Concentration of nitrogen, one of the major elements, and ratio of two nitrogen forms (NH4 + and NO3 –) in the nutrient solution affect the quality and food safety of fresh vegetable produce. This study was conducted to find an appropriate strength and NH4 +:NO3 – ratio of a nutrient solution for growth and development of a Romaine lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. longiflora) ‘Caesar Green’, a representative leafy vegetable, grown in a home hydroponic system. In the first experiment, plants were grown using three types of nutrient solution: A commercial nutrient solution (Peters) and two strengths (GNU1 and GNU2) of a multipurpose nutrient solution (GNU solution) developed in a Gyeongsang National University lab. Plants grown with the GNU1 and GNU2 had greater shoot length, leaf length and width, and biomass yield than Peters. On the other hand, the root hairs of plants grown with Peters were short and dark in color. Tissue NH4 + content in the Peters was higher than that of the GNU1 and GNU2. The higher contents of NH4 + in this solution may have caused ammonium toxicity. In the second experiment, eight treatment solutions, combining GNU1 and GNU2 solutions with four ratios of NO3 –:NH4 + named as 1, 2, 3 and 4 were used. Both experiments showed more growth in the GNU2 group, which had a relatively low ionic strength of the nutrient solution. The growth of Romaine lettuce showed the greatest fresh weight along with low tissue NO3 – content in the GNU2-2. This was more advantageous in terms of food safety in that it suppressed the accumulation of surplus NO3 – in tissues due to the low ionic strength of the GNU2 subgroup. In addition, this is preferable in that it can reduce the absolute amount of the input of inorganic nutrients to the nutrient solution.

The home hydroponic system used in this experiment supplied the nutrient solution using the ebb and flow-type system, and the supply time, interval, and water levels of the nutrient solutions were fixed. This experiment was conducted to find a more favorable growth medium for plant growth in the hydroponic system. The medium used in the experiment was of two types, phenolic foam and rockwool, and the heights were 28 and 38 mm, respectively. As for the the multipurpose nutrient solutions (GNU1 and GNU2) were prepared in the lab. The composition of the GNU1 and GNU2 was the same, and there was a difference between 100 and 70% in ion concentrations. The plants used were Ssamchoo (Brassica lee ssp. namai) and Romaine lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. longiflora). First, in the physicochemical measurements of the empty medium, change in the pH and EC of the distilled water passing through the medium was less in the rockwool than in the phenolic foam. This indicates that there is less change in the chemical properties of the nutrient solution due to the medium when rockwool is used. After hydroponic culture of Ssamchoo and Romaine lettuce, the medium showed more residual salts in Romaine lettuce. Both Ssamchoo and Romaine lettuce showed less salt accumulation in rockwool. The emergence rate was significantly higher in rockwool for both species. The lower height of the medium, the faster the emergence was. Ssamchoo displayed significantly higher fresh weight (124.7%), shoot length (107.6%), and leaf width (107.9%) when grown in GNU1, but there were no significant differences as affected by the medium. However, in Romaine lettuce, the type and height of the medium resulted in significant differences. The fresh weight of Romaine lettuce was significantly higher in rockwool (119.6%) than in phenolic foam, and significantly higher at 38 (114.6%) than 28 mm. Although there is a difference depending on the species, rockwool is more suitable for the ebb and flow-type system than phenolic foam, and the height of 38 is more advantageous than 28 mm.

본 연구는 로메인 상추에서 병원성미생물이 생존과 생육의 특성을 분석하여 안전관리 정보를 확보하고자 실시하였다. 로메인 상추에서 분무 접종한 E. coli O157:H7은 72시간 배양 후 초기균수 보다 2.0 log CFU/g 수준으로 증가하여 생존 및 증식이 가능한 것으로 판단되었다. 상추 잎의 상처 유무에 따른 E. coli O157:H7은 배양 72시 간 후 유의적 차이가 없었다. 상추 잎에 인위적인 상처에 내어 E. coli O157:H7을 접종하고 병원균의 분포를 조사한 결과 상처가 없는 상추는 표면이 매끄러워 균이 부착하지 못하거나 균수가 매우 낮았고, 상처가 있는 상추 잎은 거친 표면에 균이 밀집되어 상처를 통해 상추 내부로 침입하는 것으로 판단되었다. 병원성미생물의 상추 추출물 이용 여부는 10-100% 농도에서 배양 24시간 이후에 E. coli O157:H7 8.9 log CFU/mL, L. monocytogenes 8.6 log CFU/mL, P. carotovorum 8.8 log CFU/mL로 나타났다. 이는 병원성미생물과 식물병원균이 유사한 4 log CFU/g 이상의 증가율을 나 타내어 미생물이 상추 추출물을 영양원으로 사용할 수 있는 것으로 판단되었다. 상추 추출물 0.1%에서 초기 접종 농 도와 비교하여 E. coli O157:H7 2.7, L. monocytogenes 1.3, P. carotovorum 2.9 log CFU/mL 수준으로 증가하였다. 이에 따라 병원성 미생물의 최소생육농도는 0.1%보다 낮은 것으로 판단되었고, 상처를 통해 지속적으로 0.1% 수준의 상추 추출물이 병원성미생물에 제공되면 상추 내부에서도 생존 및 증식이 가능할 것으로 확인하였다.

광도와 온도 같은 환경 요인에 의해 광합성 속도가 변화하기도 하며, 생육 시기에 따른 광합성 효율의 변화가 수반되기도 한다. 본 연구에서는 흑로메인 상추(Lactuca sativa L., Asia Heuk romaine)를 이용하여 광도와 온도, 생육 시기에 따른 군락 광합성 속도를 표현하는 두 모델을 구축하고 비교하는 것을 목표로 하였다. 군락 광합성은 정식 후 4, 7, 14, 21, 28 일차 상추를 아크릴 챔버(1.0 × 0.8 × 0.5m)에 넣어 측정하였으며, 이 때 챔버 내부의 온도는 19oC에서 28oC까지 변화시켰고 광원은 LED를 이용하여 50에서 500μmol·m-2·s-1까지 변화시키며 실험하였다. 챔버 내부의 초기 이산화탄소 농도는 2,000μmol·mol-1로 설정하였으며, 시간에 따른 이산화탄소 농도의 변화율을 이용하여 군락 광합성 속도를 계산하였다. 각 환경요인을 표현하는 3개 식을 곱하여 만든 단순곱 모델을 구성하였다. 이와 동시에 온도와 생육 시기에 따라 변화하는 광화학 이용효율과 카르복실화 컨덕 턴스, 호흡에 의한 이산화탄소 발생 속도를 포함하는 수정된 직각쌍곡선 모델을 구성하여 단순곱 모델과 비교하였다. 검증 결과 단순곱 모델은 0.849의 R2 값을 나타내었으며, 수정된 직각쌍곡선 모델은 0.861의 R2 값을 나타내었다. 수정된 직각쌍곡선 모델이 단순곱 모델에 비해 환경 요인(광도, 온도), 생육 요인(생육 시기)에 따른 군락 광합성 속도를 표현하는데 더욱 적합한 모델인 것으로 판단하였다.

This study investigated the effect of heat treatments on the quality characteristics of fresh-cut 'Romaine' lettuce by treating in hot water (45, 50, and 55℃) for 2 minutes. Sensory properties, respiration rate, ethylene production, microbial growth, browning index, total phenolics (TP), vitamin C, and antioxidant properties (DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays) of samples were evaluated after 5 days at 5℃. All heat treatment conditions tested in this study did not affect the change in TP after storage. Treatment at 45℃ enhanced respiration rate and ethylene production wheres decreased vitamin C content and antioxidant activities. There was no significant difference in browning index at 45℃ treatment. The rapid tissue softening occurred when treated with 55℃ hot water for 2 minutes. The 50℃ heat treatments exhibited the best quality index including texture and color, and inhibited microbial growth and browning after storage. In addition, the 50℃ heat treatment showed the highest vitamin C content and antioxidant activities (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP assay) after storage. Therefore, the 50℃ heat treatment can be used to maintain quality and antioxidant property of fresh-cut ‘Romain’ lettuce.

“Mansang” (Lactuca sativa L.) is new romaine type lettuce cultivar developed from a cross between Late Texasgreen and Ithaca by the lettuce breeding team of National Institute of Highland Agriculture (NIHA), RDA in 2002. The preliminary, advanced, and reg