• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.481-487
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to provide safety management information by analyzing the survival and growth-related properties of foodborne pathogens from Romaine lettuce. After cultivating E. coli O157:H7 for 72 h on Romain lettuce via spray inoculation, the bacteria population increased by 2.0 log CFU/g from the initial population, confirming the possibility of survival and multiplication of the pathogen thereon. The study also revealed that there is no significant difference in the cultivation of E.coli O157:H7 after 72 h from inoculation on damaged and undamaged lettuce leaves. As a result of investigating distribution of E.coli O157:H7 on damaged lettuce leaves, it was found that the bacteria is unlikely to adhere on the smooth surface of undamaged leaves and, thus, results in a low population density, whereas the bacteria cluster on the rough surface of damaged leaves and easily enter through the damaged tissues. Furthermore, after 24 h of cultivation of the pathogenic microbe in the extract with concentrations of 10-100%, utilization of the lettuce extract by the pathogen was found to be 8.9 log CFU/mL E. coli O157:H7, 8.6 log CFU/mL L. monocytogenes, and 8.8 log CFU/mL P. carotovorum. The increase in the population of both the pathogenic microbe and foodborne pathogen reached over 4 log CFU/mL, implying the microbe can utilize the lettuce extract as a source of nutrition. Compared to the initial inoculation concentration in 0.1% lettuce extract, the final concentration has increased up to 2.7 log CFU/mL E. coli O157:H7, 1.3 log CFU/mL L. monocytogenes, and 2.9 log CFU/mL P. carotovorum. Accordingly, the study confirms that the minimal growth concentration of the pathogenic microbe is lower than 0.1% and that the pathogen possibly survive and multiply inside the lettuce leaves given the lettuce extract with concentration of 0.1% is consistently supplied through the damaged tissues.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.27-33
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• 2016

This study investigated the effect of heat treatments on the quality characteristics of fresh-cut 'Romaine' lettuce by treating in hot water (45, 50, and $55^{\circ}C$) for 2 minutes. Sensory properties, respiration rate, ethylene production, microbial growth, browning index, total phenolics (TP), vitamin C, and antioxidant properties (DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays) of samples were evaluated after 5 days at $5^{\circ}C$. All heat treatment conditions tested in this study did not affect the change in TP after storage. Treatment at $45^{\circ}C$ enhanced respiration rate and ethylene production wheres decreased vitamin C content and antioxidant activities. There was no significant difference in browning index at $45^{\circ}C$ treatment. The rapid tissue softening occurred when treated with $55^{\circ}C$ hot water for 2 minutes. The $50^{\circ}C$ heat treatments exhibited the best quality index including texture and color, and inhibited microbial growth and browning after storage. In addition, the $50^{\circ}C$ heat treatment showed the highest vitamin C content and antioxidant activities (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP assay) after storage. Therefore, the $50^{\circ}C$ heat treatment can be used to maintain quality and antioxidant property of fresh-cut 'Romain' lettuce.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.77-84
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• 2021

This study attempted to find a way to maintain the quality of mixing baby wild leaf vegetables with existing baby leaf vegetables in various ratios. The crops for mixing baby leaf vegetables were Peucedanum japoincum Thunberg and Ligularia stenocephala, as wild vegetables, and red romaine, which is widely used in young leafy vegetables. The mixing ratio of red romaine and wild vegetables was red romaine 0: mantilla oil 5: L. stenocephala ratio 5 (R0: P5: L5), red romaine 3.3: P. japoincum 3.3: L. stenocephala ratio 3.3 (R3.3: P3.3: L3.3), red romaine 5: P. japoincum 2.5: L. stenocephala 2.5 (R5: P2.5: L2.5), red romaine 8: P. japoincum 1: L. stenocephala 1 (R8: P1: L1), red romaine 10: P. japoincum 0: L. stenocephala 0 (R10: P0: L0). All treatments were packaged in OTR (oxygen transmittance) 10,000 cc m-2·day-1·atm-1 film and stored for 27 days at 2℃/85% RH conditions. Fresh weight, carbon dioxide, oxygen, and ethylene concentrations of the baby leaf packages were examined approximately every 3 days, and visual quality, chlorophyll content, and chromaticity were examined on the 27th day of storage. The oxygen and carbon dioxide concentration in the packages were affected by the respiration rate of the crop. As the mixing ratio of lettuce, which had a low respiration rate, increased, the oxygen concentration in the packages was higher and the carbon dioxide concentration was lower. Oxygen concentration decreased significantly after 15 days, but was remained above 16%, and on the contrary, carbon dioxide concentration was kept at 1-4% until the 15th, and then gradually increased to 2-5% on the 27th day. The concentration of ethylene was maintained at 3-6 µL·L-1 until the end of storage (27th day). Visual quality score measured at the end of storage was slightly less than 3.0, which is the limit of marketability of all treatments. Although there was no significant difference, the chlorophyll content (SPAD) of red romaine and P. japoincum were most similar with an initial value in R8:P1:1 treatment, and L. stenocephala was higher value in R8:P1:L1 and R5:P2.5:L2.5 treatments at the end of storage. The leaf color (L∗, a∗, b∗, chroma) of the three crops at end of storage compared with the heat map showed the least change in the R5:P2.5:L2.5 and R8:P1:L1 treatments at the end of storage. Among them, R8:P1:L1 treatment maintained the highest chlorophyll content, the second lowest ethylene concentration, and adequate carbon dioxide concentration of 2-3%. Therefore, it is judged that the mixed ratio of red romaine 8: P. japoincum 1: L. stenocephala 1 (R8: P1: L1) is most suitable for the mixed package of baby leaf vegetables of these three crops.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.268-275
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• 2017

The photosynthetic rates of crops depend on growth environment factors, such as light intensity and temperature, and their photosynthetic efficiencies vary with growth stage. The objective of this study was to compare two different models expressing canopy photosynthetic rates of romaine lettuce (Lactuca sativa L., cv. Asia Heuk romaine) using three variables of light intensity, temperature, and growth stage. The canopy photosynthetic rates of the plants were measured 4, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after transplanting at closed acrylic chambers ($1.0{\times}0.8{\times}0.5m$) using light-emitting diodes, in which indoor temperature and light intensity were designed to change from 19 to $28^{\circ}C$ and 50 to $500{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$, respectively. At an initial $CO_2$ concentration of $2,000{\mu}mol{\cdot}mol^{-1}$, the canopy photosynthetic rate began to be calculated with $CO_2$ decrement over time. A simple multiplication model expressed by simply multiplying three single-variable models and a modified rectangular hyperbola model were compared. The modified rectangular hyperbola model additionally included photochemical efficiency, carboxylation conductance, and dark respiration which vary with temperature and growth stage. In validation, $R^2$ value was 0.849 in the simple multiplication model, while it increased to 0.861 in the modified rectangular hyperbola model. It was found that the modified rectangular hyperbola model was more suitable than the simple multiplication model in expressing the canopy photosynthetic rates affected by environmental factors (light Intensity and temperature) and growth factor (growth stage) in plant factory modules.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.77-83
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• 2016

The measurement of total fresh weight of plants provides an essential indicator of crop growth for monitoring production. To measure fresh weight without damaging the vegetation, image-based methods have been developed, but they have limitations. In addition, the total plant fresh weight is difficult to measure directly in hydroponic cultivation systems because of the amount of nutrient solution. This study aimed to develop a real-time, precise method to measure the total fresh weight of Romaine lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. cv. Asia Heuk Romaine) with growth stage in a plant factory using a nutrient film technique. The total weight of the channel, amount of residual nutrient solution in the channel, and fresh shoot and root weights of the plants were measured every 7 days after transplanting. The initial weight of the channel during nutrient solution supply (Wi) and its weight change per second just after the nutrient solution supply stopped were also measured. When no more draining occurred, the final weight of the channel (Ws) and the amount of residual nutrient solution in the channel were measured. The time constant (${\tau}$) was calculated by considering the transient values of Wi and Ws. The relationship of Wi, Ws, ${\tau}$, and fresh weight was quantitatively analyzed. After the nutrient solution supply stopped, the change in the channel weight exponentially decreased. The nutrient solution in the channel slowly drained as the root weight in the channel increased. Large differences were observed between the actual fresh weight of the plant and the predicted value because the channel included residual nutrient solution. These differences were difficult to predict with growth stage but a model with the time constant showed the highest accuracy. The real-time fresh weight could be calculated from Wi, Ws, and ${\tau}$ with growth stage.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.97-105
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• 2023

Concentration of nitrogen, one of the major elements, and ratio of two nitrogen forms (NH₄⁺ and NO₃^-) in the nutrient solution affect the quality and food safety of fresh vegetable produce. This study was conducted to find an appropriate strength and NH₄⁺:NO₃^- ratio of a nutrient solution for growth and development of a Romaine lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. longiflora) 'Caesar Green', a representative leafy vegetable, grown in a home hydroponic system. In the first experiment, plants were grown using three types of nutrient solution: A commercial nutrient solution (Peters) and two strengths (GNU1 and GNU2) of a multipurpose nutrient solution (GNU solution) developed in a Gyeongsang National University lab. Plants grown with the GNU1 and GNU2 had greater shoot length, leaf length and width, and biomass yield than Peters. On the other hand, the root hairs of plants grown with Peters were short and dark in color. Tissue NH₄⁺ content in the Peters was higher than that of the GNU1 and GNU2. The higher contents of NH₄⁺ in this solution may have caused ammonium toxicity. In the second experiment, eight treatment solutions, combining GNU1 and GNU2 solutions with four ratios of NO₃^- :NH₄⁺ named as 1, 2, 3 and 4 were used. Both experiments showed more growth in the GNU2 group, which had a relatively low ionic strength of the nutrient solution. The growth of Romaine lettuce showed the greatest fresh weight along with low tissue NO₃^- content in the GNU2-2. This was more advantageous in terms of food safety in that it suppressed the accumulation of surplus NO₃^- in tissues due to the low ionic trength of the GNU2 subgroup. In addition, this is preferable in that it can reduce the absolute amount of the input of inorganic nutrients to the nutrient solution.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.628-635
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• 2014

The large amount of $CO_2$ emitted from mushrooms during incubation and developmental stages can be utilized in plant production systems as a $CO_2$ source. The objectives of this study were to measure the $CO_2$ emission and absorption rates of mushroom and lettuce, respectively, and to analyze the $CO_2$ concentrations at various ratios of mushroom and lettuce in a closed production system. The $CO_2$ emission rate of king oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus eryngii ( DC.) Qu$\acute{e}$l) and $CO_2$ absorption rate of lettuces (Lactuca sativa L. cv. Asia Heuk Romaine) were measured by using two closed acryl chambers ($1.0m{\times}0.8m{\times}0.5m$) in which indoor temperatures were maintained at $18^{\circ}C$ and $22^{\circ}C$, respectively. The lettuce was grown at a light intensity of PPF $340mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$ and with nutrient solution at EC $1.2dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$. The air was periodically circulated between the two chambers using a diaphragm pump. The $CO_2$ emission rate of the mushroom increased until the $15^{th}$ day after scratching (DAS) and then decreased. The rate also increased with increased indoor temperature. In particular, the $CO_2$ emission rate per fresh weight of fruit body increased by about 3.1 times after thinning compared to before thinning. In terms of $CO_2$ balance, the $CO_2$ emission rates from a bottle (950 mL) of the mushroom at 9, 12, and 14 DAS were equivalent to those of 3, 4.5, and 5.5 lettuce plants at 7, 10, and 12 DAT (days after transplanting), respectively. This work shows that balance in $CO_2$ concentration could be achieved using an appropriate ratio of the two crops in a closed production system.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.132-139
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• 2018

The photosynthetic rate is an indicator of the growth state and growth rate of crops and is an important factor in constructing efficient production systems. The objective of this study was to develop a canopy photosynthetic rate model of romaine lettuce using the three variables of $CO_2$ concentration, light intensity, and growth stage. The canopy photosynthetic rates of the lettuce were measured at five different $CO_2$ concentrations ($600-2,200{\mu}mol{\cdot}mol^{-1}$), five light intensities ($60-340{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$), and four growth stages (5-20 days after transplanting) in three closed acrylic chambers ($1.0{\times}0.8{\times}0.5m$). A simple multiplication model expressed by multiplying three single-variable models and the modified rectangular hyperbola model including photochemical efficiency, carboxylation conductance, and dark respiration, which vary with growth stage, were also considered. In validation, the $R^2$ value was 0.923 in the simple multiplication model, while it was 0.941 in the modified rectangular hyperbola model. The modified rectangular hyperbola model appeared to be more appropriate than the simple multiplication model in expressing canopy photosynthetic rates. The model developed in this study will contribute to the determination of an optimal $CO_2$ concentration and light intensity with the growth stage of lettuce in plant factories.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.314-321
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• 2007

This study was conducted to select leaf vegetables suitable for cultivation in apartment verandas and simple and easy fertigation method for home gardening. In order to develop the convenient fertigation method, hydroponics, wick irrigation, and overhead irrigation methods were compared. For the wick irrigation, two types of nutrient sources were used; one was slow release fertilizers mixed with medium and the other one was nutrient solution filled in container located under pots. The growth of leafy lettuce, leaf mustard, and leaf beet was better in both of the wick irrigation methods rather than in overhead irrigation and hydroponics. The wick irrigation method is very easy, so that it is expected to bring a good result from the cultivating and managing point of view, if it brings with commercialized system along with slow release fertilizer. As a result of investigation of environment such as temperature, relative humidity, and irradiance level in apartment verandas in autumn the highest irradiance level during a day was just 48% and 35% in verandas facing south and feeing southeast, respectively, comparing to that in greenhouse. The light environment was investigated as a limiting factor for vegetable growing in verandas. Therefore, to select the vegetables showing good growth under low irradiance environment, nine leaf vegetables such as romaine lettuce, lent lettuce, head lettuce, endive, pak-choi, leaf mustard, garland chrysanthemum, leaf beet, and Chinese chive were grown under 0%, 50%, 70%, 90% shading. Among them, Chinese chive showed the best growth under low irradiance levels. Endive showed line growth reduction according to shading degree, however, even under 90% shading condition, it showed good growth. And then leafy lettuce, garland chrysanthemum, and pak-choi followed. Therefore, these results will be of help in selecting vegetables for veranda gardening with different light levels.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.208-213
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• 2020

Burkholderia contaminans PSB-A and Burkholderia ambifaria PSB-B were isolated from button mushroom bed to estimate their phosphate solubility. The phosphate-solubilizing abilities of these strains were assessed by measuring the phosphorus content in a single and co-inoculation medium for 7 days. The co-inoculation of these two strains released the highest content of soluble phosphorus (166.3 ㎍ mL^-1) into the medium, followed by single inoculation of B. contaminans PSB-A (143.73 ㎍ mL^-1) and B. ambifaria PSB-B (127.1 ㎍ mL^-1). The highest pH reduction, organic acid production, and glucose consumption were also observed in the co-inoculation medium. According to the plant growth promotion bioassay, co-inoculation enhanced the growth of romaine lettuce much more than the single inoculation (20.4% for leaf widths and 16.6% for root lengths). Although no significant difference was noted between single and co-inoculation of bacterial strains in terms of phosphorous release and plant growth, co-inoculation of PSB may have a beneficial effect on crop growth due to a synergistic effect between the strains.