Light Quality and Photoperiod Affect Growth of Sowthistle (Ixeris dentata Nakai) in a Closed-type Plant Production System

This study was conducted to examine the optimal environmental condition for promoting the growth of sowthistle as affected by light quality and photoperiod in a closed-type plant production system. Seeds were sown in 240-cell plug trays and then germinated for 3 days at a 24-hour photoperiod in a closed-type plant production system with LED lights (R:B:W = 8:1:1). Seedlings were transplanted and grown under 3 types of LED (R:B:W = 8:1:1, R:W = 3:7, or R:B = 8:2) and 4 photoperiods (24/0, 16/8, 8/16, or 4/20 hours) with 230 mu mol . m(2) . S-1 light intensity at a density of 20 cm x 20 cm. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design. Plants were cultured for 40 days un der the condition of 21 +/- 2 degrees C and 70 +/- 10% relative humidity after transplanting. Plants were fed with a recycling nutrient solution (pH 7.0 and EC 2.0 dS. m(-1)) contained in a deep floating tank. Fresh weight and dry weight of shoot or root, leaf length, and leaf area were the greatest in the photoperiod of 24/0 (light/dark) with RW LED. The highest number of leaves occurred in the photoperiod of 16/8 (light/dark) with RB LED, while the incidence of tip burn was higher in the photoperiod of 24/0 (light/dark) compared to the other treatments. Chlorophyll value was the highest in the 16/8 (light/dark) photoperiod and there was no significant difference by light quality. Chlorophyll fluorescence was the lowest in the photoperiod of 24/0 (light/dark) compared with other treatments. Therefore, in terms of economic feasibility and productivity for Ixeris dentata Nakai cultivation in a closed-type plant production system, the results obtained suggest that plants grew the best when kept in a photoperiod of 16/8 (light/dark) and light quality of combined LED RW (3:7).