A novel crop for controlled indoor farming: Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L. under various LED spectra

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This study examined the growth characteristics of the common ice plant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L.) under controlled conditions, focusing on parameters such as plant height, diameter, Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), and Quantum Yield (QY) over a 28-day period. Plants were cultivated under four LED light treatments (LT1-4) using red, blue, and green light spectra at a constant intensity of 180 ± 4 µmol.m^-2.s^-1. By the 12th day after sowing (DAS), 97.2 % of seeds had germinated, and side shoots began sprouting by the 63rd DAS. Plant diameter increased by 113.2–132.9% across the treatments until offshoot formation, after which growth slowed to 7.6–10.5% of the initial increase. Vertical growth was not significant beyond 5 cm, as the plants grew laterally. The LT4 treatment led to an earlier senescent phase, suggesting that harvesting should occur before 73 DAS. Repeated harvesting is recommended due to the plant’s extensive tillering, with LT3 (red and blue light) being the most suitable for extended harvesting. Despite the LT4 treatment yielding the highest biomass (68.0 ± 5.9 g) after 78 DAS, LT3 is recommended for cultivation, achieving the second-highest yield (57.2 ± 6.7 g) while supporting a more extended harvest period.