BACKGROUND: Plant growth under smart greenhouse (that is plant factory system) conditions of an artificial light type is significantly depending on the artificial light sources such as a fluorescent lamps or Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) with specific spectral wavelengths regardless of the outside environmental changes. In this experiment, characteristics on the growth and compound synthesis of kale seedlings affected by light qualities and intensities provided by LEDs were mentioned.
METHODS AND RESULTS: The kale seedlings which developed 3~4 true leaves were exposed by fluorescent lamps or LEDs lights of red (R), blue+white (BW), blue+red (BR) with 50 (L) or 100 (H) μmol/m²/s¹ photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) under hydroponic culture system of deep flow technique for 50 days. Shoot fresh weight increased under the RH, BWH, and BRH treatments with higher PPF. Shoot elongation of the seedlings decreased, and polyphenol synthesis promoted by the higher light intensity conditions. Sugar synthesis in the leaves was above 2 times greater under the RH treatment of monochromic red light quality with 100 μmol/m²/s¹ PPF than 50 μmol/m²/s¹ PPF.
CONCLUSION: The results show that the control of light quality and intensity in the smart greenhouse conditions with artificial lights significantly affects the growth and compound synthesis in the fresh kale leaves with higher culture efficiency compared to the conventional soil culture under greenhouse or field conditions. Researches on the optimum light intensities of the LEDs with special spectral wavelengths are necessary for maximum growth and metabolism in the seedlings.