• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.510-516
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• 2001

Hydroponic cultivation is a technology of raising crops without use of soil. Generally farmers use the method of DFT(deep flow technology)to grow leafy or fruity vegetables; however, systematic and scientific researches are insufficient on this matter. This study investigated the possibility of cultivating Chinese cabbage steadily year long by using the method of DFT. Chinese cabbage was cultivated hydroponically with and without Ge addition, used to prepare kimchi, and the chemical and microbiological characteristics of kimchi were compared. The basic hydroponic cultivation condition was as follows: 30 days after seeding, the raised seeds were moved to a hydroponic bed and given underground water for 3 days so the roots grow normally Standard nutrient solution was provided and the early electric conductivity concentration was maintained between 1.5∼2.5 thickness. The temperature of the solution was maintained between 10 ∼25$^{\circ}C$ to allow the growth of Chinese cabbage. When soil-cultivated, organically cultivated and hydroponically cultivated Chinese cabbages were compared, hydroponically cultivated cabbages were smaller in size and showed less ability to build up and fold leaves into a head, but showed better quality than organically cultivated cabbages. The contents of protein and fat showed no significant differences. The contents of water. Ca, P, Fe, Vitamin A and Niacin were higher in control and Ge-added cabbages compared with soil-grown cabbage. There was no difference between soil-cultivated Chinese cabbage kimchi and hydroponically cultivated Chinese cabbage kimchi.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.456-464
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• 2017

We examined the effect of nutrient solution concentration in the second half of growing period on the pre- and postharvest characteristics of two leaf lettuce cultivars, 'Geokchima' and 'Cheongchima'. Plants were grown hydroponically in a deep flow technique (DFT) system at different concentrations of National Horticulture Research Institute hydroponic nutrient solution: 1/2 strength (S), 1S, 2S, and 4S. Lettuce leaf growth, number of leaves, and shoot fresh weight of both cultivars were greatest in plants grown in the 1S treatment. Compared to other treatments, pigment and nutrient ion contents were greater in the 4S treatment. Growth of lettuce was greatest in the 1S treatment, and decreased at higher or lower concentrations of nutrient solution. However, postharvest characteristics such as fresh weight loss, leaf chlorophyll level, and external appearance were better in both cultivars when grown in 2S solution. Variations in weight loss and SPAD values were smallest in the 2S treatment. These results show that the optimal nutrient concentration for growth does not necessarily provide the optimal postharvest storability.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.415-422
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• 2010

Two leaf lettuces, chicory, endive, edible chrysanthemum, and pak-choi were hydroponically cultured under root restricted conditions in a deep flow technique system and their growth and nutritional values were investigated. Cylindrical plastic tubes with 100 mm height and diameters of 20, 25 or 30 mm were used for root restriction. Growth of all species was retarded by 25-95% as the roots zone was restricted. Pak-choi and edible chrysanthemum showed greater reduction in growth as compared with chicory and endive. Percent dry matter, C/N ratio, and contents of total ascorbic acid and total anthocyanin increased in the root restricted treatments. Contents of P and K decreased in the root restricted treatments, while contents of Mg, Fe, Mn, and Zn were not consistent among the tested species. Optimized root volumes to improve the nutritional values and to reduce the growth retardation varied depending on species of leafy vegetables. Tubes of ${\Phi}25mm{\times}100mm$ and ${\Phi}30mm{\times}100mm$ were suitable for chicory, endive and lettuce, and edible chrysanthemum and pak-choi, respectively. Results indicate that nutritional values of hydroponically-cultured leafy vegetables can be improved by root restriction.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.464-472
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• 2020

We suggest a hydroponic cultivation system combined with a plasma generator to investigate the changes in the growth and functional substance content of lettuces during the cultivation period. Lettuce seedlings of uniform size were planted in semi-DFT after seeding for 3 weeks, and the plasma-activated water was intermittently operated for 1 hour at an 8 hours cycle for 4 weeks. Lettuces grew with or without plasma-activated water with the nutrient solution in hydroponics culture systems. Among the reactive oxygen species generated during plasma-activated water treatment, brown spots and necrosis appeared in the individuals closer to the plasma generating device due to O₃, and there was no significant difference in the growth parameters. While the rutin and total phenolic content of the lettuce shoot grown in the nutrient solution were higher than that of the plasma-activated water, epicatechin contents in plasma-activated water were significantly greater than the nutrient solution. However, in the roots, all kinds of secondary metabolites measured in this work, rutin, epicatechin, quercetin, and total phenolic contents, were significantly higher in the plasma-activated water than the control. These results were indicated that the growth of lettuce was decreased due to the reactive oxygen species such as ozone in the plasma-activated water, but the secondary metabolites in the root zone increased significantly. It has needed to use this technology for the cultivation of root vegetables with the modified plasma-activated water systems to increase secondary metabolite in the roots.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.193-200
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• 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
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.311-316
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• 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.