Effects of Light-Dark Cycle and Electrical Conductivity Levels on Cucumber Seedling Growth

Seong Ha Park; So Yeong Hwang; Ji Hye Yun; Hyeong Eun Choi; Jeong Kil Koo; Seung Jae Hwang

doi:10.12791/KSBEC.2026.35.3.223

All Issue

2026 Vol.35, Issue 3 Preview Page Next Page

Original Articles

Effects of Light-Dark Cycle and Electrical Conductivity Levels on Cucumber Seedling Growth 명암주기와 양액 내 전기전도도 수준에 따른 오이묘의 생육

31 July 2026. pp. 223-230

PDF XML

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of electrical conductivity (EC) levels on maintaining plant growth under short light-dark cycle conditions. Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) seeds were sown, and upon the emergence of the first true leaf, treatments consisting of two light-dark cycles and three EC levels were initiated. The light-dark cycles of 12/12 h and 6/6 h (light/dark) and EC levels of 1.5, 2.5, and 3.5 dS·m^-1 were applied under closed-type plant production system (CPPS) at 25°C, using RGB LED light (R:G:B = 7:1:2). At EC 1.5 and 2.5 dS·m^-1, SPAD values were significantly lower under 6/6 h than under 12/12 h. However, under the 6/6 h, SPAD values were higher at EC 3.5 dS·m^-1 than at lower EC levels. At EC 1.5 dS·m^-1, root surface area and volume were reduced under the 6/6 h compared to the 12/12 h. However, this reduction was alleviated at EC 3.5 dS·m^-1 under the 6/6 h. Under the 6/6 h, dry matter and specific leaf weight were lower at EC 1.5 dS·m^-1 but recovered to levels similar to those under the 12/12 h as EC increased to 3.5 dS·m^-1. The results of this study suggest that increasing EC to 3.5 dS·m^-1 under short light-dark cycle conditions can help maintain cucumber seedling growth and can be utilized as an approach for environmental control in CPPS.

Keywords

Cucumis sativus

root surface area

root volume

SPAD value

specific leaf weight

본 연구는 단축된 명암주기 조건에서 EC 수준이 오이 묘의 생육 유지에 미치는 영향을 평가하기 위해 수행되었다. 오이(Cucumis sativus L.) 종자를 파종 후 제1본엽 출현을 기준으로 두가지 명암주기와 세 가지 EC 수준의 처리를 조합하여 적용하였다. 명암주기는 12/12h와 6/6h(명기/암기), EC 수준은 1.5, 2.5, 3.5dS·m^-1로 설정하였으며, 밀폐형 식물생산 시스템(CPPS) 내 25°C 조건에서 RGB LED(R:G:B = 7:1:2)를 이용하여 육묘하였다. EC 1.5와 2.5dS·m^-1에서 SPAD값은 12/12h에 비해 6/6h에서 유의적으로 낮았으나, 6/6h의 EC 3.5dS·m^-1에서는 낮은 EC 수준에 비해 높은 SPAD 값을 나타냈다. EC 1.5dS·m^-1에서 뿌리 표면적과 부피는 12/12h에 비해 6/6h에서 감소하였으나, 6/6h의 EC 3.5dS·m^-1에서는 이러한 감소가 완화되었다. 6/6h에서 DM과 SLW는 EC 1.5dS·m^-1에서 낮았으나, EC가 3.5dS·m^-1로 증가함에 따라 12/12h와 유사한 수준으로 회복되었다. 이러한 결과를 통해 단축된 명암주기 조건에서 EC를 3.5dS·m^-1로 높이는 것이 오이 묘의 묘소질 및 지하부 생육 유지에 도움이 될 수 있으며, CPPS 내 환경 조절 방안으로 활용될 수 있음을 시사한다.

키워드

Cucumis sativus

SPAD 값

비엽중

뿌리 부피

뿌리 표면적

References

Adame-Adame DY, Alvarado-Camarillo D, Valdez-Aguilar LA, Cartmill AD, Cartmill DL, Soriano-Melgar LdAA (2025) Daily light integral and nutrient solution electrical conductivity for tomato and bell pepper seedling production in an indoor vertical farm with artificial lighting. Horticulturae 11:454. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11050454

10.3390/horticulturae11050454

Albacete A, Ghanem ME, Martínez-Andújar C, Acosta M, Sánchez-Bravo J, Martínez V, Lutts S, Dodd IC, Pérez-Alfocea F (2008) Hormonal changes in relation to biomass partitioning and shoot growth impairment in salinized tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) plants. J Exp Bot 59:4119-4131. https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/ern251

10.1093/jxb/ern25119036841PMC2639025

Choi HE, Hwang SY, Yun JH, Yu J, Hwang JH, Park EW, Koo JK, Hwang SJ (2024) Growth of grafted cucumber seedlings as affected by different EC levels and cultivars. J Bio-Env Con 33:387-396. https://doi.org/10.12791/KSBEC.2024.33.4.387

10.12791/KSBEC.2024.33.4.387

Clauw H, Van de Put H, Sghaier A, Kerkaert T, Debonne E, Eeckhout M, Steppe K (2024) The impact of a six-hour light-dark cycle on wheat ear emergence, grain yield, and flour quality in future plant-growing systems. Foods 13:750. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13050750

10.3390/foods1305075038472863PMC10931310

Cui J, Song S, Yu J, Liu H (2021) Effect of daily light integral on cucumber plug seedlings in artificial light plant factory. Horticulturae 7:139. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae7060139

10.3390/horticulturae7060139

Ding X, Jiang Y, Zhao H, Guo D, He L, Liu F, Zhou Q, Nandwani D, Hui D, Yu J (2018) Electrical conductivity of nutrient solution influenced photosynthesis, quality, and antioxidant enzyme activity of pakchoi (Brassica campestris L. ssp. chinensis) in a hydroponic system. PLoS One 13:e0202090. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0202090

10.1371/journal.pone.020209030157185PMC6114716

Ding X, Zhang H, Qian T, He L, Jin H, Zhou Q, Yu J (2022) Nutrient concentrations induced abiotic stresses to sweet pepper seedlings in hydroponic culture. Plants 11:1098. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11081098

10.3390/plants1108109835448826PMC9027179

García-Caparrós P, Sabio F, Barbero FJ, Chica RM, Lao MT (2020) Physiological responses of tomato and cucumber seedlings under different light-dark cycles. Agronomy 10:945. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10070945

10.3390/agronomy10070945

Heinen M, Marcelis L, Elings A, Figueroa R, del Amor FM (2002) Effects of EC and fertigation strategy on water and nutrient uptake of tomato plants. IV International Symposium on Models for Plant Growth and Control in Greenhouses: Modeling for the 21st Century-Agronomic and 593:101-107.

10.17660/ActaHortic.2002.593.12

Hsiao TC, Xu LK (2000) Sensitivity of growth of roots versus leaves to water stress: Biophysical analysis and relation to water transport. J Exp Bot 51:1595-1616. https://doi.org/10.1093/jexbot/51.350.1595

10.1093/jexbot/51.350.1595

Hwang H, An S, Pham MD, Cui M, Chun C (2020) The combined conditions of photoperiod, light intensity, and air temperature control the growth and development of tomato and red pepper seedlings in a closed transplant production system. Sustainability 12:9939. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12239939

10.3390/su12239939

Jeong HW, Lee HR, Kim HM, Kim HM, Hwang HS, Hwang SJ (2020) Using light quality for growth control of cucumber seedlings in closed-type plant production system. Plants 9:639. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9050639

10.3390/plants905063932429540PMC7284851

Jeong HW, Lee HR, Kim JY, Kim GG, Na CI, Hwang SJ (2021) Assessment of growing media and fertigation for production of root pruning splice-grafted cucumber seedlings. Hortic Sci Technol 39:294-304. https://doi.org/10.7235/HORT.20210026

10.7235/HORT.20210026

Kang JH, KrishnaKumar S, Atulba SLS, Jeong BR, Hwang SJ (2013) Light intensity and photoperiod influence the growth and development of hydroponically grown leaf lettuce in a closed-type plant factory system. Hortic Environ Biotechnol 54:501-509. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13580-013-0109-8

10.1007/s13580-013-0109-8

Kim YH, Park HS (2002) Growth of Cucumber Plug Seedlings as Affected by Photoperiod and Photosynthetic Photon Flux. J Bio-Env Con 11:40-44.

Kim M, Rabbani MG, Zebro M, Choi KY (2025) Effect of nutrient solution electrical conductivity on cucumber growth and yield in controlled pot soil cultivation. Not Bot Horti Agrobot Cluj Napoca 53:14548. https://doi.org/10.15835/nbha53314548

10.15835/nbha53314548

Kitaya Y, Niu G, Kozai T, Ohashi M (1998) Photosynthetic photon flux, photoperiod, and CO₂ concentration affect growth and morphology of lettuce plug transplants. HortScience 33:988-991

10.21273/HORTSCI.33.6.988

KOSIS (2024) Vegetable production (fruit vegetables). Crop Production Survey. Statistics Korea. https://kosis.kr/statHtml/statHtml.do?orgId=101&tblId=DT_1ET0027&conn_path=I2. Accessed 27 June 2026

Kozai T (2013) Resource use efficiency of closed plant production system with artificial light: concept, estimation and application to plant factory. Proc Jpn Acad Ser B Phys Biol Sci 89:447-461. https://doi.org/10.2183/pjab.89.447

10.2183/pjab.89.44724334509PMC3881955

Kozai T, Niu G, Takagaki M (2019) Plant factory: an indoor vertical farming system for efficient quality food production. Academic press, ed 2, Cambridge, USA, pp 4-5.

Langenfeld NJ, Pinto DF, Faust JE, Heins R, Bugbee B (2022) Principles of nutrient and water management for indoor agriculture. Sustainability 14:10204. https://doi.org/10.3390/su141610204

10.3390/su141610204

Li H, Cheng Z (2014) Hoagland nutrient solution promotes the growth of cucumber seedlings under light-emitting diode light. Acta Agric Scand B Soil Plant Sci 65:74-82. https://doi.org/10.1080/09064710.2014.967285

10.1080/09064710.2014.967285

Ohyama K, Yamaguchi J, Enjoji A (2020) Resource utilization efficiencies in a closed system with artificial lighting during continuous lettuce production. Agronomy 10:723. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10050723

10.3390/agronomy10050723

Rural Development Administration (RDA) 2012, Analysis standard for research in agriculture science and technology, RDA, Jeonju, Korea, pp 503-504. (in Korean)

Sharma K, Yadav R, Shubham, Kaushal S (2025) Optimizing hydroponic crop production: a multifaceted approach to EC, pH and nutrient management. J Sci Res Rep 31:716-726. https://doi.org/10.9734/jsrr/2025/v31i42995

10.9734/jsrr/2025/v31i42995

Wang Y, Chu Y, Wan Z, Zhang G, Liu L, Yan Z (2021) Root architecture, growth and photon yield of cucumber seedlings as influenced by daily light integral at different stages in the closed transplant production system. Horticulturae 7:328. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae7090328

10.3390/horticulturae7090328

Wittwer SH, Castilla N (1995) Protected cultivation of horticultural crops worldwide. HortTechnology 5:6-23.

10.21273/HORTTECH.5.1.6

Wu S, Li R, Bu C, Zhu C, Miao C, Zhang Y, Cui J, Jiang Y, Ding X (2024) Photoperiodic effect on growth, photosynthesis, mineral elements, and metabolome of tomato seedlings in a plant factory. Plants 13:3119. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13223119

10.3390/plants1322311939599328PMC11597524

Yan Z, Wang L, Dai J, Liu Y, Lin D, Yang Y (2021) Morphological and physiological responses of cucumber seedlings to different combinations of light intensity and photoperiod with the same daily light integral. HortScience 56:1430-1438. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI16153-21

10.21273/HORTSCI16153-21

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 : 35
No :3
Pages :223-230
Received Date : 2026-07-06
Revised Date : 2026-07-24
Accepted Date : 2026-07-26
DOI :https://doi.org/10.12791/KSBEC.2026.35.3.223

Journal of Bio-Environment Control ISSN:1229-4675(Print) 2765-3641(Online) 생물환경조절학회지

All Issue