ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the production of functional vegetables and medicinal plants that is achieved by controlling the composition of the hydroponic nutrient solution and optimizing light quality, based on the science behind the response of plants to various environmental stresses. Understanding plant responses to various environmental stress would be necessary to optimize the environmental control to improve the plant biomass production and desired functional ingredients in plant factories. The functional ingredients in plants are mainly products of secondary metabolism and include essential oils, polyphenols, carotenoids, anthocyanins, and alkaloids. Cultivation techniques that enhance functional ingredients by controlling the light environment have also been developed for leafy vegetables, herbs, and medicinal plants. Progress is underway on cultivation methods for functional vegetables and medicinal plants by controlling the composition of the hydroponic nutrient solution and the quality of the lighting.
