• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.351-359
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• 2010

To establish the optimum artificial light illumination method for baby leaf lettuce in closed plant factory system, the effects of red/blue light quality and short-term light quality conversion on growth and anthocyanin content were investigated. The growth of 'Hongha' lettuce was most favorable under red single wavelength LED light after 23 days of treatment, sequentially followed by the growth under red/blue mixed light, blue light, and fluorescent light. Total anthocyanin content in the mixed red/blue light (R57-B43) was 4.1-fold and 6.9-fold increased compared to the red LED and fluorescent light, respectively. With increasing the blue light ratio to 43%, the growth of lettuce was significantly decreased, while the relative chlorophyll content and Hunter's $a^*$ value was increased, indicating that the red/blue light ratio inversely affects on growth and anthocyanin pigment development. By changing light quality from red to red/blue mixed light source (R57-B43) for 9 days before harvest, the growth rate decreased compared to the continuous red light illumination, while the anthocyanin content dramatically increased compared to either red LED or fluorescent light. Whereas, when the light source was changed to red light, the growth rate was increased but anthocyanin content was reversely decreased. The result demonstrated that both growth and anthocyanin expression could be effectively regulated by shifting of light quality between red and red/blue mixed light source at a specific growth stage of lettuce in a plant factory.