All Issue

2025 Vol.34, Issue 2 Preview Page

Original Articles

Reproductive Growth Response of Dwarf Tomatoes with Negative Air Ion in Vertical Farms

수직농장에서 음이온 처리를 통한 왜성 토마토의 생식생장 반응

Moon-Sun Yeom12
,
Hye-Won Jeon3
,
Myung-Min Oh45*
염 문선12
,
전 혜원3
,
오 명민45*
1Postdoctoral researcher, Division of Animal, Horticultural, and Food Sciences, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Korea
2Postdoctoral researcher, Brain Korea 21 Center for Smart GreenBio Convergence and Sustainable Regional Development, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Korea
3Intern researcher, Smart Farm Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Gangneung 25451, Korea
4Professor, Division of Animal, Horticultural, and Food Sciences, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Korea
5Professor, Brain Korea 21 Center for Smart GreenBio Convergence and Sustainable Regional Development, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Korea
1충북대학교 축산･원예･식품공학부 원예학 전공 박사후연구원
2충북대학교 BK21 지속가능 지역발전 스마트그린바이오 융복합교육연구단 박사후연구원
3한국과학기술연구원 스마트팜 연구센터 석사후연구원
4충북대학교 축산･원예･식품공학부 원예학 전공 교수
5충북대학교 BK21 지속가능 지역발전 스마트그린바이오 융복합교육연구단 교수
*Corresponding Author
30 April 2025. pp. 229-235
PDF XML Citation
Abstract

Negative air ion (NAI) is one of the electrical stimulation methods known to affect plant growth and development. Since most studies on plant responses to NAI have focused on leafy vegetables, this study aimed to evaluate the potential applicability of NAI to fruiting vegetables by analyzing growth characteristics and gas exchange activity at different developmental stages–vegetative and reproductive–in dwarf tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.‘Nurimaru F1’) cultivated in a vertical farm. Dwarf tomato seedlings were grown for five weeks under the following controlled environmental conditions: 24°C air temperature, 60% relative humidity, 600 µmol·mol-1 CO2 concentration, 320 µmol·m-2·s-1 PPFD from white LED lighting, and a 16-hour photoperiod. During the light period, NAI were applied at a concentration of 12 × 10⁵ ions·cm-3. Growth parameters were measured weekly for five weeks after transplanting, and photosynthetic and transpiration rates were recorded weekly for four weeks. As a result, although no statistically significant differences in gas exchange were observed, the NAI-treated plants consistently showed higher numerical values than the control. Vegetative growth traits showed no marked differences between the control and NAI. However, reproductive traits (number of inflorescences, flowers, and fruits) were significantly enhanced in NAI than the control. These results suggest that NAI can promote reproductive development and increase the fruit yield of dwarf tomatoes, implying its potential application in vertical farming for the production of fruiting vegetables.

Keywords
electric stimulation
electroculture
flowering initiation
vertical farming

본 연구는 수직농장에서 상업적 생산에 적합한 왜성 토마토를 대상으로 음이온을 처리하고, 생육단계별(영양생장, 생식생장) 생육 특성과 기체교환 활성 반응을 분석하여, 과채류에 대한 음이온의 적용 가능성을 평가하고자 수행되었다. 실험을 위해 왜성 토마토 묘를 온도 24도, 습도60%, 이산화탄소 농도 600μmol·mol-1, 광도 320μmol·m-2·s-1 PPFD, white LED, 광주기16h의 수직농장 모듈에서 5주간 재배하였다. 음이온은 광주기 시간동안 12 × 105ions∙cm-3의 음이온을 처리하였다. 정식 후 5주 동안 매주 생육조사를 진행하였고, 정식 후 4주 동안 매주 광합성율과 증산율을 측정하였다. 정식 1주차 광합성율은 음이온 처리구에서 유의적으로 높게 나타났으나, 이후에는 광합성율과 증산율 모두 처리구간 유의 차이는 확인되지 않았으나, 전반적으로 음이온 처리구가 대조구보다 높은 수치를 나타내는 경향을 보였다. 영양생장 지표들은 처리간 차이가 크지 않았으나, 생식 기관의 발달(화방수, 꽃수, 과실수)은 대조구에 비해 유의적으로 높은 값을 나타냈다. 이러한 결과는 음이온 처리가 과채류인 왜성 토마토의 생식생장을 촉진하고 과실 생산량을 증가시켰음을 확인하여, 과채류에 음이온의 적용 가능성을 확인하였다. 향후에는 음이온 처리 농도의 최적화 및 수확한 과실의 품질 비교를 포함한 후속 연구가 필요하다.

키워드
개화 촉진
수직농장
전기자극
전기재배
References
1

Abarghouei H.B. 2014, Investigation growth and flowering of Crocus sativus plant influencing by the electric field. J Appl Sci Agric 9:1475-1479.

2

An J.I., S. Lee, and M.M. Oh 2021, Air anions promote the growth and mineral accumulation of spinach (Spinacia oleracea) cultivated in greenhouses. Hortic Sci Technol 39: 332-342. doi:10.7235/HORT.20210030

10.7235/HORT.20210030
3

Biesaga-Kościelniak J., J. Kościelniak, M. Filek, I. Marcińska, J. Krekule, I. Macháčková, and M. Kuboń 2010, The effect of plant growth regulators and their interaction with electric current on winter wheat development. Acta Physiol Plant 32: 987-995 doi:10.1007/s11738-010-0488-8

10.1007/s11738-010-0488-8
4

Blackman V.H. 1924, Field experiments in electro-culture. J Agric Sci 14:240-267. doi:10.1017/S0021859600003440

10.1017/S0021859600003440
5

Black J.D., F.R. Forsyth, D.S. Fensom, and R.B. Ross 1971, Electrical stimulation and its effects on growth and ion accumulation in tomato plants. Canad J Bot 49:1809-1815. doi:10.1139/b71-255

10.1139/b71-255
6

Cogalniceanu G., M. Radu, D. Fologea, N. Moisoi, and A. Brezeanu 1998, Stimulation of tobacco shoot regeneration by alternating weak electric field. Bioelectrochem Bioenerg 44:257-260. doi:10.1016/S0302-4598(97)00074-3

10.1016/S0302-4598(97)00074-3
7

Choe T.S. 2003, Case studies on the development of negative air ion products in the Japanese market. J Korea Far Infrared Assoc 32-39. (in Korean)

8

Elkiey T.M., S. Bhartendu, and N. Barthakur 1985, Air ion effect on respiration and photosynthesis of barley and Antirrhinum majus. Int J Biometeorol 29:285-292. doi: 10.1007/BF02189659

10.1007/BF02189659
9

Fortineau A., and P. Bancal 2018, An innovative light chamber for measuring photosynthesis by three-dimensional plant organs. Plant methods, 14:1-12. doi:10.1186/s13007-018- 0288-5

10.1186/s13007-018-0288-529568318PMC5853119
10

Goldsworthy, A. 2006, Effects of electrical and electromagnetic fields on plants and related topics. In Plant electrophysiology: Theory and methods. Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg. Berlin. Germany, pp 247-267. doi:10.1007/978-3-540- 37843-3_11

10.1007/978-3-540-37843-3_11
11

González-Casado S., O. Martín-Belloso, P. Elez-Martínez, and R. Soliva-Fortuny 2018, Induced accumulation of individual carotenoids and quality changes in tomato fruits treated with pulsed electric fields and stored at different post-treatments temperatures. Postharvest Biol Technol 146:117-123. doi: 10.1016/j.postharvbio.2018.08.013

10.1016/j.postharvbio.2018.08.013
12

Goodman R., M. Blank, H. Lin, R. Dai, O. Khorkova, L. Soo, D. Weisbrot, and A. Henderson 1994, Increased levels of hsp70 transcripts induced when cells are exposed to low frequency electromagnetic fields. Bioelectrochem Bioenerg 33:115-120. doi:10.1016/0302-4598(94)85002-X

10.1016/0302-4598(94)85002-X
13

Hull G.S. 1898, Electro-horticulture. Knickerbocker Press, New York, USA, p 1-2.

10.5962/bhl.title.32534
14

Jeon H.W., and M.M. Oh 2023, Growth and photosynthesis characteristics of lettuce according to air anion treatment period. Presented at the 2023 Symposium of the Korean Society for Bio-Environment Control, Poster presentation, Sep 21.

15

Jeon H.W. 2025, Growth and yield of lettuce and cucumber by electrical stimuli in controlled environment horticulture. MS Dissertation, Chungbuk National Univ., Cheongju. pp 26.

16

Lee S., M.J. Song, and M.M. Oh 2022, Effects of air anions on growth and economic feasibility of lettuce: a plant factory experiment approach. Sustainability 14:15468. doi:10.3390/ su142215468

10.3390/su142215468
17

Lee S., T.H. Kang, C.S. Han, and M.M. Oh 2015, Air anions improve growth and mineral content of kale in plant factories. Hortic Environ Biotechnol 56:462-471. doi:10.1007/s13580- 015-0035-z

10.1007/s13580-015-0035-z
18

Lemström, S.1904, Electricity in Agriculture and Horticulture; David van Nostrand: London, UK, p 11.

10.5962/bhl.title.53945
19

Mapelli S., C. Frova, G. Torti, and G.P. Soressi 1978, Relationship between set, development and activities of growth regulators in tomato fruits. Plant and Cell Physiol 19:1281-1288.

20

Okumura T., Y. Muramoto, and N. Shimizu 2014, Dependency of Arabidopsis thaliana growth on DC electric field intensity. IEEE Trans Dielectr Electr Insul 21:913-917. doi:10.1109/ TDEI.2013.004085

10.1109/TDEI.2013.004085
21

Pohl H.A. 1977, Electroculture. J Biol Phys 5:3-23. doi:10.1007/ BF02310088

10.1007/BF02310088
22

Robinson K.R. 1985, The responses of cells to electrical fields: a review. The J cell biol 101:2023-2027.

10.1083/jcb.101.6.20233905820PMC2114002
23

Song M.J., T.H. Kang, C.S. Han, and M.M. Oh 2014, Air anions enhance lettuce growth in a plant factory. Hortic Environ Biotechnol 55:293-298. doi:10.1007/s13580-014-1016-3

10.1007/s13580-014-1016-3
24

Seo G.S., M.N. Yeom, and M.M. Oh 2022, Accelerating Flowering of Marigold (Tagetes erecta 'Marvel Orange') by Air Anions. Presented at the 2022 Symposium of the Korean Society for Bio-Environment Control, Poster presentation, Oct 27.

25

Thorpe M.R., and P.E.H. Minchin 1991, Continuous monitoring of fluxes of photoassimilate in leaves and whole plants. J Exp Bot 42:461-468. doi:10.1093/jxb/42.4.461

10.1093/jxb/42.4.461
26

Katsenios N., D. Bilalis, A. Efthimiadou, G. Aivalakis, A.E. Nikolopoulou, A. Karkanis, and I. Travlos 2016, Role of pulsed electromagnetic field on enzyme activity, germination, plant growth and yield of durum wheat. Biocatal Agric Biotechnol 6:152-158. doi:10.1016/j.bcab.2016.03.010

10.1016/j.bcab.2016.03.010
27

Ke X, H. Yoshida, S. Hikosaka, and E. Goto 2021, Optimization of photosynthetic photon flux density and light quality for increasing radiation-use efficiency in dwarf tomato under LED light at the vegetative growth stage. Plants 11:121. doi:10.3390/plants11010121

10.3390/plants1101012135009123PMC8796024
28

Kotaka S, A.P. Krueger, P.C. Andriese, K. Nishizawa, T. Ohuchi, M. Takenobu, and Y. Kozure 1965, Air ion effects on the oxygen consumption of barley seedlings. Nature, 208: 1112-1113. doi:10.1038/2081112a0

10.1038/2081112a05870574
Information
  • Publisher :The Korean Society for Bio-Environment Control
  • Publisher(Ko) :(사)한국생물환경조절학회
  • Journal Title :Journal of Bio-Environment Control
  • Journal Title(Ko) :생물환경조절학회지
  • Volume : 34
  • No :2
  • Pages :229-235
  • Received Date : 2025-04-25
  • Accepted Date : 2025-04-30
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.12791/KSBEC.2025.34.2.229
Journal Informaiton Journal of Bio-Environment Control Journal of Bio-Environment Control
Online Submission
  • NRF
  • KOFST
  • crossref crossmark
  • crossref cited-by
  • crossref funder-registry
  • crosscheck
  • orcid
  • open access
  • ccl
Journal Informaiton Journal Informaiton - close