Temperature and Light Spectrum Differently Affect Growth, Morphology, and Leaf Mineral Content of Two Indoor-Grown Leafy Vegetables

This study was carried out to determine the effect of three commercial LEDs of different spectra with or without far red (FR) photons on the growth, morphology, and mineral content of two leafy vegetables under two temperatures (30 °C and 21 °C). The two leafy greens were ‘Cegolaine’ lettuce (<i&...

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Main Authors: Yun Kong, Joseph Masabni, Genhua Niu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-03-01
Series:Horticulturae
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/9/3/331
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author Yun Kong
Joseph Masabni
Genhua Niu
author_facet Yun Kong
Joseph Masabni
Genhua Niu
author_sort Yun Kong
collection DOAJ
description This study was carried out to determine the effect of three commercial LEDs of different spectra with or without far red (FR) photons on the growth, morphology, and mineral content of two leafy vegetables under two temperatures (30 °C and 21 °C). The two leafy greens were ‘Cegolaine’ lettuce (<i>Lactuca sativa</i>) and ‘Petite Star’ pak choy (<i>Brassica rapa</i> subsp. <i>Chinensis</i>). In each temperature, there were three light spectra: red and blue LED, and white LED with or without FR. All spectra of lights were adjusted to a total photon flux density of 250 μmol m<sup>−2</sup> s<sup>−1</sup> at the top of the plant canopy. Results indicated that temperature treatment had a significant influence on most measured parameters. When temperature increased from 21 to 30 °C, lettuce shoot fresh and dry weights increased by 30% and 53%, respectively, while those of pak choy increased by approximately 22%. For both species, plants at high temperature had a larger leaf area but lower mineral content compared to those at low temperature. The spectrum treatment had a minor or no effect on the measured traits. In conclusion, the 5% FR did not impact the yield or biomass of either crop and the plant responses to spectra varied with temperature and species. The two temperatures resulted in significant differences in growth, morphology, and leaf mineral content in both species.
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spelling doaj.art-4d315155d2084c398c9366bfc52deef22023-11-17T11:24:12ZengMDPI AGHorticulturae2311-75242023-03-019333110.3390/horticulturae9030331Temperature and Light Spectrum Differently Affect Growth, Morphology, and Leaf Mineral Content of Two Indoor-Grown Leafy VegetablesYun Kong0Joseph Masabni1Genhua Niu2Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension at Dallas Center, Dallas, TX 75252, USATexas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension at Dallas Center, Dallas, TX 75252, USATexas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension at Dallas Center, Dallas, TX 75252, USAThis study was carried out to determine the effect of three commercial LEDs of different spectra with or without far red (FR) photons on the growth, morphology, and mineral content of two leafy vegetables under two temperatures (30 °C and 21 °C). The two leafy greens were ‘Cegolaine’ lettuce (<i>Lactuca sativa</i>) and ‘Petite Star’ pak choy (<i>Brassica rapa</i> subsp. <i>Chinensis</i>). In each temperature, there were three light spectra: red and blue LED, and white LED with or without FR. All spectra of lights were adjusted to a total photon flux density of 250 μmol m<sup>−2</sup> s<sup>−1</sup> at the top of the plant canopy. Results indicated that temperature treatment had a significant influence on most measured parameters. When temperature increased from 21 to 30 °C, lettuce shoot fresh and dry weights increased by 30% and 53%, respectively, while those of pak choy increased by approximately 22%. For both species, plants at high temperature had a larger leaf area but lower mineral content compared to those at low temperature. The spectrum treatment had a minor or no effect on the measured traits. In conclusion, the 5% FR did not impact the yield or biomass of either crop and the plant responses to spectra varied with temperature and species. The two temperatures resulted in significant differences in growth, morphology, and leaf mineral content in both species.https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/9/3/331far red photonindoor farminglight interceptionshoot biomass
spellingShingle Yun Kong
Joseph Masabni
Genhua Niu
Temperature and Light Spectrum Differently Affect Growth, Morphology, and Leaf Mineral Content of Two Indoor-Grown Leafy Vegetables
Horticulturae
far red photon
indoor farming
light interception
shoot biomass
title Temperature and Light Spectrum Differently Affect Growth, Morphology, and Leaf Mineral Content of Two Indoor-Grown Leafy Vegetables
title_full Temperature and Light Spectrum Differently Affect Growth, Morphology, and Leaf Mineral Content of Two Indoor-Grown Leafy Vegetables
title_fullStr Temperature and Light Spectrum Differently Affect Growth, Morphology, and Leaf Mineral Content of Two Indoor-Grown Leafy Vegetables
title_full_unstemmed Temperature and Light Spectrum Differently Affect Growth, Morphology, and Leaf Mineral Content of Two Indoor-Grown Leafy Vegetables
title_short Temperature and Light Spectrum Differently Affect Growth, Morphology, and Leaf Mineral Content of Two Indoor-Grown Leafy Vegetables
title_sort temperature and light spectrum differently affect growth morphology and leaf mineral content of two indoor grown leafy vegetables
topic far red photon
indoor farming
light interception
shoot biomass
url https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/9/3/331
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AT josephmasabni temperatureandlightspectrumdifferentlyaffectgrowthmorphologyandleafmineralcontentoftwoindoorgrownleafyvegetables
AT genhuaniu temperatureandlightspectrumdifferentlyaffectgrowthmorphologyandleafmineralcontentoftwoindoorgrownleafyvegetables