Jou nal o Ag icul u al Science; Vol. 9, No. 1; 2017
ISSN 1916-9752 E-ISSN 1916-9760
Published by Canadian Cen e o Science and Educa ion
41
Hyd oponic Mini ube P oduc ion in G ow h Room Condi ions and
Ca y-O e E ec s o he Technique on P oduced Mini ube s
Elina Vi anen
1
& Jussi Tuomis o
2
1
Na u al Resou ces Ins i u e Finland, Oulu, Finland
2
Po a o Resea ch Ins i u e, Ylis a o, Finland
Co espondence: Elina Vi anen, Na u al Resou ces Ins i u e Finland, P.O. Box 413, 90014 Uni e si y o Oulu,
Oulu, Finland. Tel: 358-29-5326-646. E-mail: elina. i anen@luke. i
Recei ed: Sep embe 27, 2016 Accep ed: No embe 7, 2016 Online Published: Decembe 15, 2016
doi:10.5539/jas. 9n1p41 URL: h p://dx.doi.o g/10.5539/jas. 9n1p41
Abs ac
The p oduc ion o mini ube s was implemen ed wi h a hyd oponic echnique in g ow h ooms and he ca y-o e
e ec s o he echnique on he cha ac e is ics o mini ube s we e s udied. As a compa ison, mini ube s om in
i o plan le s we e g own in a pea -based g owing medium. The esul s show ha hyd oponic p oduc ion o
mini ube s is success ul in indoo condi ions wi h he cul i a s Desi ee, Van Gogh and As e ix, when day- ime
g owing empe a u es o 19.4 °C-26.0 °C and nigh - ime empe a u es o 17.5 °C-22.6 °C we e used.
Pho osyn he ically ac i e illumina ion was adequa e a 2383-2509 μmol m
-2
s
-1
; ligh ing condi ions consis ed o
14/10-hou day/nigh cycles.
The cul i a s Desi ee and Van Gogh de eloped hei i s ube h ee weeks as e han As e ix, and he mini ube
yield was 4.5 pe plan o Desi ee, 7.5 o Van Gogh and 4.0 o As e ix. When a pea -based g owing medium
was used, mini ube yields we e almos he same bu he size o he mini ube s was smalle han ha o
hyd oponically p oduced mini ube s. The esul s o he ca y-o e expe imen s showed ha con en ionally
p oduced mini ube s eme ged as e , and in e ms o oliage de elopmen and yielding capaci y pe o med be e
han hyd oponically p oduced mini ube s.
Keywo ds: Solanum ube osum L., mini ube p oduc ion, hyd oponics
1. In oduc ion
Fas e , mo e cos -e ec i e echnical solu ions wi h a highe p oduc ion capaci y a e needed o mini ube and
p e-basic seed po a o (Solanum ube osum L.) p oduc ion. P oduc ion e iciency is o en measu ed in e ms o
he a e o mini ube p oduc ion and he numbe o mini ube s p oduced. I has been p oposed ha soilless
mini ube p oduc ion echniques inc ease p oduc ion olume (Rolo & Seu in, 1999). Va ious soilless,
hyd oponic and ae oponic (Co êa e al., 2008; Ri e e al., 2001) and bio eac o - ype (Kämä äinen-Ka ppinen e
al., 2010; Aki a & Oh a, 1998) p oduc ion me hods ha e al eady been de eloped and a e in use. The p oduc ion
capaci y o hese new echniques is ypically compa ed o he mini ube yields achie ed by con en ional in i o
p opaga ion echniques. E en hough i is possible o inc ease con en ional mini ube p oduc ion (Milinko ic e
al., 2012; Veeken & an de Lommen, 2009) om in i o plan le s, bu i in ol es clea ly highe p oduc ion
cos s and ela i ely low ube yield (Rolo & Seu in, 1999).
In hyd oponic p oduc ion, plan oo s a e eely suspended in nu ien solu ion om which hey de i e he
necessa y nu ien s and ace elemen s. I has been shown o be possible o inc ease he numbe o mini ube s
p oduced by using he hyd oponic p oduc ion echnique (Rolo & Seu in, 1999). The hyd oponic echnique has
also been used wi h sand subs a es (No ella e al., 2008). The in oduc ion o new mini ube p oduc ion
echniques equi es he op imiza ion o p oduc ion condi ions. A speci ic equi emen o hyd oponic p oduc ion
is o achie e a balance be ween he nu ien a ios wi hin he nu ien solu ion, elec ical conduc i i y (EC) alue,
and pH as needed o po a o p oduc ion (Chang e al., 2011; No ella e al., 2008; Ri e e al., 2001). Al hough
only ew s udies ha e been conduc ed on he e ec o EC on po a o, EC alues om 1.2 o 1.7 dS m
-1
a e
conside ed no mal (Chang e al., 2011; No ella e al., 2008). In he s udies o Chang e al. (2011), pH
luc ua ions be ween 5.0 and 7.2 in hyd oponic p oduc ion co ela ed wi h he EC le els o he nu ien solu ions.
In addi ion, empe a u e and illumina ion le els should be aken in o conside a ion in mini ube p oduc ion
jas.ccsene .
(Le y &
V
ligh ing (
R
Acco din
g
and, co e
ube iza i
o
p
ho osyn
h
du ing he
In no he
n
con en io
n
en i onm
e
al e na i
e
simula io
n
al e na i
e
p
oduc io
n
mini ube
s
2. Me ho
d
2.1 Hyd o
p
The hyd
o
ays, an
a
h p://engl
Each g o
w
2500 mm.
g ow h o
o
g ow h o
o
The oo s
(Mu ashi
g
ha dening
cul i a io
n
ays con
a
he oo s
ube s a e
Figu e 1.
H
The ays
w
equipped
w
nu ien s
o
mic oplan
ni ogen l
e
solu ion 1
ci cula io
n
o g
V
eilleux, 200
7
R
i e e al., 2
0
g
o V eugden
h
spondingly, h
i
o
n. Le y and
V
h
esis o Eu o
p
ligh pe iod,
n
condi ions (
n
al mini ube
e
n al condi io
n
e
. In he p es
e
n
(ligh , emp
e
e
o con en io
n
n
in Finland
s
ha e no bee
n
d
p
onic Mini ub
e
o
ponic p oduc
a
u oma ic cen
ish.li ing ood
w
h oom had
Thi y mic o
o
m and 100
m
om
s (4 × 2 × 1
o he mic o
p
g
e & Skoog,
able had a
c
n
able in he
g
a
ining a nylon
h oughou h
e
de eloped be
H
yd oponic p
w
e e open-en
d
w
i h a pump
o
lu ions we e
le oo ing p
h
e
el was 20-
3
(Ca:K:Mg–0
.
n
, and solu io
n
7
; V eugdenhi
l
0
01) o by m
o
h
il e al. (200
7
i
gh illumina i
o
V
eilleux (200
7
p
ean po a o c
u
empe a u es
w
64-65°N), en
p oduc ion i
n
n
s a e u ilize
d
e
n s udy we
e
e
a u e, humi
d
n
al me hod. T
and he ca
y
n
s udied.
e
P oduc ion
ion sys em c
o
al p ocessing
s.nl/). The p
o
10 hyd oponi
c
plan le s we
e
m
ic oplan le s
p
00 mic oplan
p
lan le s o D
e
1962) we e
w
c
losed nu ien
g
ow h ooms
ab ic a he
b
e
ay. The sh
o
ween he nyl
o
oduc ion ay
s
d
ed, wi h he
n
a he o he
e
used in he ci
h
ase and con
3
0 kg/ha as c
o
.
7:1.0:0.5) wa
n
2 was eplac
e
Jou nal o
A
l
e al., 2007)
.
o
di ying na u
a
7
), long pe io
d
o
n le els, low
7
) conside +2
u
l i a s. In h
e
w
e e 24±4 °C
a
i onmen al
a
n
g eenhouses
,
d
. Soilless in
d
e
xamined wh
e
d
i y) o he
p
he hyd oponi
c
y
-o e e ec s
o
nsis ed o a
m
uni , nu ien
s
o
duc ion sys e
m
c
g owing a
y
e
plan ed in e
a
p
e cul i a .
T
le s/cul i a ,
o
e
si ee, Van G
o
w
ashed wi h
3
solu ion cy
c
(Figu e 1). In
b
o om o he
o
o s o he mi
c
o
n ab ic and
h
s
a e ans e
V
n
u ien solu i
o
e
nd, and hen
cula ion sys
e
inuing un il
ompa ed o
i
s eplaced wi
e
d by 3 (Ca:
K
A
g icul u al Sc
i
42
.
Hyd oponic
a
l ligh wi h s
u
d
s o dayligh
empe a u es
a
0 °C as he o
p
e
s udies o
C
a
nd 12±2 °C b
a
c o s limi h
e
,
and only o
n
d
oo p oduc i
o
e
he an indo
o
p
oduc ion en
c
p oduc ion
e
o he ech
n
m
ic oplan le h
a
s
olu ions, and
m
s we e plac
e
y
s, each wi h
a
a
ch ay 15 c
m
T
he s udy was
o
al 800 plan
s
o
gh and As e
3
8 °C wa e
a
c
le. A e 13
d
he hyd opo
n
ay, which en
s
c
oplan le s g
o
h
e plas ic shee
o he mic o
p
V
i anen)
o
n ed o he
eci cula ed
o
e
m depending
he ini ia ion
i
eld nu ien l
h nu ien so
l
K
:Mg–1.5:1.0:
0
i
ence
p oduc ion ca
n
u
pplemen al i
l
and high em
p
a
nd ela i ely
p
imal empe
a
C
hang e al. (
2
y day and nig
h
e
u iliza ion o
n
e p oduc ion
o
n echniques
o
hyd oponic
i onmen en
a
e
chnique is n
o
n
ique on he
a
dening abl
e
anks wi h pu
e
d in wo g o
w
a
wid h o 22
5
m
apa , wi h
a
conduc ed w
i
s
/cul i a ).
ix g own on
a
a
nd ans e
e
d
ays, he mic
n
ic sys em, h
e
s
u es op imal
d
o
w abo e a p
l
.
p
lan le s and b
e
ay ia a hose
o
he ay i
a
on he plan
o ube o
m
e el. A he
i
l
u ion 2 (Ca:
K
0
.4) du ing u
b
n
be implem
e
l
lumina ion (
C
p
e a u es inhi
b
sca ce nu ie
n
a
u e o ube
2
012) on hyd
h
, espec i el
y
illumina ion
pe iod is pos
he e o e p
o
p oduc ion s
y
a
ble mini ube
o
, a p esen ,
i
cha ac e is ic
s
e
, cul i a ion
a
mps (Li ing
F
w
h ooms 8
m
5
mm, heigh
a
o al o 300
i
ce, in 2012 a
n
a
egula sem
i
e
d o ha deni
n
oplan le s w
e
e
plan s a e cu
l
d
is ibu ion o
l
as ic shee an
e
o e ha es i
n
a one end an
d
a
a il e sys
e
de elopmen a
m
a ion, nu ie
n
i
ni ial phase
o
K
:Mg–0.4:1.0:
0
b
e iza ion. Th
e
Vol. 9, No. 1;
e
n ed wi h a i
C
hang e al., 2
b
i ube o
m
n
ese es im
p
o ma ion a
n
oponic p od
u
y
.
and empe a
u
sible when n
a
o
ide an a
a
y
s em and a i
p oduc ion
a
i
n use in mini
s
o he p o
d
a
bles wi h g
o
F
oods VB, Ho
l
m
2
and 9 m
2
in
50 mm and l
e
mic oplan le
n
d in 2013, in
i
solid MS me
n
g condi ions.
e
e ans e e
d
l
i a ed in g
o
nu ien solu
i
n
d he oo s a
n
n
g ( igh ) (pho
d
e u ned o
a
e
m. Th ee di
l s age. Du in
n
solu ions
a
o
ube o m
a
0
.3) in he nu
e
nu ien sol
u
2017
icial
0
12).
m
a ion
p
o e
n
d o
c ion
u
e in
a
u al
a
c i e
icial
a
s an
ube
d
uced
wing
l
land,
a ea.
e
ng h
s pe
bo
h
d
ium
The
o a
wing
o
n o
d
he
o E.
a
ank
e en
g
he
a
ied,
a
ion,
ien
u
ions
jas.ccsene .
con ained
low a e
w
nu ien s
o
NMC-P o
sys em. I
n
measu e
m
com).
2.2 Con e
n
Hyd opon
i
mic oplan
p
lan ed (4
Whi e 42
0
(NPK 14-
4
ni ogen,
5
we e i ig
a
2.3 G ow
h
I was use
d
plas ic-co
a
p
e g ow
h
used and
g ow h
o
adia ion
(
g ow h o
o
am) day/n
i
o bo h
g
OHM SR
L
and he P
A
we e me
a
754-O-P
M
Figu e 2
G ow h
o
au oma io
n
b
e ween
2
ooms. In
in g ow h
o g
u he mo e
P,
w
as 0.5 l min
-
o
lu ion pH le
con olle (N
e
n
addi ion, h
e
m
en s (Bluela
b
n
ional
M
ini
u
i
c p oduc ion
le s we e als
o
0 cm × 60 c
m
0
W) was use
d
4
-20) wi h a p
H
5
00 mg kg
-1
s
o
a
ed om bel
o
h
Room Cond
i
d
wo g ow h
a
ed b ick. Th
e
h
oom) (Os
a
he lamp spe
c
o
oms be ween
(
PAR) in he
o
o
ms we e imp
i
gh illumina
i
g
ow h ooms.
L
, I aly) equi
p
A
R senso me
a
a
su ed using
M
T, 754-C, Op
. High-
p
essu
o
om empe a
u
n
(Ilma eollis
u
2
0.9 and 26.0
°
g ow h oom
oom 2. Ai h
u
P,
S, Mn, Cu,
Z
1
and he lo
w
els 5.8 ±0.2
e
a im TM, N
M
e
pH o he
n
Combo Me
e
u
be P oduc i
o
was compa
e
o
plan ed in a
p
m
, dep h 15 c
m
d
as he g o
w
H
o 5.9 and
e
o
luble phosph
o
o
w wi h same
s
i
ions
ooms in he
e
e
loo s we e
m
a
m Vialox, G
e
c
um we e
h
16,000 and
o
liage was 23
8
lemen ed day
i
on. Du ing h
e
The amoun
p
ped wi h RA
D
a
su es he pho
he OL754
onic Labo a
e sodium lam
p
u
es we e adj
u
u
us Oy, Finla
n
°
C in g ow h
1 day ime e
m
u
midi y in he
Jou nal o
A
Z
n, Fe and Na
n
w
cycle was o
n
and EC 1.3
±
M
C-P o-I ig
a
n
u ien solu
i
e
, Bluelab C
o
o
n
e
d o a con
e
p
ea
-
b
ased g o
w
m
) a a dis anc
e
w
ing medium.
e
lec ical cond
u
o
us and 2600
s
olu ion as in
e
sea ch; 8
m
2
m
ade o ac yl
i
e
many) wi h
h
e same in bo
18,000 lx e
g
8
3-2509 μmol
ime ligh con
d
e
p oduc ion p
o illumina i
o
D
and PAR s
e
osyn he icall
y
Po able Hi
g
o ies, Inc., O
l
p
ligh spec
u
u
s ed o 20±2
n
d). Tempe a
u
oom 2. Nigh
m
pe a u es we
e
g ow h oom
s
A
g icul u al Sc
i
43
n
u
ien s in h
e
n
e hou a e
h
±
0.3 we e adj
u
a
ion, Is ael)
o
i
on, EC and
o
po a ion Li
m
e
n ional mini
u
w
ing medium
.
e
o 10 cm
o
The pea was
u
c i i y 27
m
mg kg
-1
solu
b
he hyd oponi
c
and 9 m
2
in a
i
c co e ed co
n
ime con ol (
h g ow h o
o
g
a dless o h
e
m
-2
s
-1
(senso
d
i ions, wi h 1
hase, he spec
o
n was meas
u
e
nso s. The R
A
y
ac i e adia i
o
g
h Accu acy
l
ando, FL, US
A
u
m in he g o
w
°C o day i
m
u
es a ied in
- ime empe
a
e
0.5 °C and
n
s
was adjus ed
i
ence
ei di e en li
q
h
e luid low,
u
s ed acco di
n
o
guide and c
o
empe a u e
w
m
i ed, New
Z
u
be p oduc i
o
.
A o al o 16
0
o
m he polyp
o
e
ilized wi
S
m
-1
and con
b
le po assium
c
echnique.
ea. The walls
n
c e e. High p
Schneide El
e
o
ms (Figu e 2
)
e
measu ing
p
measu emen
4 h (07:00 a
m
um and in e
n
u
ed wi h a H
D
A
D senso m
e
o
n in pho ons
p
U
V
-Visible
s
A
).
w
h ooms, me
a
m
e and 14±2 °
C
g ow h oom
a
u es we e b
e
n
igh
- ime em
p
o 60-80% us
i
q
uid o ms. T
h
ollowing a 5
-
n
g o he a
g
o
n ol he hyd
w
e e moni o
e
Z
ealand, h p:/
/
o
n me hod, a
n
0
mic oplan le
o
pylene boxes
,
h Kekkilä s a
aining 1600
m
(d y ma e ).
T
o he ooms
w
essu e sodiu
m
e
c ic TAC X
e
)
. Ligh in en
s
p
oin s. Pho o
s
wa eleng h
4
m
-09:00 pm)/1
0
n
si y o he lig
h
D
9021 pho
o
e
asu es adia i
o
p
e squa e me
s
pec o adiom
e
a
su ed wi h a
s
C
o he nig
h
1 be ween 19
.
e
ween 15.5 a
n
p
e a u es we
e
i
ng a s eam g
e
Vol. 9, No. 1;
h
e nu ien sol
-
minu e pause
g
e alues usi
n
oponic p od
u
e
d daily by s
e
/
wwww.ge bl
u
n
d o his e
s pe cul i a
,
and pea (K
e
e e ilize
n
m
g/kg wa e
-s
o
T
he g owing
b
w
e e cons uc
m
ligh s (4 × 4
0
e
n a, Sweden)
s
i y a ied in
s
yn he ically
a
4
00-700 nm).
I
0
h (9:00 pm-
0
h
we e de e
m
o
- adiome e (
D
o
n e iciency
i
e. Ligh spe
c
e
e (IS-670-
L
s
pec o adiom
e
h
pe iod usin
g
.
4 and 26.0 °
C
n
d 22.6 °C in
e
0.7 °C lowe
e
ne a o (Vapa
c
2017
u
ion
.
The
n
g an
u
c ion
e
nso
u
elab.
a
son,
we e
kkilä
n
o. 1
luble
b
oxes
ed o
0
0 W
we e
bo h
a
c i e
n
he
0
7:00
m
ined
D
el a
i
n lx,
c
um
L
ED,
e
e
g
AC
C
and
bo h
han
c
LE,
jas.ccsene .o g Jou nal o Ag icul u al Science Vol. 9, No. 1; 2017
44
UK) and humidi y le els we e p edominan ly below 60%. Tempe a u e and humidi y eadings we e ollowed
wi h da a logge s (Ne a im, Clima e Box, Ne a im, Is ael).
2.4 Obse a ions and Samplings
Plan de elopmen and ube o ma ion we e obse ed acco ding o Hack e al. (1993) using p e-ma ked
indi idual plan s (10 plan s pe g owing ay), and lea samples we e aken om he same indi idual plan s ou
imes du ing he p oduc ion phase. The lea samples we e aken in hyd oponic p oduc ion always be o e
changing he nu ien solu ions in ci cula ion, i.e. on 24 May, 30 May, 14 June, and on 7 Augus du ing he
ha es ing phase, a which ime ube samples we e also collec ed. D y ma e and nu ien analyses o
phospho us (P), po assium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sulphu (S), sodium (Na), bo on (B), coppe
(Cu), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn) and i on (Fe) we e conduc ed by labo a o y o Suomen ympä is öpal elu Oy.
When plan s we e g own in a pea -based g owing medium, samples we e aken du ing he same de elopmen al
phases as in hyd oponic p oduc ion, and ha es ing was conduc ed on 7 Augus and sampling and analyses we e
conduc ed as in he case o hyd oponic p oduc ion.
2.5 Ca y-O e S udy
A e h ee mon hs o cold s o age (4 °C) mini ube s sized 10-20 mm o he cul i a s Van Gogh and Desi ee
we e ans e ed o a g eenhouse and plan ed in plas ic g owing boxes (45 cm × 60 cm) in a pea (Biolan,
No ag ow) g owing medium. The cul i a As e ix was no included in he ca y-o e s udy due o insu icien
amoun o o e 10-20 mm sized mini ube s. A o al o 3,200 mini ube s we e s udied (100 ube s × 2 echniques
× 4 eplica ions × 2 cul i a s × 2 imes). The plan s we e i iga ed mechanically wi h a liquid e ilize (Nu i
S-A 0.5 ‰ solu ion). The g eenhouse empe a u e was eco ded by an au oma ic wea he s a ion (a-Wea he ,
AWS -1.04B, Alab, Finland). The eme gence da es o each indi idual plan we e no ed and he de elopmen al
s ages obse ed acco ding o Hack e al. (1993) wi h po en ial oliage symp oms eco ded a one-week in e als.
Ha es ing was ca ied ou 77 days a e plan ing (DAP). A ha es , he numbe o s ems, he numbe and
weigh o he ube s and he ex e nal quali y o he ube s we e assessed indi idually.
2.6 S a is ical Analyses
The s a is ical analyses we e conduc ed using he Mixed p ocedu e o he SAS 9.2/SAS En e p ise Guide 4.3
(SAS Ins i u e Inc., Ca y, NC, USA) p og am, using a a iance analysis model in compliance wi h he spli plo
s udy design. Fu he mo e mini ube s mean±s anda d de ia ion was conduc ed by Duncan’s mul iple ange es .
3. Resul s
3.1 Mini ube P oduc ion
The oliage o Desi ee and Van Gogh de eloped as e du ing hyd oponic p oduc ion han ha o As e ix. Wi hin
37 days om plan ing he mic oplan le s on he ha dening able and ans e ing he plan s o he ays, Desi ee
and Van Gogh oliage co e ed he en i e ay. Tube o ma ion (i.e. he i s s olon ends swollen o double hei
size) s a ed a e 41 days o mini ube p oduc ion in bo h cul i a s. As e ix oliage de elopmen was almos 3
weeks behind Van Gogh and Desi ee. As e ix ube o ma ion s a ed 62 days a e he mic oplan le phase.
When plan s we e g own in g ow h ooms in a pea -based g owing medium, oliage de elopmen occu ed
almos 3 weeks la e and also ube o ma ion s a ed app oxima ely 18 days la e in all cul i a s compa ed o
hyd oponic p oduc ion.
Hyd oponically-g own ube s we e ha es ed 96 days om plan ing he mic oplan le s on he ha dening able.
Mini ube yield was 4.5 pe plan o he cul i a Desi ee, 7.5 o Van Gogh and 4.0 o As e ix. The mini ube s
we e g aded in size ca ego ies < 20 mm and > 20 mm; 56.1-58.4% o he Desi ee and Van Gogh cul i a s and
95.3% o he As e ix cul i a we e in he size ca ego y < 20 mm. The a e age weigh o he mini ube s was 11 g
o he cul i a Desi ee, 13 g o Van Gogh and 6 g o As e ix. In pea -based p oduc ion, Desi ee p oduced 4.4
mini ube s pe plan , Van Gogh 4.6 and As e ix 3.3. Pea -p oduced mini- ube s we e all < 20 mm in size and
weighed 5-9 g (Table 1).
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45
Table 1. Compa ison o hyd oponic and pea mini ube p oduc ion me hods on ube numbe and ube weigh in
cul i a s Desi ee, Van Gogh and As e ix
Me hod Tube numbe pe plan Tube weigh pe plan Mini ube s g ading (%)
< 20 mm > 20 mm
Hyd oponic 4.5 ± 0.2 b 11.3 ± 1.5 a 58.4 41.6
Con en ional 4.4 ± 0.7 b 7.5 ± 0.8 b 98.9 1.1
Hyd oponic 7.5 ± 2.1 a 13.1 ± 3.6 a 56.1 43.9
Con en ional 4.6 ± 1.2 b 9.2 ± 2.7 b 97.2 2.8
Hyd oponic 4.0 ± 0.9 b 6.1 ± 2.9 b 95.3 4.7
Con en ional 3.3 ± 2.0 b 5.0 ± 2.2 c 100.0 0.0
No e. Values deno e mean±s anda d de ia ion and di e en le e s indica e signi ican di e ences be ween means
by Duncan’s mul iple ange es , p = 0.05.
The e we e no signi ican di e ences in he nu ien concen a ions o lea o ube samples be ween hyd oponic
po a o p oduc ion and po a oes cul i a ed in a pea -based g owing medium. Calcium concen a ions we e sligh ly
(no signi ican ly) highe in hyd oponically-p oduced ube s compa ed o ube s p oduced using a pea -based
g owing medium. Co espondingly, manganese and i on concen a ions we e sligh ly (no signi ican ly) highe in
pea -p oduced ube s ( esul s no shown). EC alues, pH le els and empe a u es in hyd oponic p oduc ion
a ied h oughou he p oduc ion season: EC 1.3-1.6, pH 5.8-6.2 and empe a u es 19-23 °C. The pH le els in
pea -based p oduc ion a ied pH 6.2-6.4.
3.2 Ca y-O e E ec s o Techniques on Mini ube s
Hyd oponically p oduced mini ube s eme ged slowe han pea -based p oduced mini ube s by a di e ence o 5
days (p = 0.000) (Figu e 2), bu no ca y-o e e ec o ei he p oduc ion me hod was ound in oliage
de elopmen , numbe o s ems (p = 0.22) o numbe o ube s (p = 0.56) (Table 2). The numbe o s ems a ied
om 1.6-1.7 and he numbe o ube s be ween 4.7-5.2 pe plan . Al hough no ca y-o e e ec o he me hods
was ound in e ms o he numbe o ube s, con en ional pea p oduc ion had a posi i e e ec on c op yield
(g/plan ) (p = 0.005) (Figu e 3), in cul i a Desi ee. Co espondingly, he yield o hyd oponically p oduced
mini ube s was 87 g/plan and con en ionally pea -based 104 g/plan .
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Hyd oponic Con en ional Hyd oponic Con en ional
Van Gogh Desi ee
DAP
Figu e 2. Hyd oponically p oduced mini ube s oliage was de eloped slowe han by
mini ube s p oduced in pea

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46
Table 2. The p oduc ion o mini ube s was implemen ed wi h a hyd oponic echnique in g ow h- ooms and he
ca y-o e e ec s o echnique on cha ac e is ics o mini ube s we e s udied
Me hod Desi ee Van Gogh
Hyd oponic Con en ional Hyd oponic Con en ional Hyd oponic Con en ional
Eme gence (days a e plan ing) 22.5*** 17.2*** 24.6*** 17.4*** 20.4*** 16.8***
De elopmen ( oliage)
6.7. 20.0 18.0 20.0 18.0 20.0 18.0
19.7. 49.0 47.5 49.0 48.0 49.0 47.0
2.8. 60.5* 55.5* 59.0* 55.0* 62.0* 56.0*
19.8. 67.5 67.0 69.0 69.0 66.0 65.0
No. o s ems 1.6 1.7 1.5 1.7 1.7 1.8
No. o ube s 4.8 5.2 4.7 5.1 4.8 5.2
F esh w . o ube s (g/plan ) 174 208** 154 207*** 194 209
D y ma e con en o ube s (%) 22.8 24.0 20.5 22.0 25.0 26.0
No e. As a compa ison, mini ube s om in i o plan le s (con en ional) we e g own in a pea -based g owing
medium. The cul i a s we e Desi ee and Van Gogh. S a is ically signi ican di e ences be ween me hods o
cul i a s a *P = 0.05, **P = 0.01 and ***P = 0.001. The e we e no signi ican in e ac ions be ween o he
p oduc ion me hods o cul i a s o any o he o he a iables measu ed.
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Hyd oponic Con en ional Hyd oponic Con en ional
Desi ee Van Gogh
>50mm
40-50 mm
30-40 mm
15-30 mm
g
Figu e 3. A ca y-o e e ec o he p oduc ion me hods was ound in yielding, wi h con en ional pea p oduc ion
ha ing a posi i e e ec on yield (g/plan ) (p = 0.005) and wi h a g ea e e ec in cul i a Desi ee han in cul i a
Van Gogh
4. Discussion
I is clea ly impo an ha he me hods used in mini ube p oduc ion a e cos e ec i e, he p oduc ion
cha ac e is ics o he mini ube s, such as as a e o oliage de elopmen and high yielding capaci y, a e also
desi able. In ou s udy Desi ee and Van Gogh oliage co e ed he en i e ays in he hyd oponic sys em wi hin 37
days a e plan ing and ube o ma ion o he Desi ee and Van Gogh cul i a s s a ed wi hin 41 days om
plan ing, simila ly o he s udies o Chang e al. (2012) (wi hin 30-65 days, depending on he cul i a and he
p oduc ion echnique). Yields (4.5-7.5 pe plan ) in his s udy a e compa able o he hyd oponic p oduc ion le els
ob ained by Ri e e al. (2001); also wi h ega d o ube weigh (11-13 g). Tube o ma ion o he la e-ma u ing
cul i a As e ix (63 days) was conside ably slowe han ha o Desi ee o Van Gogh, and also he a e age weigh
o he ube s was lowe (6 g). Acco ding o Chang e al. (2008), hyd oponic p oduc ion echniques may no be
a ou able wi h la e-ma u ing cul i a s because he nu ien solu ions may e a d oo and s olon g ow h. In he
p esen s udy mini ube yield was highe in hyd oponic p oduc ion compa ed o pea -based p oduc ion. In
con en ional mini ube p oduc ion (a pea -based g owing medium), oliage de elopmen occu ed almos 3
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47
weeks la e and also ube o ma ion s a ed app oxima ely 18 days la e in all cul i a s compa ed o hyd oponic
p oduc ion.
One aim o his s udy was also o in es iga e whe he hyd oponic p oduc ion echnology e ec s on g ow h and
yield o p oduced mini ube s as ca y-o e e ec compa ed o pea p oduced mini ube s. In he ca y-o e s udy
con en ionally p oduced mini ube s eme ged and de eloped as e and p oduced highe yields han
hyd oponically p oduced mini ube s. The ca y-o e e ec s indica e ha mo e esea ch is needed o cla i y
which cul i a s a e gene ically he bes sui ed in o hyd oponic p oduc ion and especially compa ison be ween
ea ly and la e ma u ing cul i a s.
In ou hyd oponic sys em, he pH and EC le els o he nu ien solu ions emained a he au oma ically egula ed
le els. A i s lowes , he EC was 1.3 dS m
-1
a he ime o igo ous oo g ow h, when he pH le el was a
maximum o 6.2. The esul s a e consis en wi h he s udies o Chang e al. (2012) in which dec eased EC le els
and inc eased pH le els we e ound o be indica i e o ac i e oo g ow h and apid in ake o nu ien s. The e
we e no di e ences in he nu ien concen a ions o lea o ube samples be ween hyd oponic mini ube
p oduc ion and mini ube s cul i a ed in con en ional pea -based g owing medium.
Po a o does no equi e la ge amoun s o illumina ion o pho osyn hesize e ec i ely (Degaman e & an de Zaag,
1988), bu he amoun o ligh and he ela i e p opo ions o wa eleng hs should be sui able o pho osyn hesis
(Ma hews, 2006; Yano sky e al., 1998). In he p esen s udy, he amoun o pho osyn he ically ac i e
illumina ion, 2383-2509 μmol m
-2
s
-1
, p o ided a i icially by he g ow h oom mini ube p oduc ion en i onmen
p o ed adequa e. In addi ion o illumina ion, empe a u e is ano he key ac o a ec ing ube o ma ion.
Acco ding o Le y and Veilleux (2007), high nigh - ime empe a u es a e mo e damaging han high day ime
empe a u es. In he p esen s udy he amoun o hea p oduced by he high-p essu e sodium lamps (4 × 400 W
pe g ow h oom) could no be con olled e ec i ely enough wi h he ai condi ioning equipmen in use. This
was e iden , in pa icula , as inadequa e di e ences be ween day ime and nigh - ime empe a u es in g ow h
oom empe a u es o ca. 19-26 °C by day and 15-23 °C by nigh .
Conclusion
Ou s udy p o ides signi ican in o ma ion ega ding indoo hyd oponic mini ube p oduc ion sys em and
a i icial simula ion o he p oduc ion en i onmen . In no he n condi ions (64-65°N), i a hyd oponic p oduc ion
sys em is loca ed in an en i onmen , whe e na u al ligh is u ilized, makes i mo e di icul o achie e a
combina ion o ligh in ensi y ha is op imal o plan g ow h and ube o ma ion. Based on he p esen s udy,
indoo hyd oponic mini ube p oduc ion needs mo e esea ch, because he ca y-o e e ec s on he
cha ac e is ics o mini ube s we e no clea and he o al ca y-o e yield needs o be imp o ed o achie e a leas
he con en ional pea -based p oduc ion le el. Also mo e s udies a e needed o choosing cul i a s which a e
op imal o be used in hyd oponic mini ube p oduc ion.
Acknowledgemen s
Ou since e hanks o Pi jo Riikola, Timo e Voo , Tapio Uo ila and Anu Kankaala o hei echnical assis ance.
The inancial suppo ecei ed om he Po a o Resea ch Ins i u e and he Minis y o Ag icul u e and Fo es y o
Finland is acknowledged.
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