Mr. Blue Sky: Using electric light to orchestrate lettuce growth and specialized metabolite production

Summary

This thesis explores the interactions of light spectra on the growth of lettuce within controlled environment agriculture. The primary goal for this thesis was to utilize customized lighting in the growth environment to determine how lettuce responded to different spectra in a controlled environment, focusing on both growth rate and quality. This was achieved in this thesis in three ways: 1) constant application of several different light spectra treatments over cultivation, 2) dynamic application of light spectra within a photoperiod (day), and 3) dynamic application of light spectra over different phases of lettuce cultivation. These experiments were all performed using LED modules in a controlled climate room that simulates vertical farming conditions. The data and information presented in this thesis provides insight to plant responses under several conditions of light. Further, this thesis contributes to progressing growth techniques for crops in controlled environments.