments 22 to 28, wherein the effects of heterosis are determined by comparing the expression of a gene or an epigenetic marker in young plants grown from one or more of untreated parent seeds, treated parent seeds, and hybrid child seeds.The method of any one of embodiments 22 to 29, wherein the expression of a gene or an epigenetic marker is increased or decreased in young plants grown from the treated parent seed as compared to in young plants grown from the untreated parent seed.The method of any one of embodiments 22 to 30, wherein the expression of the gene or the epigenetic marker is increased or decreased in young plants grown from the hybrid child seed as compared to in young plants grown from the treated parent seed.The method of any one of embodiments 22 to 31, wherein the epigenetic marker comprises methylation, acetylation, ubiquitylation, phosphorylation, sumoylation, ribosylation, citrullination, or a combination thereof.The method of any one of embodiments 22 to 32, wherein the expression of the gene or the epigenetic marker is increased or decreased by from about 1% to about 100%. The method of any one of embodiments 22 to 33, whereini) the expression of the gene or the epigenetic marker is increased in young plants grown from the treated parent seed as compared to young plants from untreated parent seed;ii) the expression of the gene or the epigenetic marker is increased in young plants grown from the child seed; andiii) the expression of the gene or the epigenetic marker in young plants grown from the child seed is greater than the expression of the gene or the epigenetic marker in young plants grown from treated parent seed.The method of any one of embodiments 22 to 33, whereini) the expression of the gene or the epigenetic marker is decreased in young plants grown from the treated parent seed as compared to young plants from untreated parent seed;ii) the expression of the gene or the epigenetic marker is decreased in young plants grown from the child seed; andiii) the expression of the gene or the epigenetic marker in young plants grown from the child seed is less than the expression of the gene or the epigenetic marker in young plants grown from treated parent seed.The method of any one of embodiments 22 to 33, whereini) the expression of the gene or the epigenetic marker is decreased in young plants grown from the treated parent seed as compared to young plants from untreated parent seed;ii) the expression of the gene or the epigenetic marker is increased in young plants grown from the child seed.The method of any one of embodiments 22 to 33, whereini) the expression of the gene or the epigenetic marker is increased in young plants grown from the treated parent seed as compared to young plants from untreated parent seed;ii) the expression of the gene or the epigenetic marker is decreased in young plants grown from the child seed.The method of any one of embodiments 22 to 37, wherein the effects of heterosis are determined by comparing the crop yield between the hybrid child crop with and without the administering light enriched for UV of a wavelength of about 275 nm to about 310 nm to the untreated parent seeds.The method of any one of embodiments 22 to 38, wherein the crop yield is increased by at least 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or 100%.The method of any one of embodiments 22 to 39, wherein crop yield is increased by about 5% to 100%, by about 10% to 90%, or by about 20% to 80%.A method for improving a crop yield, wherein the crop is hybrid corn, the method comprising:a. providing two or more varieties of untreated parent corn seeds;b. administering light enriched for UV of a wavelength of about 275 nm to about 310 nm to at least one variety of the untreated parent com seeds to produce treated parent com seeds;c. sowing the treated parent corn seeds and optionally the untreated parent corn seeds and growing a hybrid seed crop,i. wherein the treated parent corn seeds and optionally the untreated parent corn seeds are sown in locations to allow cross pollination across the two or more varieties;d. harvesting hybrid child corn seeds from the parent crop;e. sowing the hybrid child com seeds and growing a hybrid child crop; and f. harvesting the hybrid child crop.The method of embodiment 41, wherein one variety of untreated parent corn seeds is administered light enriched for UV.The method of embodiment 41, wherein two varieties of untreated parent corn seeds are administered light enriched for UV.The method of any one of embodiments 41 to 43, wherein the increase in crop yield is determined by comparison to the method without administering light enriched for UV of a wavelength of about 275 nm to about 310 nm.The method of any one of embodiments 41 to 44, wherein crop yield is increased by at least about 10 bu / ac, about 30 bu / ac, or about 50 bu / ac.The method of any one of embodiments 41 to 45, wherein crop yield is increased by about 10 to about 150 bu / ac, about 30 to about 100 bu / ac, or about 40 to about 90 bu / ac. The method of any one of embodiments 41 to 46, wherein crop yield is increased by about 5 to 100%, by about 10 to 90%, or by about 20 to 80%.The method of any one of embodiments 41 to 47, wherein the expression of a gene or an epigenetic marker is increased or decreased in young plants grown from the treated parent corn seeds as compared to in young plants grown from the untreated parent corn seed.The method of any one of embodiments 41 to 48, wherein the expression of the gene or the epigenetic marker is increased or decreased in young plants grown from the hybrid child corn seeds as compared to young plants grown from the treated parent corn seeds. The method of any one of embodiments 41 to 49, wherein the epigenetic marker comprises methylation, acetylation, ubiquitylation, phosphorylation, sumoylation, ribosylation, citrullination, or a combination thereof.The method of any one of embodiments 41 to 50, wherein the expression of the gene or the epigenetic marker is increased or decreased by from about 1% to about 100%.The method of any one of embodiments 41 to 51, whereini) the expression of the gene or the epigenetic marker is increased in young plants grown from the treated parent corn seed as compared to young plants from untreated parent com seed;ii) the expression of the gene or the epigenetic marker is increased in young plants grown from the child com seed; andiii) the expression of the gene or the epigenetic marker in young plants grown from the hybrid child com seed is greater than the expression of the gene or the epigenetic marker in young plants grown from treated parent corn seed.The method of any one of embodiments 41 to 51, whereini) the expression of the gene or the epigenetic marker is decreased in young plants grown from the treated parent corn seed as compared to young plants from untreated parent com seed;ii) the expression of the gene or the epigenetic marker is decreased in young plants grown from the hybrid child com seed; andiii) the expression of the gene or the epigenetic marker in young plants grown from the hybrid child com seed is less than the expression of the gene or the epigenetic marker in young plants grown from treated parent corn seed.The method of any one of embodiments 41 to 51, whereini) the expression of the gene or the epigenetic marker is decreased in young plants grown from the treated parent corn seed as compared to young plants from untreated parent com seed;ii) the expression of the gene or the epigenetic marker is increased in young plants grown from the hybrid child com seed.The method of any one of embodiments 41 to 51, whereini) the expression of the gene or the epigenetic marker is increased in young plants grown from the treated parent corn seed as compared to young plants from untreated parent com seed;ii) the expression of the gene or the epigenetic marker is decreased in young plants grown from the hybrid child com seed.The method of any one of embodiments 1 to 55, wherein the UV light does not comprise UV-A light.The method of any one of embodiments 1 to 56, wherein the light enriched for UV comprises UV-B light with wavelengths from 280 nm to 300 nm.The method of any one of embodiments 1 to 57, wherein the light enriched for UV comprises UV-B light with wavelengths from 280 nm to 290 nm.The method of any one of embodiments 1 to 58, wherein the light enriched for UV comprises a wavelength peaking at 280 nm.The method of any one of embodiments 1 to 58, wherein the light enriched for UV comprises a wavelength peaking at 284 nm.The method of any one of embodiments 1 to 60, wherein the dosage of UV is in a range of about 0.3 kJ m-2to about 3.0 kJ m-2.62. The method of any one of embodiments 1 to 60, wherein the dosage of UV is in a range of about 2.0 kJ m-2to about 12.0 kJ m-2.63. The method of any one of embodiments 1 to 60, wherein the dosage of UV is in a range of about 0.1 kJ m-2to about 1.0 kJ m-2.64. The method of any one of embodiments 1 to 60, wherein the dosage of UV is in a range of about 2 kJ m-2to about 10 kJ m-2.65. The method of any one of embodiments 1 to 60, wherein the dosage of UV is in a range of about 1.2 kJ m-2to about 7 kJ m-2.66. The method of any one of embodiments 1 to 60, wherein the dosage of UV is about 0.1 kJ m-2, about 0.2 kJ m-2, about 0.3 kJ m-2, about 0.4 kJ m-2, about 0.5 kJ m-2, about 0.6 kJ m-2, about 0.7 kJ m-2, about 0.8 kJ m-2, about 0.9 kJ m-2, or about 1.0 kJ m-2.67. The method of any one of embodiments 1 to 66, wherein a duration of administering UV is from 0.5 to 60 minutes, 1 to 30 minutes, 1 to 20 minutes, or 3 to 15 minutes.68. The method of any one of embodiments 1 to 66, wherein a duration of administering UV is at least 10 hours, at least 15 hours, at least 20 hours, at least 25 hours, or at least 30 hours.69. The method of any one of embodiments 1 to 66, wherein a duration of administering UV is at least 1 day or at least 14 days.70. The method of any one of embodiments 1 to 66, wherein a duration of administering UV is about 1 day, about 2 days, about 3 days, about 4 days, about 5 days, about 6 days, or about 7 days.DEFINITIONS

[0142] Unless defined otherwise, all terms of art, notations and other technical and scientific terms or terminology used herein are intended to have the same meaning as is commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed subject matter pertains. In some embodiments, terms with commonly understood meanings are defined herein for clarity and / or for ready reference, and the inclusion of such definitions herein should not necessarily be construed to represent a substantial difference over what is generally understood in the art.

[0143] Throughout this application, various embodiments may be presented in a range format. It should be understood that the description in range format is merely for convenienceand brevity and should not be construed as an inflexible limitation on the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the description of a range should be considered to have specifically disclosed all the possible subranges as well as individual numerical values within that range. For example, description of a range such as from 1 to 6 should be considered to have specifically disclosed subranges such as from 1 to 3, from 1 to 4, from 1 to 5, from 2 to 4, from 2 to 6, from 3 to 6 etc., as well as individual numbers within that range, for example, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. This applies regardless of the breadth of the range.

[0144] As used in the specification and claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example, the term “a sample” includes a plurality of samples, including mixtures thereof.

[0145] The terms “determining,” “measuring,” “evaluating,” “assessing,” “assaying,” and “analyzing” are often used interchangeably herein to refer to forms of measurement. The terms include determining if an element is present or not (for example, detection). These terms can include quantitative, qualitative or quantitative and qualitative determinations. Assessing can be relative or absolute. “Detecting the presence of’ can include determining the amount of something present in addition to determining whether it is present or absent depending on the context.

[0146] As used herein, the term “about” a number refers to that number plus or minus 10% of that number. The term “about” a range refers to that range minus 10% of its lowest value and plus 10% of its greatest value.

[0147] Throughout the specification the phrase “prior to a subsequent growth phase” should be taken as meaning either prior to the plant seedling being transferred into an outdoor environment, or in some embodiments being retained indoors, at a particular time point based on the age, size other feature of the plant seedling or environmental characteristics. The growth phase of the plant is typically the phase when the plant exhibits substantial growth and development into a mature plant prior to harvesting.

[0148] Throughout this specification the term “plant seedling” should be taken as meaning a young plant following germination from a seed. The plant seedling may be of a vegetable, fruit, tree, shrub, herb, grass origin, and so forth.

[0149] Throughout this specification the term “plant” should be taken as meaning a matured plant seedling which is ultimately used for crops or other applications.

[0150] Throughout this specification the term “crop” should be taken as meaning a cultivated plant which is harvested typically by a human or machine at some point during its growth stage for further use or human consumption. However, it should be appreciated that application of the methods may be used without any intention to harvest.

[0151] Throughout this specification the term “indoors” should be taken as meaning a housing, typically a greenhouse, plastic polytunnel, a shade cloth with no walls, or fully indoor system which might use artificial lighting.

[0152] In the example of a greenhouse, it may include transparent walls and / or ceiling to allow natural light in. The indoor housing may be used to allow the initial germination and seedling development phase to occur and is used during the UV irradiation exposure of the present disclosure prior to a subsequent growth phase in an outdoor environment.

[0153] In some embodiments, an advantage of conducting the treatment indoors is that it may help to regulate the conditions whilst the plant seedling is particularly vulnerable.Additionally, it may mean that the device used to apply the UV treatment may be better protected and secured. However, it is possible the treatment of the present disclosure may also be conducted in an outdoor environment, depending on the circumstances and type of seeds to be treated.

[0154] Throughout this specification the term “transplantation” should be taken as meaning the act of transferring the plant seedling into an outdoor environment such as a field to allow continued growth prior to ultimate harvesting of the crops. The term transplantation shock refers specifically to the stress or shock incurred by the plant at the time of transplantation, for instance due to sun shock due to the different sun exposure seen between indoors and the outdoor environment. The term “transplantation” may also be taken as meaning the act of transferring the plant seedling into an indoor environment such as a greenhouse or nursery.

[0155] The term “seed” as used herein refers to any embryonic plant prior to, and / or intended to be used for, planting to grow any form of plant life or crop for subsequent use (typically, but not solely, for human and animal consumption). In some instances, “seed” refers to an embryonic plant enclosed in a protective outer covering. Without being limited by theory, the formation of the seed is part of the process of reproduction in seed plants, the spermatophytes, including gymnosperm and angiosperm plants. Seeds are the product of the ripened ovule, after fertilization by pollen and some growth within the mother plant. The embryo is developed from the zygote and the seed coat from the integuments of the ovule.

[0156] Some non-limiting examples of seeds for are seeds of agricultural or ornamental plants, such as lettuce, beans, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, cucumber, melon, onion, peas, peppers, pumpkin, spinach, squash, sweetcorn, tomato, watermelon, alfalfa, canola, corn, cotton, sorghum, soybeans, sugarbeets, wheat, mint, sunflowers, or other agriculturally or ornamentally relevant plant species.

[0157] The term “seed germination” refers to a process by which a seed embryo develops into a seedling. It involves the activation of the metabolic pathways that lead to growth, and the emergence of the radicle or seed root and plumule or shoot. In general, seed germination is initiated through stratification, which varies among plant species according to their original ecological setting. Of-ten though not uniformly, seed germination is triggered through a three-phase process involving water imbibition, lag phase, and radicle emergence. Seed germination may be affected by environmental conditions including, but not limited to, water, oxygen, temperature, and light.

[0158] The term “crop yield” may refer to improving at least one of resilience or growth. Resilience may refer to biotic or abiotic environmental stress, which can impact the seed, the seedling, the resulting plant, the child crop before or after harvesting. In some instances, resilience refers to biotic environmental stress. In some instances, resilience refers to abiotic environmental stress. ‘Growth’ generally refers to performance in the absence of an abiotic or biotic stress, such as performance under healthy or ‘best case scenario’ growth conditions. Other non-limiting examples of growth one or more of crop weight, number of crops harvested, Brix content, crop width, crop length, leaf size, leaf surface area, dry weight, nitrogen content, shoot dry weight, shoot fresh weight, root dry weight, vegetable development, nitrogen content, flower per plant, bushels per acre (bu / ac), weight of fruiting parts, total lipid percent, total non-structural carbohydrates, or metabolizable energy. In some embodiments, the terms “improved crop yield”, “improved growth”, or “improved hardiness” are used interchangeably with crop yield. They refer to a plant which may have either larger fruit, larger stems, larger leaves, larger flowers or any combination of the above. In some embodiments, the tissue of the enlarged plant is at least 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%, 10%, 15%, 20% 30, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 99% or larger than that of a wild type plant. In some embodiments, crop yield may refer to improving resilience. In some embodiments, crop yield may refer to improving growth. In some instances, crop yield may refer to improving resilience and growth. In someembodiments, an increase in crop yield refers to an increase in the number, size, or weight of the harvested crop.

[0159] One observes that, depending upon growth conditions, both increase resilience and improvements in growth can result in in-creases in yield, depending upon growth conditions. One observes that improving both growth and resilience has the effect of improving yield of harvestable crop material relative plants resulting from untreated seeds independent of growth conditions. Crop yield also refers in some embodiments to improving quality of harvestable crop material, such that plant value is increased per unit yield even if yield, more coarsely defined, is unaffected. Some non-limiting examples of improved stress resilience are improved drought resistance, salinity stress, transplantation shock, long-term hardiness, high visible light stress, insect pest stress, fungal or bacterial stress, or other disease-related stress. The term “crop productivity” may in some embodiments be used interchangeably with “crop yield.”

[0160] Throughout this specification the term “hardiness” should be taken as meaning the ability of a plant to withstand or help protect against one or more stresses during crop production and which may allow for more desirable yield and / or quality of the plant at harvesting.

[0161] The term “long-term hardiness” or “hardiness” as used herein refers to the ability of a plant to withstand one or more stresses during crop production and to allow desirable yield and / or quality of the plant at harvesting. Some non-limiting examples of how improved yield is measured include weight of harvestable crop material, such as lettuce leaves, soybeans, tomato fruit, in com-parison to harvestable crop material where the seeds for sowing were not treated with UV. Other examples of how improved yield are measured include fresh shoot weight or whole plant dry weight, improved germination of seeds resulting from the treatment method, and improved water use efficiency of the resulting plant. In some embodiments, improved quality is assessed as a quantitative or qualitative assessment of at least one of a lack of blemishes on the crop (either internal or on the surface, typically from insects), improved shelflife, improved resistance to bruising or other post-harvest handling, lack of deformities, lack of irregular shapes, lack of irregular sizes, improved taste, size, shape, color, and texture. An advantage of the present disclosure is that both stress resilience and plant yield were observed (often these traits can work in an inverse relationship, where resilience is achieved at the cost of yield as seen with UV-C treatment).

[0162] The term “ultraviolet (UV) irradiation” as used herein refers to electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength shorter than visible light, but longer than X-rays, and is in betweenthe range of 10 nm to 400 nm (corresponding to 3 eV to 124 eV). The UV radiation spectrum is considered to be invisible to humans, and therefore differentiated from visible light in the spectrum of about 400 nm to 700 nm.

[0163] The term “UV-B radiation” as used herein refers to radiation specifically within the waveband of 320 nm to 280 nm (herein described as the UV-B range). This is distinguishable from the UV-C waveband (280 to 100 nm) and UV-A waveband (400-320 nm). It should also be distinguishable from natural sunlight which although provides UV-B radiation, also includes other UV radiation. In some embodiments, the UV-B radiation is administered via LED lights.

[0164] The term “harvestable crop material” as used herein refers to any material from the plant which may be harvested to be used for subsequent purposes or human or animal consumption. Often the crop material is harvested seeds to be consumed as food or used for subsequent planting or breeding purposes. The harvested material includes but is not limited to a fruit, a vegetable, a tree, a shrub, a grass, an herb, and an extract or component of any one of the above crop materials.

[0165] A “fruit” refers strictly to any seed-containing organ of a plant. More informally, the term in some embodiments refers to harvestable material generally.

[0166] The term “flavonoid” as used herein refers to a class of plant secondary metabolites which have the general structure of a 15-carbon skeleton, consisting of two phenyl rings and heterocyclic ring (C6-C3-C6). Flavonoids are associated in some embodiments with stress resistance, such that an increase in their accumulation levels corresponds to an increase in plant stress resistance.EXAMPLES

[0167] The following examples are included for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.Example 1: Hybrid and Inbred Child Crop Performance Benefits from UV Treatment of Parent Crop Seeds

[0168] Hybrid child crop performance benefits from UV treatment of parent crop seeds.

[0169] Varieties of inbred parent com seed (P) (one variety (LH176) designated as a male line, one variety (LH172) designated as a female line) were selected, with quantities of seed ofboth lines subjected to three UV light treatments of a wavelength of about 275 nm to about 310 nm in different combinations determined by whether the seeds were male or female. The seeds were administered a total dosage of light between 0.01 to 1440 kJ m'2. The varieties of parent corn seed (P) were then sown into a standard corn seed production field nursery layout, with male and female seed planted into alternating rows for pollination, and also in blocks on a light treatment / no light treatment group basis. At the end of the field season, quantities of hybrid / child seed (Cl) were harvested from each light treatment / no light treatment group. In the subsequent field season, quantities of hybrid child seed (Cl) were planted into a randomized and replicated field trial design, in two different locations. Exposure of the parent seeds to light treatment / no light treatment group in the previous season was the basis for the randomized plot design, with no further light treatments given to hybrid child seed before planting.

[0170] Crop yields of parent com plants and child corn plants were measured as bushels of crop per acre (Bu / ac) following the harvesting of the child com plants. FIG. 1A - FIG. 1C demonstrate the results. FIG. 1A shows a 43% increase in Bu / ac in child corn plants with parent seeds exposed to UV treatment 1 (Female) x UV treatment 1 (Male), and a 77% increase in Bu / ac in child corn plants with parent seeds exposed to UV treatment 2 (Female) x UV treatment 3 (Male). FIG. IB shows a 29% increase in Bu / ac in child com plants with parent seeds exposed to UV treatment 1 (Female) x UV treatment 1 (Male). FIG. 1C shows a 34% increase in Bu / ac in child corn plants with parent seeds exposed to UV treatment 2 (Female) x UV treatment 3 (Male). FIG. 1A - FIG. 1C show child corn crop yield results from three different locations, with clear gains in the crop yield of the child crops which received UV treatment in the previous generation.

[0171] As a comparison, same-generation performance testing was also assessed across 15 different field trial sites. Hybrid com seed received UV-light treatment or no light treatment as described above, and the seeds were planted in field trial sites. Each 10-meter by 3-meter plot consisted of four rows of plants from a given treatment group. At final maturity, yield of the corn plants was measured for assessment. Differences between yields of hybrid corn plants grown from directly UV-treated and untreated seed were insignificant. On average, UV-treated seeds yielded a corn crop with a 4.7 Bu / ac higher yield, or an increase of 2.7% (FIG. 6).

[0172] Inbred child crop performance benefits from UV treatment of parent crop seeds.

[0173] Varieties of inbred parent corn seed (ZMI07, ZMI08, ZMI09, and ZMI10) were subjected to three UV light treatments (UV Treatment 1, UV Treatment 2, or UV Treatment 3) of a 275nm-310nm UV wavelength in different combinations. The varieties of parent com seed were then sown into a 10-meter x 3 -meter production plot with four rows per plot. Four identical plots were planted for each condition. At maturity, yield data was collected from every plant in the center two rows of each plot.

[0174] Crop yields of com plants grown from inbred parent seeds were measured as bushels of crop per acre (Bu / ac) following the harvesting of the corn plants. FIG. 7 demonstrates the yields of the four inbred com varieties. Multiple light treatments were tested and the light treatment protocol with the highest yield (UV treatment 2 for ZMI07, UV treatment 1 for ZMI08, UV treatment 1 for ZMI09, and UV treatment 3 for ZMI10) was used to calculate the average crop yield. Average crop yield (measured in Bu / ac) from parent seeds treated with UV light was 7.3% higher than average crop yield from untreated parent seeds.Example 2: Corn Root Dry Weight Increased in Child Corn Plant (Cl) After UV Treatment of Parent Corn Seed (P)

[0175] Methods: Two varieties of inbred parent com seed (P) were selected (one male variety, one female variety), with quantities of seed of both lines subjected to UV light treatments of a wavelength of about 275 nm to about 310 nm. The seeds were administered a total dosage of light between 0.01 to 1440 kJ m'2. The same two parent varieties (P) were used for controls and received no UV light treatment. The varieties of parent corn seed (P) were sown into a standard corn seed production field nursery layout, with male and female seed planted into alternating rows for pollination. At the end of the field season, quantities of child seed (Cl) were harvested. In the subsequent field season, quantities of child seed (Cl) were planted in Iowa into 3-4 replicated field plots per control / parent-treated group as part of a complete random block design. The design included 4 planted rows per treatment group plot, with each plot 10 meters by 3 meters. Root dry weight measurements were taken by removing 8 child corn plants (Cl) per plot from the field at 21 days after sowing, removing soil from the root zones of each child corn plant, and pooling all 8 plant roots into plot-by-plot replicate groups. Pooled root samples were weight following dry of roots to a constant mass.

[0176] Results: Crop yields of child corn plants (Cl) were measured as normalized total mass (in grams, g) of root dry weight following the harvesting of the child com plant at 21 days.FIG. 4 shows child corn plants (Cl) with parent seeds (P) exposed to UV treatment had a 62%increase (p < 0.01) in root dry weight compared to child corn plants with parent seeds receiving no UV treatment.Example 3: UV-Treatment of Parent Seed (P) Increases Soybean Crop Yield from Self-Pollination Child Seed (Cl)

[0177] Methods: One variety of parent soybean seed (P) is subjected to UV light treatments. For treatment, UV light wavelengths of about 275 nm to about 310 nm are used in various combinations of one or multiple UV treatments. The parent soybean seed (P) is sown into a standard soybean seed production field nursery layout on a light treatment or no light treatment group basis and self-pollinated. At the end of the field season, quantities of child seed (Cl) are harvested from each light treatment and no light treatment group. In the subsequent field season, quantities of child seed (Cl) are planted into scientifically randomized trials across. No further light treatments are given to the child seeds before planting. At final maturity, child soybean plants (Cl) are harvested for final yield, measured in bushels per acre.

[0178] Results: The child soybean crop (Cl) from parent seeds (P) treated with UV light show clear gains in the crop yield. Crop yields of child soybean plants (Cl) are measured as bushels of crop per acre (Bu / ac) following the harvesting of the child soybean plants. Child soybean plants (Cl) with parent seeds (P) exposed to UV treatment show an increase in Bu / ac as compared to yields from parent seeds not exposed to UV treatment.Example 4: UV-Treatment of Parent Seed (P) Increases Rice Crop Yield of Hybrid Child Seed (Cl)

[0179] Methods: Two varieties of parent rice seeds (P) are subjected to UV light treatments. For treatment, UV light wavelengths of about 275 nm to about 310 nm are used in various combinations of one or multiple UV treatments. The two parent rice seed (P) varieties are sown and crossed in a controlled environment room or glasshouse to produce a hybrid child seed (Cl) for each parental cross. Child rice seed (Cl) from treated parents (P) and from untreated controls are sown into scientifically randomized trials. At final maturity, child rice plants (Cl) are harvested for final yield. Yield-related metrics are measured, such as root and shoot biomass, leaf size, and rice grain yield.

[0180] Results: The child hybrid rice crop (Cl) yields show clear gains in the yield when the parent seed (P) received UV treatment. Crop yields of child hybrid rice plants (Cl) are measured as root and shoot biomass, leaf size, and grain yield following the harvesting of the child rice plants. Child hybrid rice plants (Cl) with parent seeds (P) exposed to UV treatment show anincrease in root biomass, shoot biomass, and leaf size as compared to yields from parent seeds not exposed to UV treatment. The child hybrid rice plants also have a higher rice grain yield as compared to child hybrid rice plants with parent seeds not treated with UV light.Example 5: UV-Treatment of Parent Seed (P) Increases Rice Crop Yield of Hybrid Child Seed (Cl)

[0181] Methods: Parent rice seeds (P) are subjected to UV light treatments. For treatment, UV light wavelengths of about 275 nm to about 310 nm are used in various combinations of one or multiple UV treatments. The parent rice seeds (P) varieties are sown and allowed to selfpollinate. The child (Cl) rice seeds are collected from the parent crops. Child rice seed (Cl) from treated parents (P) and from untreated controls are sown into scientifically randomized trials. At final maturity, child rice plants (Cl) are harvested for final yield. Yield-related metrics are measured, such as root and shoot biomass, leaf size, and rice grain yield.

[0182] Results: The child rice crop (Cl) yields may show improvements in yield when the parent seed (P) received UV treatment. Crop yields of child rice plants (Cl) are measured as root and shoot biomass, leaf size, and grain yield following the harvesting of the child rice plants. Child rice plants (Cl) with parent seeds (P) exposed to UV treatment may show an increase in root biomass, shoot biomass, and leaf size as compared to yields from parent seeds not exposed to UV treatment. The child rice plants may also have a higher rice grain yield as compared to child rice plants with parent seeds not treated with UV light.Example 5: UV-Treatment of Parent Seed (P) Increases Ryegrass (Poaceae) Crop Yield of Child Seed (Cl)

[0183] Methods: Parent ryegrass seeds (P) are subjected to UV light treatments. For treatment, UV light wavelengths of about 275 nm to about 310 nm are used in various combinations of one or multiple UV treatments. The parent ryegrass seed (P) variety is crossed with a parent ryegrass plant of the same variety that received the same UV light treatment as a seed. The parent seeds are sown in a controlled environment room and a field nursery to produce a child seed (Cl) for each parent variety. Child ryegrass seed from treated parents and from untreated controls are sown into scientifically randomized trials. At final maturity, child ryegrass plants (Cl) are harvested for final yield and yield-related metrics are measured. Metrics include shoot dry weight, total lipid percent, total non- structural carbohydrates, and metabolizable energy.

[0184] Results: The child ryegrass crop (Cl) from UV-treated parent seeds (P) shows clear gains in the crop yield. Crop yields of child ryegrass plants (Cl) are measured as shoot dry weight, total lipid percent, total non-structural carbohydrates, and metabolizable energy following the harvesting of the child ryegrass plants. Child ryegrass plants (Cl) from parent seeds (P) exposed to UV treatment show an increase in shoot dry weight, total lipid percent, and total non-structural carbohydrates as compared to yields from parent seeds not exposed to UV treatment. The child ryegrass plants also have a higher metabolizable energy as compared to child ryegrass plants with parent seeds not treated with UV light.Example 6: UV-Treatment of Parent Seed (P) Increases Arabidopsis (Brassica) Crop Yield of Child Seed (Cl)

[0185] Methods: Two parent Arabidopsis seed (P) varieties are subjected to UV light treatments. For treatment, UV light wavelengths of about 275 nm to about 310 nm are used in various combinations of one or multiple UV treatments. The child seeds (Cl) are produced from parent Arabidopsis plants (P), where a single parent variety is self-pollinated or two parent varieties are crossed. The parent seeds (P) are sown in a controlled environment room to produce child seeds (Cl). Child Arabidopsis seeds (Cl) from treated parents (P) and from untreated controls are sown into scientifically randomized trials. At final maturity, child Arabidopsis plants (Cl) are harvested for final yield and yield-related metrics are measured. Metrics include leaf surface area, dry weight, shoot dry weight, shoot fresh weight, root dry weight, flower per plant, seed yield, and weight of fruiting parts.

[0186] Results: The child Arabidopsis crop (Cl) from UV-treated parent seeds (P) shows clear gains in the crop yield. Crop yields of child Arabidopsis plants are measured as leaf surface area, dry weight, shoot dry weight, shoot fresh weight, root dry weight, flower per plant, seed yield, and weight of fruiting parts following the harvesting of the child Arabidopsis plants (Cl). Child Arabidopsis plants from parent seeds exposed to UV treatment show an increase in leaf surface area, dry weight, shoot dry weight, shoot fresh weight, and root dry weight as compared to yields from parent seeds not exposed to UV treatment. The child Arabidopsis plants also have a higher number of flowers per plant, increased seed yield, and higher weight of fruiting parts as compared to child Arabidopsis plants with parent seeds not treated with UV light.Example 7: UV-Treatment of Parent Seed (P) Increases Tobacco Crop Yield of Child Seed (Cl)

[0187] Methods: Parent tobacco seeds (P) are subjected to UV light treatments. For treatment, UV light wavelengths of about 275 nm to about 310 nm are used in various combinations of one or multiple UV treatments. The child seeds (Cl) are produced from a single parent tobacco seed (P) variety and self-pollinated in a controlled environment room to produce child seeds. Child tobacco seeds (Cl) from UV-treated parents (P) and from untreated controls are sown into scientifically randomized trials. At final maturity, child tobacco plants (Cl) are harvested for final yield and yield-related metrics are measured. Metrics include leaf surface area, dry weight, shoot dry weight, shoot fresh weight, root dry weight, flower per plant, seed yield, and weight of fruiting parts.

[0188] Results: The child tobacco crop (Cl) yields from UV-treated parent seeds (P) show clear gains in the crop yield across. Crop yields of child tobacco plants are measured as leaf surface area, dry weight, shoot dry weight, shoot fresh weight, root dry weight, flower per plant, seed yield, and weight of fruiting parts following the harvesting of the child tobacco plants. Child tobacco plants (Cl) from parent seeds (P) exposed to UV treatment show an increase in leaf surface area, dry weight, shoot dry weight, shoot fresh weight, and root dry weight as compared to yields from parent seeds not exposed to UV treatment. The child tobacco plants also have a higher number of flowers per plant, increased seed yield, and higher weight of fruiting parts as compared to child tobacco plants with parent seeds not treated with UV light.Example 8: UV-Treatment of Parent Seed (P) Increases Wheat Crop Yield of Child Seed (Cl)

[0189] Methods: Parent wheat seeds (P) are subjected to UV light treatments. For treatment, UV light wavelengths of about 275 nm to about 310 nm are used in various combinations of one or multiple UV treatments. The child seeds (Cl) are produced from a single parent wheat seed (P) variety and self-pollinated in a controlled environment room to produce child seeds. Child wheat seeds (Cl) from UV-treated parents (P) and from untreated controls are sown into scientifically randomized trials. At final maturity, child wheat plants (Cl) are harvested for final yield and yield-related metrics are measured. Metrics include leaf surface area, dry weight, shoot dry weight, shoot fresh weight, root dry weight, flower per plant, seed yield, and weight of fruiting parts.

[0190] Results: The child wheat crop (Cl) yields from UV-treated parent seeds (P) show clear gains in the crop yield across. Crop yields of child wheat plants are measured as leaf surface area, dry weight, shoot dry weight, shoot fresh weight, root dry weight, flower per plant, seed yield, weight of fruiting parts following the harvesting of the child wheat plants, and bushels per acre. Child wheat plants (Cl) from parent seeds (P) exposed to UV treatment show an increase in leaf surface area, dry weight, shoot dry weight, shoot fresh weight, and root dry weight as compared to yields from parent seeds not exposed to UV treatment. The child wheat plants also have a higher number of flowers per plant, increased seed yield, higher weight of fruiting parts, and increased yield in bushels per acre as compared to child wheat plants with parent seeds not treated with UV light.Example 9: Transgenerational trait benefits of UV seed treatment

[0191] Methods: Parent seeds (P) of corn, soybean, rice, ryegrass, Arabidopsis, or tobacco are subjected to UV light treatments. For treatment, UV light wavelengths of about 275 nm to about 310 nm are used in various combinations of one or multiple UV treatments. The child seeds (Cl) are produced from either a single parent seed variety and self-pollinated, or from two parents of a single variety or two varieties to generate a hybrid child seed. All child seeds (Cl) are generated in a controlled environment room. Parent seeds (P) and child seeds (Cl) are evaluated for genetic expression traits.

[0192] Results: The parent (P) and child (Cl) seeds are evaluated for genetic expression traits, including improved or earlier germination, increased seedling vigor, increased crop yield, increased hybrid seed quality, and increased pest tolerance. Genetic expression traits of parent and child seeds are measured with transcriptomic analysis (i.e. RNA sequencing), comparing UV-treated seeds with untreated seeds. Other traits assessed include increased protein content and increased lipid levels as measured by proteomic or lipidomic.Example 10: UV-Treatment of Arabidopsis (Brassica) Parent Seed (P) Increases Child Seed (Cl) Seedling Emergence

[0193] Arabidopsis thaliana (Brassicaceae family) was used as a further test species for cross-generational performance testing.

[0194] Methods: Parent Arabidopsis seed (P) varieties were subjected to UV light treatments, or, as a control, handled identically without UVB exposure. Between six and twelve independent parent plants from parent Arabidopsis seeds (P) were grown per treatment (UV-treated and control). Parent plants were grown to maturity under controlled environmental conditions.

[0195] To measure the cross-generational effects of UV-treatment, child seeds (Cl) were harvested from parent plants and tested for performance traits. The child seeds (Cl) were harvested individually to avoid pooling. Child seeds (Cl) were collected when seed siliques were fully dry but prior to shattering, then air-dried for 3-7 days under low-humidity conditions. After cleaning to remove chaff, the child seeds (Cl) were counted and stored in labelled microtubes at 4 °C in the dark until sowing. The harvested child seeds (Cl) seeds were sown at random in germination trays, and the germination trays were rotated every couple of days to minimize microenvironmental variation. To measure plant performance, seedling emergence percentage was calculated as the proportion of child seeds (Cl) showing seedling emergence at 7-8 days after sowing.

[0196] As a comparison, the same-generation effects of UV-treatment was also measured. Parent Arabidopsis seeds (P) were harvested as described above and sown at random in germination trays. Seedling emergence percentage was calculated as the proportion of parent seeds (P) showing seedling emergence at 7-8 days after sowing.

[0197] Results: In the same-generation study, there was no significant increase in seedling emergence in seedlings grown from UV-treated parent seeds (P) as compared to untreated controls (p > 0.1). Seedlings from UV-treated parent seeds (P) had a 42% emergence rate at day 7, whereas seedlings from untreated parent seeds (P) had a 48% emergence rate (FIG. 8A).

[0198] In the cross-generational study, the seedlings of child seeds (Cl) that were harvested from plants of UV-treated parent seeds (P) showed an 18% increase (p < 0.1) in seedling emergence. When the parent seed (P) received UV-treatment, 78% of child seed (Cl) seedlings emerged by day 8. Comparatively, when the parent seed (P) did not receive UV-treatment, 55% of child seed (Cl) seedlings emerged by day 8 (FIG. 8B).

[0199] In another experiment, UV-parent treated seeds (P) are planted and the child seed (Cl) is harvested. Subsequent generations are planted and harvested (Cl, C2, C3) without being administered UV. At each generation, the seedling emergence percentage is calculated.

[0200] While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described herein, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that such embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerous variations, changes, and substitutions will nowoccur to those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. It should be understood that various alternatives to the embodiments of the invention described herein may be employed in practicing the invention. It is intended that the following claims define the scope of the invention and that methods and structures within the scope of these claims and their equivalents be covered thereby.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat we claim is:

1. A method for increasing a crop yield of a child crop, the method comprising:a) providing an untreated parent crop seed;b) administering light enriched for UV of a wavelength of about 275 nm to about 310 nm to the untreated parent crop seed to produce a treated parent crop seed;c) sowing the treated parent crop seed and growing a parent crop;d) harvesting a child seed from the parent crop;e) sowing the child seed and growing a child crop; andf) harvesting the child crop.

2. A method for increasing a crop yield of a child crop, the method comprising:a) sowing a treated parent crop seed and growing a parent crop, wherein the treated parent crop seed has been treated by administering light enriched for UV of a wavelength of about 275 nm to about 310 nm to an untreated parent crop seed;b) harvesting a child seed from the parent crop;c) sowing the child seed and growing a child crop; andd) harvesting the crop yield from the child crop.

3. A method for increasing a crop yield of a child crop, the method comprising:a) sowing a child seed and growing a child crop,wherein the child seed is grown from a parent crop,wherein the parent crop was grown from a parent seed treated by administering light enriched for UV of a wavelength of about 275 nm to about 310 nm to an untreated parent crop seed; andb) harvesting the crop yield from the child crop.

4. The method of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the crop yield of the child crop is increased as compared to a child crop yield from an untreated parent crop seed.

5. The method of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the crop yield of the child crop is increased as compared to a parent crop yield from a treated parent crop seed.

6. The method of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the increase in crop yield is determined by comparison to the method without administering light enriched for UV of a wavelength of about 275 nm to about 310 nm.

7. The method of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein crop yield is determined by one or more of crop weight, number of crops harvested, Brix content, crop width, crop length, leaf size, leaf surface area, dry weight, nitrogen content, shoot dry weight, shoot fresh weight, root dry weight, vegetable development, nitrogen content, flower per plant, bushels per acre (bu / ac), weight of fruiting parts, total lipid percent, total non- structural carbohydrates, or metabolizable energy.

8. The method of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein crop yield is determined by one or more of crop weight, number of crops harvested, crop width, crop length, dry weight, or bushels per acre (bu / ac).

9. The method of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the crop yield is increased by at least 1%, 2%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or 100%.

10. The method of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein crop yield is increased by about 5% to 100%, by about 10% to 90%, or by about 20% to 80%.

11. The method of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the crop comprises seeds, leaves, roots, stems, flowers, fruits, or vegetables.

12. The method of any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the crop is selected from soybean, lettuce, beans, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, cucumber, melon, onion, peas, peppers, pumpkin, spinach, squash, tomato, watermelon, alfalfa, canola, corn, cotton, sorghum, sugarbeets, wheat, mint, sunflowers, almond, barley, cacao, chickpea, coconut, coffee, fig, grapefruit, garlic, hemp, hops, oats, rice, rye, sugarcane, sweet potato , tobacco, walnut, peanut, vanilla, and quinoa.

13. The method of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the crop is selected from soybean, lettuce, tomato, alfalfa, canola, corn, wheat, oats, rice, rye, and tobacco.

14. The method of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the crop is a hybrid crop.

15. The method of any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the hybrid crop is selected from almond, barley, cacao, chickpea, coconut, corn, coffee, fig, grapefruit, garlic, hemp, hops, oats, rice, rye, sugarcane, sweet potato, tobacco, tomato, walnut, peanut, vanilla, and quinoa.

16. The method of claim 14 or 15, wherein the crop is selected from corn, barley, cacao, coffee, hemp, hops, oats, rice, tobacco, and tomato.

17. The method of any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the crop is a member of the Poaceae family.

18. The method of any one of claims 1 to 17 , wherein the crop is corn.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the untreated parent crop seed is inbred corn.

20. The method of any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the child crop is hybrid corn.

21. The method of any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the expression of a gene or the presence or absence of an epigenetic marker is altered in young plants grown from the treated parent seeds as compared to in young plants grown from the untreated parent seed.

22. The method of any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is altered in young plants grown from the child corn seeds as compared to young plants grown from the treated parent corn seeds.

23. The method of any one of claims 1 to 22, whereini) the expression of a gene or the presence or absence of an epigenetic marker is increased in young plants grown from the treated parent seed as compared to young plants from untreated parent seed;ii) the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is increased in young plants grown from the child seed; optionally whereinthe expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker in young plants grown from the child seed is greater than the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker in young plants grown from treated parent seed.

24. The method of any one of claims 1 to 22, whereini) the expression of a gene or the presence or absence of an epigenetic marker is decreased in young plants grown from the treated parent seed as compared to young plants from untreated parent seed;ii) the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is decreased in young plants grown from the child seed; optionally whereinthe expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker in young plants grown from the child seed is less than the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker in young plants grown from treated parent seed.

25. A method for amplifying the effects of heterosis in a hybrid crop, the method comprising:a) providing two or more varieties of untreated parent seeds;b) administering light enriched for UV of a wavelength of about 275 nm to about 310 nm to at least one variety of untreated parent seeds to produce treated parent seeds;c) sowing the treated parent seeds and optionally untreated parent seeds and growing a hybrid parent crop,wherein the treated parent seeds and optionally untreated parent seeds are placed to allow cross pollination across the two or more varieties;d) harvesting hybrid child seeds from the hybrid parent crop;e) sowing the hybrid child seeds and growing a hybrid child crop; and f) harvesting the hybrid child crop.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein one variety of untreated parent seeds is administered light enriched for UV.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein two varieties of untreated parent seeds are administered light enriched for UV.

28. The method of any one of claims 25 to 27, wherein the hybrid crop is selected from almond, barley, cacao, chickpea, coconut, corn, coffee, fig, grapefruit, garlic, hemp, hops, oats, rice, rye, sugarcane, sweet potato, tobacco, tomato, walnut, peanut, vanilla, and quinoa.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the crop is selected from com, barley, cacao, coffee, hemp, hops, oats, rice, tobacco, and tomato.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the hybrid crop is selected from corn and rice.

31. The method of any one of claims 25 to 30, wherein the effects of heterosis are determined by comparison to the method without administering light enriched for UV of a wavelength of about 275 nm to about 310 nm.

32. The method of any one of claims 25 to 31, wherein the effects of heterosis are determined by comparing the expression of a gene or the presence or absence of an epigenetic marker in young plants grown from one or more of untreated parent seeds, treated parent seeds, and hybrid child seeds.

33. The method of any one of claims 25 to 32, wherein the expression of a gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is altered in young plants grown from the treated parent seed as compared to in young plants grown from the untreated parent seed.

34. The method of any one of claims 25 to 33, wherein the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is altered in young plants grown from the hybrid child seed as compared to in young plants grown from the treated parent seed.

35. The method of any one of claims 25 to 34, wherein the epigenetic marker comprises methylation, acetylation, ubiquitylation, phosphorylation, sumoylation, ribosylation, citrullination, or a combination thereof.

36. The method of any one of claims 25 to 35, wherein the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is altered by from about 1% to about 100%.

37. The method of any one of claims 25 to 36, wherein the effects of heterosis are determined by comparing the crop yield between the hybrid child crop with and without the administering light enriched for UV of a wavelength of about 275 nm to about 310 nm to the untreated parent seeds.

38. The method of any one of claims 25 to 37, wherein the crop yield is increased by at least 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or 100%.

39. The method of any one of claims 25 to 38, wherein crop yield is increased by about 5% to 100%, by about 10% to 90%, or by about 20% to 80%.

40. A method for improving a crop yield, wherein the crop is hybrid corn, the method comprising:a) providing two or more varieties of untreated parent corn seeds; b) administering light enriched for UV of a wavelength of about 275 nm to about 310 nm to at least one variety of the untreated parent corn seeds to produce treated parent corn seeds;c) sowing the treated parent corn seeds and optionally the untreated parent corn seeds and growing a hybrid seed crop,wherein the treated parent com seeds and optionally the untreated parent corn seeds are sown in locations to allow cross pollination across the two or more varieties;d) harvesting hybrid child corn seeds from the parent crop;e) sowing the hybrid child com seeds and growing a hybrid child crop; and f) harvesting the hybrid child crop.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein one variety of untreated parent corn seeds is administered light enriched for UV.

42. The method of claim 40, wherein two varieties of untreated parent com seeds are administered light enriched for UV.

43. The method of any one of claims 40 to 42, wherein the increase in crop yield of the hybrid child crop is determined by comparison to the crop yield of a hybrid child com seed produced by the method without administering light enriched for UV of a wavelength of about 275 nm to about 310 nm to either a) a parent corn seed, b) a hybrid com seed, or c) both.

44. The method of any one of claims 40 to 43, wherein crop yield is increased by at least about 10 bu / ac, about 30 bu / ac, or about 50 bu / ac.

45. The method of any one of claims 40 to 44, wherein crop yield is increased by about 10 to about 150 bu / ac, about 30 to about 100 bu / ac, or about 40 to about 90 bu / ac.

46. The method of any one of claims 40 to 45, wherein crop yield is increased by about 5 to 100%, by about 10 to 90%, or by about 20 to 80%.

47. The method of any one of claims 40 to 46, wherein the expression of a gene or the presence or absence of an epigenetic marker is altered in young plants grown from the treated parent corn seeds as compared to in young plants grown from the untreated parent corn seed.

48. The method of any one of claims 40 to 47, wherein the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is altered in young plants grown from the hybrid child corn seeds as compared to young plants grown from the treated parent corn seeds.

49. The method of any one of claims 40 to 48, wherein the epigenetic marker comprises methylation, acetylation, ubiquitylation, phosphorylation, sumoylation, ribosylation, citrullination, or a combination thereof.

50. The method of any one of claims 40 to 49, wherein the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is altered by from about 1% to about 100%.

51. The method of any one of claims 40 to 50, whereini) the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is increased in young plants grown from the treated parent corn seed as compared to young plants from untreated parent corn seed; andii) the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is increased in young plants grown from the child com seed; optionally wherein theexpression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker in young plants grown from the hybrid child com seed is greater than the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker in young plants grown from treated parent corn seed.

52. The method of any one of claims 40 to 51, whereini) the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is decreased in young plants grown from the treated parent corn seed as compared to young plants from untreated parent corn seed; andii) the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker is decreased in young plants grown from the hybrid child corn seed; optionally wherein iii) the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker in young plants grown from the hybrid child com seed is less than the expression of the gene or the presence or absence of the epigenetic marker in young plants grown from treated parent corn seed.

53. The method of any one of claims 1 to 52, wherein the UV light does not comprise UV-A light.

54. The method of any one of claims 1 to 53, wherein the light enriched for UV comprises UV-B light with wavelengths from 280 nm to 300 nm.

55. The method of any one of claims 1 to 54, wherein the light enriched for UV comprises UV-B light with wavelengths from 280 nm to 290 nm.

56. The method of any one of claims 1 to 55, wherein the light enriched for UV comprises a wavelength peaking at 280 nm.

57. The method of any one of claims 1 to 56, wherein the light enriched for UV comprises a wavelength peaking at 284 nm.

58. The method of any one of claims 1 to 57, wherein the dosage of UV is in a range of about 0.3 kJ m-2to about 3.0 kJ m-2, about 2.0 kJ m-2to about 12.0 kJ m-2, about 0.1 kJ m-2to about 1.0 kJ m-2, about 2 kJ m-2to about 10 kJ m-2, or about 1.2 kJ m-2to about 7 kJ m-2.

59. The method of any one of claims 1 to 57, wherein the dosage of UV is about 0.1 kJ m-2, about 0.2 kJ m-2, about 0.3 kJ m-2, about 0.4 kJ m-2, about 0.5 kJ m-2, about 0.6 kJ m-2, about 0.7 kJ m-2, about 0.8 kJ m-2, about 0.9 kJ m-2, or about 1.0 kJ m-2.

60. The method of any one of claims 1 to 59, wherein a duration of administering UV is from 0.5 to 60 minutes, 1 to 30 minutes, 1 to 20 minutes, or 3 to 15 minutes.

61. The method of any one of claims 1 to 60, wherein a duration of administering UV is at least 10 hours, at least 15 hours, at least 20 hours, at least 25 hours, or at least 30 hours.

62. The method of any one of claims 1 to 60, wherein a duration of administering UV is at least 1 day or at least 14 days.

63. The method of any one of claims 1 to 60, wherein a duration of administering UV is about 1 day, about 2 days, about 3 days, about 4 days, about 5 days, about 6 days, or about 7 days.

64. The method of any one of claims 1 to 63, wherein the child seed is not administered light.

65. A plant comprising an alteration in at least one epigenetic marker, wherein the change is at least 10% as compared to an untreated parent seed.

66. The plant of claim 65, wherein the at least one epigenetic marker comprises methylation, acetylation, ubiquitylation, phosphorylation, sumoylation, ribosylation, citrullination, or a combination thereof.

67. The plant of claim 65 or 66, comprising an alteration in at least two epigenetic markers, at least three epigenetic markers, at least four epigenetic markers, at least five epigenetic markers, at least six epigenetic markers, at least seven epigenetic markers, at least eight epigenetic markers, at least nine epigenetic markers, or at least ten epigenetic markers.

68. The plant of any one of claims 65 to 67, wherein the plant is derived from a child seed derived from a treated parent seed and the at least one epigenetic marker is altered as compared to the levels in an untreated parent plant, the levels in a plant derived from a child seed that is derived from an untreated parent seed, or the levels in a treated parent plant.

69. The plant of any one of claims 65 to 68, wherein the plant is a seed.

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