INFLUENCE OF ILLUMINATION WITH LEDs ON GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF LETTUCE SEEDLINGS

The paper aimed to present the evolution of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) grown in different light conditions. Plants were grown in a climate chamber of the Faculty of Horticulture-UASVM Bucharest, using as light sources LED and neon. There have used two varieties of lettuce namely 'Lollo Rosa' and 'Lollo Bionda'. Both of varieties have better development (eg germination period, number of leaves) in the case of LED luminaries compared with those developed under neon light. Thus, masses obtained after 30 days of growth were 30.8% higher in case of the variety 'Lotto Rosa' and 29.8 for variety 'Lao Rionda'. As a general conclusion it can be say that use of LED light has a lot of advantages against neon light being ecological and offering a reduced energy consumption which determine a lower greenhouse warming phenomenon compared to overheating caused by neon lighting. In addition, it is important that to pursue the studies by assessing the behavior of plants at different radiation emitted by the LED.