Dandelion has been widely used as a folkloric medicine for treatment of diverse diseases. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of light spectrum using red (660 nm), blue (460 nm), red and blue mixed (Red : Blue = 6 : 4) LED (light emitting diodes) and fluorescent lamp on growth and functional components of dandelion (Taraxacum officinale). When LED was illuminated to T. officinale cv. Goldenboll, seed germination was delayed, and germination rate was the highest in the control (fluorescent light). The growth (plant height, root length and fresh weight) except leaf number was increased under the LED treatments compared with the control, and the growth promotion was the most effective in the red LED illumination. Total polyphenol contents in dandelion irradiated with the red and blue mixed or the red LED were 121.77 mg% or 115.36 mg%, respectively, which were greater than those in dandelion treated with blue LED and fluorescent lamp. Asparagine, proline, serine, threonine, glutamic acid and arginine were the predominant amino acids in dandelion and total amino acid was the highest under the Red LED illumination. The results indicate that application of the red and the mixed LED illumination promote growth and increase functional components during cultivation of dandelion

• Chang-Hyu Bae(Department of Bioresources Science, Sunchon National University) Corresponding Author
• Sheong Chun Lee(Department of Bioresources Science, Sunchon National University)
• Hyun Su So(Department of Bioresources Science, Sunchon National University)
• Kyoungsun Seo(Jangheung-county Mushroom Research Institute)
• Jai Hyunk Ryu(Department of Bioresources Science, Sunchon National University, Advanced Radiation Technology Institute, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute)