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Case StudiesPhilips GreenPower LEDinterlightingTesting station (PSKW)Vegetables & FruitProjectTesting Station for Olericulture,Sint-Katelijne-Waver (PSKW)Segmentation/SectorResearchCropLettuce varietiesLocationSint-Katelijne-Waver,BelgiëSolutionPhilips GreenPower LEDtoplightingPhilips LED Horti PartnerMaïsDuring the 2013-2014 lighting season theTesting Station for Olericulture (PSKW)conducted a study into the possibilitiesoffered by LED lighting when used onlettuce varieties grown by means ofhydroculture. The Testing Stationsupports the production of vegetables byexamining new innovations and testingthem out in practice. At the start ofDecember the trial started: HPS lightingand Philips LED toplighting were installedin two separate greenhouses. Threevarieties of lettuce were grown:multicolor lettuce (combination of LolloRossa, Lollo Bionda and Red Oak) andRed Oak and Lollo Rossa separately.In addition to the energy savings, theresults regarding plant developmentwere also positive: the improved redcoloration of the Red Oak and reducedincidence of tip burn in the same cropwere striking. ‘The trial went well,’ saysIsabel Vandevelde, who was supervisingthe trail together with Joris van Lommel.‘The red lettuce varieties showed betterred coloration in the LED greenhouse inthe winter (December-March) than theones in the reference greenhouse.’ Thered coloration was evaluated up untilMarch on the basis of a color chart. Thecolor was scored on a scale of 1 to 5, with5 being the darkest red coloration. A totalof 9 cultivation rounds took place and onaverage the HPS lighting scored 3.7 forred coloration and the LED treatments4.6, a very positive result.ResultsImproved red coloration,less tipburn, 37% reduction inelectricity consumption“The better red coloration and reducedtip under LED lighting are particularlyimportant quality improvements comparedwith cultivation under HPS lighting.”Philips Horticulture LED Solutions - General booklet37