Matching circadian rhythms to light-dark cycles increases lettuce yield by 29% in vertical farms without additional energy input.
- Open access
Aligning lettuce circadian rhythms with 27-hour light-dark cycles increases biomass by up to 29% in vertical farms without extra energy input.
- Why it matters: Current cultivation practices mismatch the natural circadian clocks of lettuce, reducing growth efficiency and yield potential, which limits sustainable vertical farming productivity.
- What they did: Researchers grew 20 lettuce accessions with circadian periods of 24-28 hours under different light-dark regimes, testing 24 h and 27 h cycles with varying photoperiods to optimize resonance.
- The result: Matching the environmental cycle to the plant's internal clock significantly boosted biomass, especially in long-clock varieties, by extending dark periods, improving yield and plant quality without additional energy.