Improvement of Bean Sprouts Cultivation by the Application of Artiflcial Sunlight Lamp

Abstract

Improvement of production of bean sprouts having heavier (thick) hypocotyls was studied using application of sunlight lamp (Asl). The sprouts of soybean, mung bean, and adzuki bean were cultivated in the dark chambers at 30°C, and the Asl were applied for 60min. every day from 3 days after initiation of cultivation (48 hours after planting) at 500, 2500, 5000, and 10000 luxes. The intermittent application of Asl at 500 lux resulted in an excess of elongation and insufficient thickening of hypocotyls. At 5000 and 1000 luxes, on the other hand, Asl brought a quality deterioration due to excessive suppression of elongation, yellowing, hardening, and accelerated growth of lateral roots, while weight and vitamin C content of sprouts were much incaeased. Asl treatment at 2500 lux, on the contrary, produced excellent sprouts efficiently meeting the market demand, that is, elongation, thickening, and weight increase were accelerated, and vitamin C content was considerably increased. The period needed for cultivation was shortened by 1-2 days as compared with a conventional method. The yellowing and the growth promotion of lateral root were not a serious problem at this illumination intensity.