Did you know end-of-production lighting improves shelf life and vitamins in your lettuce?

  • Lighting conditions applied just before harvest determine the final yield, percentage of dry matter and quality (shelf life and nutrient content) of the crop.
  • Lettuce grown in a vertical farm can be just as nutrient-rich and fresh tasting as those grown in a greenhouse or outdoors
  • Controlling the light towards the end of production can be applied in vertical farming as well as in a greenhouse to enhance different quality aspects in the product.

It’s a common problem with processed lettuce. After a few days in the fridge, the leaves wilt or turn brown. At Signify, we performed a study to see if increasing the intensity of LED grow lights a week before harvest would improve the quality and shelf life of lettuce. And the results show that high light intensities applied at the End of Production increase key nutritional elements and quality markers, and ultimately extend the shelf life of lettuce.

Leafy vegetables generally have a short post-harvest life due to physical damage and lack of light during storage and transportation. How long a leafy vegetable or any other vegetable lasts on the shelf and how long it looks and smells fresh are determined by the growing conditions of that vegetable. In academic research, scientists are establishing a link between nutrient content and shelf life. Key nutritional elements and quality markers include the levels of carbohydrates (glucose, fructose, sucrose, and starch) and vitamin C defined as the total ascorbic acid (TAsA). Both carbohydrates and TAsA levels are affected by light conditions.

In this study, our objective was to investigate the effect of light treatments applied before harvest on the post-harvest performance of lettuce, as a representative crop of leafy vegetables. Most of the previous research on the effects of light intensity on product quality has been done by applying different light levels during the entire cultivation period. In our experiments, we applied different light levels only at the End of Production – 6 or 7 days before harvest. The advantage is that the light treatments will only have limited influence on other aspects of the crop, such as growth, yield and morphology. And it also minimizes energy usage.

Experiments with high-pressure sodium lighting and white LED grow lights

We did two experiments, one with high-pressure sodium (HPS) lighting and one with white LED grow lights. In both experiments, high light intensities applied at the End of Production increased the percentage of dry matter, total ascorbic acid (TAsA) and carbohydrates (glucose, fructose, sucrose, and starch) at harvest. These higher levels were maintained during the shelf life, which was extended as a result of the End of Production lighting. The levels of AsA and carbohydrates at harvest correlated positively with the prolonged shelf life. This means that improved energy (more carbohydrates) and antioxidants (vitamin C) in the crop at harvest are drivers for a longer shelf life. In addition, TAsA may play a role in limiting tissue browning.

Why is this research important?

This research is important for consumers and retailers who might assume that lettuce grown in a vertical farm is not as nutrient rich or fresh tasting as those grown in a greenhouse or outdoors. Our results show that an End of Production LED lighting application to lettuce crops can boost their carbohydrate content and more than double their vitamin C content to make them look and taste great. This strategy can also be used to extend shelf life and nutritional content for lettuce grown in a greenhouse.

End-of-production lighting improves shelf life and vitamins in lettuce

End-of-production lighting improves shelf life and vitamins in lettuce

In conclusion, the lighting conditions applied just before harvest determine the final yield, percentage of dry matter and quality (shelf life and nutrient content) of the crop. It is therefore important to control the light towards the end of production. This technique could be applied in vertical farming as well as in a greenhouse to enhance different quality aspects in the product.

Experiment set-up

In Experiment 1, lettuce was grown in a greenhouse at the Wageningen University & Research (WUR) center with supplemental high-pressure sodium (HPS) light. In Experiment 2, lettuce was grown in a climate room in our GrowWise vertical farm under white LED grow lights. The full grown plants were then transferred to a climate room for the End of Production light treatments during the last week of cultivation. During the treatment in Experiment 2, shown in the figures, the plants were exposed to intensities of 50, 210 and 470 µmol/m2/s from white-red LEDs for 6 days.

Mature leaves were then harvested and stored in darkness at 10⁰C to study the post-harvest performance. Changes in dry matter content, total ascorbic acid, and carbohydrates (including glucose, fructose, sucrose, and starch) levels were determined during the light treatments and during the subsequent shelf life as indicators of the nutritional quality of lettuce. Quality aspects (appearance, texture, and odor) were assessed during the shelf life as indicators of post-harvest performance.

Lettuce experiment results of LED grow lights

Lettuce experiment results

Please read our blog on how LEDs can influence red oak lettuce.

Or our blog on how LED lighting can optimize growth efficiency of lettuce.

Read the full scientific article.

GrowWise

At the Philips GrowWise Research Centre, our experts study the conditions needed to optimise plant growth. This includes the effect that different types of vertical farming lighting, climate systems, nutrition, irrigation, sensors and data collection can have on plant health and quality. It enables us to develop growth recipes for vertical farmers that will produce specific characteristics and create healthier plants with higher yields.

For additional information about this topic, please contact Leonie Geerdinck at leonie.geerdinck@signify.com.

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