2026 Lettuce Study Compares Continuous Low-Intensity Lighting with Shorter Photoperiods
A peer-reviewed lettuce experiment found comparable growth under several photoperiod and PPFD combinations at the same daily light integral, with energy-efficiency differences.
A research paper published in Frontiers in Plant Science on March 4, 2026 compared three lighting schedules for two lettuce cultivars under a fixed daily light integral of 14.4 mol per square meter per day. The schedules included 16 hours at 250 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹, 12 hours at 340 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ and continuous light at 170 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹.
The researchers reported similar outcomes across treatments for yield, plant shape and core photosynthetic measurements. In their experimental setup, the continuous lower-intensity treatment improved measures of light and energy-use efficiency. Differences between lettuce cultivars were also important for nutritional traits.
The findings should not be taken as a universal recommendation to illuminate every crop continuously. Commercial decisions still depend on cultivar, spectrum, fixture performance, electricity tariffs and growth-stage requirements. This is an independent academic study, with no verified connection to SANANBIO equipment.
Original source: Frontiers in Plant Science, 2026-03-04. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1783548/full