ARTIFICIAL LIGHTING AS AN EFFECTIVE METHOD FOR INCREASING LETTUCE SEEDLING DEVELOPMENT

Due to the short duration of sunlight and low light intensity during the winter, the lettuce photosynthesis is limited, resulting in slow growth and reduced quality. This study aimed to investigate the effects of light- emmiting diodes (LEDs) on the growth and quality of three lettuce cultivar seedlings. Results of our research indicate that applied light treatments significantly influenced the growth and development of all three lettuce cultivar seedlings. The highest shoot and root weight was achieved in the Jukebox cultivar grown under blue LEDs, while the highest total chlorophyll and carotenoid content was achieved in the Viola cultivar grown under white and blue LEDs, respectively.