• Horticultural Science & Technology
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.596-606
• /
• 2016

The growth and contents of anthocyanins and ascorbic acid in lettuce(Lactuca sativa L., 'Jeokchima') as affected by supplemental UV-A LED irradiation under different light quality and photoperiod conditions were analyzed in this study. Five light qualities, namely B (blue LED), R (red LED), BUV (blue LED+UV-A LED), RUV (red LED+UV-A LED) and Control (white fluorescent lamps) with photoperiods of 12/12 hours (day/night), 16/8 hours, or 20/4 hours were provided to investigate the effects of light quality and photoperiod on the growth and accumulation of anthocyanins and ascorbic acid in lettuce leaves. As measured 28 days after transplanting, the number of leaves, leaf length, leaf width, leaf area, shoot fresh weight and dry weight of lettuce were significantly affected by light quality and photoperiod. The number of leaves, leaf length, leaf width, leaf area, shoot fresh weight and dry weight of lettuce grown under R treatment increased with increasing light period. By contrast, leaf development was inhibited, but chlorophyll content increased, under B treatment. Supplemental UV-A irradiation significantly decreased leaf length, leaf width, leaf area and shoot fresh weight. Anthocyanins in lettuce increased significantly with decreasing dark period under B treatment. A synergistic effect of supplemental UV-A LED irradiation on anthocyanins accumulation was found for lettuce leaves grown under R treatment but not B treatment. Ascorbic acid in lettuce was greatly affected by photoperiod. Ascorbic acid content at BUV and RUV treatments increased by 20-30% compared to without UV-A LED irradiation. From these results, it was concluded that growth and contents of anthocyanins and ascorbic acid in lettuce are significantly affected by supplemental UV-A LED irradiation. The results obtained in this study will be informative for efforts to improve the nutritional value of leafy vegetables grown in plant factories.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
• /
• v.53 no.1
• /
• pp.13-21
• /
• 2019

This study was carried out to acquire basic data for a long-term hydroponic culture through investigating water and inorganic ion uptake characteristics at different EC level of nutrient solution of three tomato varieties. Three different tomato varieties, the European type(cv. Daphnis), the Asian type(cv. Super Doterang) and cherry type(cv. Minichal), were used for the investigation. Also, the deep flow technique(DFT) was applied. The three different electrical conductivity(EC) level(1.0, 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 dS·m-1) of hydroponic nutrient solution were used as variable. At a high EC level of nutrient solution, the leaf area and fresh weight decreased in the early stage, and its growth(plant height, leaf number, leaf area, fresh-weight) was poor with salt stress. Result showed that the higher the EC level of the nutrient solution, the lesser was water uptake. The water uptake was not significantly different from varieties in the first survey, but In the second survey, the 'Daphnis' did not show a significant decrease in water uptake in the EC level higher than 2.0 dS·m-1., on the other hand, 'Super Doterang' presented very low water uptake. At a low EC level, N, P, and K, were absorbed more than the concentration of the irrigation water, while Ca, Mg, S uptake were low. At a high EC level, almost ions absorbed less than 50% of the initial concentration of irrigation water. Thus, imbalance among ions was severe at low EC level compared to high EC level. 'Daphnis' was a variety that effectively utilize nutrients under nutrient stress, showing high absorption at low concentration condition and low absorption at high concentration condition. However, 'Daphnis' suffered most seriously by absorbing nutrients excessively.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.193-200
• /
• 2013

BACKGROUND: Plant factory system of an artificial light type using Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs), fluorescent light, or metal halide lamp instead of sun light is an ultimated method for plant production without any pesticides regardless of seasonal changes. The plant factory is also completely isolated from outside environmental conditions such as a light, temperature, or humidity compared to conventional greenhouse. Light-environment control such as a quality or quantity in the plant factory system is essential for improving the growth and development of plant species. However, there was little report that the effects of various light qualities provided by LEDs on Ledebouriella seseloides growth under the plant factory system. METHODS AND RESULTS: Ledebouriella seseloides seedlings transplanted at urethane sponge were grown in the plant factory system of a horizontal type with LED artificial lights for 90 days. Yamazaki solution for hydroponic culture of the seedlings was regularly irrigated by the deep flow technique (DFT) system on the culture gutters. Electrical Conductivity (EC) and pH of the solution was recorded at 1.4 ds/m and 5.8 in average, respectively during the experimental period. Number of unfolded leaves, leaf length, shoot fresh and dry weight of the seedlings were three times measured in every 30 days after beginning of the experiment. Blue LEDs, red LEDs, and fluorescent lights inside the plant factory were used as light sources. Conventional fluorescent lamps were considered as a control. In all the treatment, light intensity was maintained at $100{\mu}mol/m^2/s$ on the culture bed. Fresh weight of the seedlings was 3.7 times greater in the treatment with the mixture radiation of fluorescent light and blue+red LEDs (1:3 in energy ratio; Treatment FLBR13) than in fluorescent light treatment (Treatment FL). In FLBR13 treatment, dry weight per seedling was two times greater than in FL or BR11 treatment of blue+red LEDs (1:3 in energy ratio; Treatment BR11) during the culture period. Increasing in number of unfolded leaves was also significantly affected by the FLBR13 treatment comparing with BR11 treatment. CONCLUSION(S): Hydroponic culture of Ledebouriella seseloides seedlings was successfully achieved in the plant factory system with mixture lights of blue, red LEDs and fluorescent lights. Shoot growth of the seedlings was significantly promoted by the FLBR13 with the mixture radiation of fluorescent light, blue, and red LEDs under 1:3 mixture ratio of blue and red LEDs during the experimental period compared to conventional light conditions.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.311-316
• /
• 2011

This study aimed to determine the effect of EC (electrical conductivity) levels of nutrient solution in hydroponic culture on allyl-isothiocyanate (AITC) content within plant tissues, Vitamin C content and physiological responses in wasabi plant (Wasabia japonica M. 'Darma'). The 'Darma' was grown for 5 weeks with a deep flow technique (DFT) system controlled at 5 different EC levels, including 0.5, 1, 2, 3, and $5dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$. In result, the highest total content of AITC showed at EC level 5 and $3dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ for 1 or 5- week, respectively. The total content of AITC increased about 1.2-1.4 times when the plants were grown in the EC levels between 0.5 and $2dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$, whereas the content decreased about 6 and 56 % in the EC level 3 and $5dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$, respectively. The content of AITC was relatively higher in petiole tissue, about 53 %, taken from 1 week-grown plants when the EC was controlled between 0.5 and $2dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$. Root tissue also had relatively higher content of AITC, about 45.1 %, when the EC was controlled at 3 and $5dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$. However, a 5-fold decrease in the AITC content was found in blade tissue and a 6.8-fold decrease in root when the EC was controlled at $5dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ for 5 weeks. There was no significant difference in the vitamin C content in 1-week grown leaf tissues under the different EC level treatments; but, the content increased about 27% in 5-week grown plants at the EC level between 0.5 and $2dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$, compared to the 1 week-grown leaf tissue. Electrolyte leakage of leaf tissue taken from 3-week grown plant was 3-fold higher at the EC level $5dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$, compared to the EC level between 0.5 and $2dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$. Chlorophyll content, photosynthesis rate and transpiration rate were decreased when the EC was controlled at higher than $2dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$. Leaf water content, specific leaf area and growth were decreased when the EC was controlled at $5dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ for 5 weeks. All the integrated results in this study suggest that the EC level of nutrient solution should be maintained at lower than $3dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ in order to improve nutritional value and quantity required for hydroponically grown wasabi as functional vegetable.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.386-392
• /
• 2017

This study was conducted to examine the growth and phytochemical contents of spinach (Spinacia Oleracea L. 'Sushiro') as affected by different fluorescent lamps in a closed-type plant production system. Seeds were sown in a 128-cell plug tray filled in rockwool. The seedlings were transplanted into a DFT (deep floating technique) system with recycling nutrient solution (EC $1.5dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ and pH 6.5) in a closed-type plant production system. The seedlings were grown under 3 types of fluorescent lamp, #S (NBFHF 32S8EX-D, CH LIGHTING Co. Ltd., China), #O (FHF32SSEX-D, Osram Co. Ltd., Germany), and #P (FLR32SS EX-D, Philips Co. Ltd., The Netherlands) at $150{\mu}mol{\cdot}m-2{\cdot}s^{-1}\;PPFD$ with a photoperiod of 14/10 (light/dark) hours. Plants were cultured under condition of $25{\pm}1^{\circ}C$ temperature and $60{\pm}10%$ relative humidity after transplanting. Thirty plants per each treatment were cultivated for $6^{th}$ week after transplanting. And growth and phytochemical contents were measured at $3^{rd}$ and $6^{th}$ week. At the $3^{rd}$ week after transplanting, the parameter values of plant height and leaf width were higher in the #O than the others. However, fresh and dry weights of root were the greatest in the #P. In addition, total phenolic concentration was the greatest in the #P. At $6^{th}$ week after transplanting, the #O had the greatest growth of spinach in the plant height and fresh and dry weights of shoot. The total phenolic contents significantly increased in the #O and showed significantly difference. However, there was no significant difference all treatments in antioxidant activity. Therefore, these results suggest that the #O was suitable for the growth and phytochemical accumulation of spinach in a closed-type plant production system.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.38 no.4
• /
• pp.225-236
• /
• 2019

BACKGROUND: Hydroponics is one of the methods for evaluating plant production using the inorganic nutrient solutions, which is applied under the artificial light conditions of plant factory system. However, the application of the conventional inorganic nutrients for hydroponics caused several environmental problems: waste from culture mediums and high nitrate concentration in plants. Organic nutrients are generally irrigated as a supplementary fertilizer for plant growth promotion under field or greenhouse conditions. Hydroponic culture using organic nutrients derived from the agricultural by-products such as dumped stems, leaves or immature fruits is rarely considered in plant factory system. Effect of organic or conventional inorganic nutrient solutions on the growth and nutrient absorption pattern of green and red leaf lettuces was investigated in this experiment under fluorescent lamps (FL) and mixture Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs). METHODS AND RESULTS: Single solution of tomatoes (TJ) and kales (K) deriving from agricultural by-products including leaves or stems and its mixed solution (mixture ration 1:1) with conventional inorganic Yamazaki (Y) were supplied for hydroponics under the plant factory system. The Yamazaki solution was considered as a control. 'Jeockchima' and 'Cheongchima' lettuce seedlings (Lactuca sativa L.) were used as plant materials. The seedlings which developed 2~3 true leaves were grown under the light qualities of FL and mixed LED lights of blue plus red plus white of 1:2:1 mixture in energy ratio for 35 days. Light intensity of the light sources was controlled at 180 μmol/㎡/s on the culture bed. The single and mixture nutrient solutions of organic and/or inorganic components which controlled at 1.5 dS/m EC and 5.8 pH were regularly irrigated by the deep flow technique (DFT) system on the culture gutters. Number of unfolded leaves of the seedlings grown under the single or mixed nutrient solutions were significantly increased compared to the conventional Y treatment. Leaf extension of 'Jeockchima' under the mixture LED radiation condition was not affected by Y and YK or YTJ mixture treatments. SPAD value in 'Jeockchima' leaves exposed by FL under the YK mixture medium was approximately 45 % higher than under conventional Y treatment. Otherwise, the maximum SPAD value in the leaves of 'Cheongchima' seedlings was shown in YK treatment under the mixture LED lights. NO₃-N contents in Y treatment treated with inorganic nutrient at the end of the experiment were up to 75% declined rather than increased over 60 % in the K and TJ organic treatment. CONCLUSION: Growth of the seedlings was affected by the mixture treatments of the organic and inorganic solutions, although similar or lower dry weight was recorded than in the inorganic treatment Y under the plant factory system. Treatment Y containing the highest NO₃-N content among the considered nutrients influenced growth increment of the seedlings comparing to the other nutrients. However effect of the higher NO₃-N content in the seedling growth was different according to the light qualities considered in the experiment as shown in leaf expansion, pigmentation or dry weight promotion under the single or mixed nutrients.