Document Type : Research paper

Authors

1 Crops Science Department, College of Agriculture, Barili Campus, Cebu Technological University, Barili, Cebu, Philippines

2 Graduate School, College of Agriculture, Barili Campus, Cebu Technological University, Barili, Cebu, Philippines, Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 7, DA-PATCO, Larena, Siquijor, Philippines

3 Municipal Agriculture Office, Tuburan, Cebu, Philippines

10.22059/ijhst.2023.355820.621

Abstract

Kale is known for its anticancer properties and is rich in nutrients. Light plays a major role in plant growth. This study determined the effects of different light conditions on kale in terms of morphological, yield, and physiological responses. The treatments used in this study were Ambient Light (AL) and 16:8 light-dark period schemes on Red LED (RL), Green LED (GL), and Blue LED (BL). The treatments were applied six days before harvest. Kale grown under GL and BL became the tallest, four times taller than the kale treated with AL. However, in terms of leaf length and width, AL resulted in the most significant values, compared to seedlings grown under controlled lighting. Regarding the yield response, no significant differences were noted on fresh weight, dry weight, and estimated yield. In terms of physiological responses, RL, GL, and BL increased the average vapor pressure deficit. In terms of the average photosynthetic rate, BL performed better than AL. However, AL caused a higher stomatal conductance compared to LED lights. The average transpiration rate showed improvements under RL. These results suggested that GL and BL are most suited for plant height development while AL enhance the number, length, and width of leaves. Moreover, when grown under BL, the photosynthetic rate increased. On the other hand, exposure to AL improved stomatal conductance. The increase in photosynthetic rate led to the production of more secondary metabolites such as glucosinolate. 

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