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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Hilo, Hawaii » Daniel K. Inouye U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center » Tropical Crop and Commodity Protection Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #209717
Title: Coloration and growth of red lettuce grown under UV-radiation transmitting and non-transmitting covers

Author
item SHIOSHITA, R. - UNIV OF HAWAII
item ENOKA, J. - UNIV OF HAWAII
item AIONA, D. - UNIV OF HAWAII
item YOUNG, C. - UNIV OF HAWAII
item SAKAI, W. - UNIV OF HAWAII
item Wall, Marisa

Submitted to: Acta Horticulture Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/15/2007
Publication Date: 6/1/2008
Citation: Shioshita, R., J. Enoka, D.K. Aiona, C.S. Young, W.S. Sakai, M.M. Wall. 2007. Coloration and growth of red lettuce grown under UV-radiation transmitting and non-transmitting covers. Acta Hort. 761:221-226

Interpretive Summary: Not applicable.

Technical Abstract: Production of red lettuce for salad mixes in Hawaii is primarily out-of-doors in the drier, leeward sides of the islands. Because the newer acrylic-polycarbonate hard covers transmit only small amounts of UV-radiation (which is essential for anthocyanin production), we experimented with a new ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer film (F-Clean), which transmits more than 90% of visible light and UV-radiation, for possible use in red lettuce production in high rainfall areas. Four cultivars of red lettuce, ‘Natividad’- Red Lollo Rossa, ‘Dark’- Lollo Rossa, ‘Aruba’– Red Oak Leaf, and ‘New Red Fire’– Red Grand Rapids, were grown in static hydroponic solution under each of the two levels of light and three UV-radiation environments. Lettuce plants with the most coloration and lowest head weight were produced out-of-doors with 100% UV-radiation. All of the lettuce produced under the non-UV-radiation transmitting, acrylic-polycarbonate cover had the least coloration and largest head weight. All were mostly green. Lettuce grown under the UV-radiation transmitting, F-Clean film with an additional layer of 50% aluminized shade screen were intermediate in color and head weight. The coloration of all the red lettuce studied appeared similar to Dark Lollo Rossa where the anthocyanin, cyanidin 3-(6-malonyl) glucoside is present. UV-radiation appears to be the most important factor in coloration of red lettuce. Even with the additional layer of 50% shade, daytime temperatures were 4 to 6 degrees C higher in the F-Clean house than in the acrylic-polycarbonate house. Yet, the cooler acrylic-polycarbonate house, which had little UV-radiation, produced green “red” lettuce with little coloration.