Jump to content

Lettuce: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
cs1 error: cite journal requires |journal= parameter
m Cultivars (varieties): moved picture that was interfering w/ bullet list formatting
 
(34 intermediate revisions by 20 users not shown)
Line 13: Line 13:
| synonyms =
| synonyms =
{{plainlist |
{{plainlist |
* ''[[Lactuca scariola]]'' var. ''sativa'' <small>(Moris)</small>
* ''[[Lactusca scariola]]'' var. ''sativa'' <small>(Moris)</small>
* ''L.&nbsp;scariola'' var. ''integrata'' <small>([[Jean Charles Marie Grenier|Gren.]] and [[Dominique Alexandre Godron|Godr.]])</small>
* ''L.&nbsp;scariola'' var. ''integrata'' <small>([[Jean Charles Marie Grenier|Gren.]] and [[Dominique Alexandre Godron|Godr.]])</small>
* ''L.&nbsp;scariola'' var. ''integrifolia'' <small>([[Günther Beck von Mannagetta und Lerchenau|G.Beck]])</small>
* ''L.&nbsp;scariola'' var. ''integrifolia'' <small>([[Günther Beck von Mannagetta und Lerchenau|G.Beck]])</small>
Line 20: Line 20:
}}
}}


'''Lettuce''' (''Lactuca sativa'') is an [[annual plant]] of the family [[Asteraceae]]. It is most often grown as a leaf vegetable, but sometimes for its stem and seeds. Lettuce is most often used for [[salad]]s, although it is also seen in other kinds of food, such as soups, sandwiches and wraps; it can also be grilled.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/grilledlettucewithgo_14300|title=Grilled lettuce with goats' cheese|publisher=BBC|access-date=17 May 2013|author=Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130717170143/http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/grilledlettucewithgo_14300|archive-date=17 July 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> One variety, [[celtuce]] (asparagus lettuce), is grown for its stems, which are eaten either raw or cooked. In addition to its main use as a leafy green, it has also gathered religious and medicinal significance over centuries of human consumption. Europe and North America originally dominated the market for lettuce, but by the late 20th century the consumption of lettuce had spread throughout the world. {{As of|2021}}, world production of lettuce and [[chicory]] was 27 million [[tonnes]], 53{{Nbsp}}percent of which came from China.<ref name="faostat" />
'''Lettuce''' ('''''Lactuca sativa''''') is an [[annual plant]] of the family [[Asteraceae]]. It is most often grown as a [[leaf vegetable]], but sometimes for its stem and seeds. Lettuce is most often used for [[salad]]s, although it is also seen in other kinds of food, such as soups, sandwiches and wraps; it can also be grilled.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/grilledlettucewithgo_14300|title=Grilled lettuce with goats' cheese|publisher=BBC|access-date=17 May 2013|author=Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130717170143/http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/grilledlettucewithgo_14300|archive-date=17 July 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> One variety, [[celtuce]] (asparagus lettuce), is grown for its stems, which are eaten either raw or cooked. In addition to its main use as a leafy green, it has also gathered religious and medicinal significance over centuries of human consumption. Europe and North America originally dominated the market for lettuce, but by the late 20th century the consumption of lettuce had spread throughout the world. {{As of|2021}}, world production of lettuce and [[chicory]] was 27 million [[tonnes]], 53{{Nbsp}}percent of which came from China.<ref name="faostat" />


Lettuce was originally farmed by the [[ancient Egyptians]], who transformed it from a plant whose seeds were used to obtain oil into an important food crop raised for its succulent leaves and oil-rich seeds. Lettuce spread to the Greeks and Romans; the latter gave it the name {{lang|la|[[lactuca]]}}, from which the English ''lettuce'' is derived. By 50 AD, many types were described, and lettuce appeared often in medieval writings, including several [[herbal]]s. The 16th through 18th centuries saw the development of many [[variety (botany)|varieties]] in Europe, and by the mid-18th century, cultivars were described that can still be found in modern gardens.
Lettuce was originally farmed by the [[ancient Egyptians]], who transformed it from a plant whose seeds were used to obtain oil into an important food crop raised for its succulent leaves and oil-rich seeds. Lettuce spread to the Greeks and Romans; the latter gave it the name {{lang|la|[[lactuca]]}}, from which the English ''lettuce'' is derived. By 50 AD, many types were described, and lettuce appeared often in medieval writings, including several [[herbal]]s. The 16th through 18th centuries saw the development of many [[variety (botany)|varieties]] in Europe, and by the mid-18th century, cultivars were described that can still be found in modern gardens.
Line 30: Line 30:
== Taxonomy and etymology ==
== Taxonomy and etymology ==
[[File:Lactuca sativa seeds.jpg|thumb|''L. sativa'' seeds]]
[[File:Lactuca sativa seeds.jpg|thumb|''L. sativa'' seeds]]
''Lactuca sativa'' is a member of the ''[[Lactuca]]'' (lettuce) genus and the [[Asteraceae]] ([[helianthus|sunflower]] or [[aster (genus)|aster]]) family.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=36607|title=''Lactuca sativa'' L|publisher=Integrated Taxonomic Information System|access-date=27 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111025171631/http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=36607|archive-date=25 October 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> The species was first described in 1753 by [[Carl Linnaeus]] in the second volume of his ''[[Species Plantarum]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/data/linnaean-typification/search/detail.dsml?ID=492400&listPageURL=list%2edsml%3fVarqtype%3dstarts%2bwith%26CVarqtype%3dstarts%2bwith%26CGenusqtype%3dstarts%2bwith%26CSpeciesqtype%3dstarts%2bwith%26Species%3dsativa%26sort%3dGenus%252cSpecies%26Speciesqtype%3dequals%26Genus%3dLactuca%26Genusqtype%3dstarts%2bwith%26CSspqtype%3dstarts%2bwith|title=The Linnaean Plant Name Typification Project|year=2022 |publisher=Natural History Museum|doi=10.5519/qwv6u7j5 |access-date=17 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222085030/http://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/data/linnaean-typification/search/detail.dsml?ID=492400&listPageURL=list%2edsml%3fVarqtype%3dstarts%2bwith%26CVarqtype%3dstarts%2bwith%26CGenusqtype%3dstarts%2bwith%26CSpeciesqtype%3dstarts%2bwith%26Species%3dsativa%26sort%3dGenus%252cSpecies%26Speciesqtype%3dequals%26Genus%3dLactuca%26Genusqtype%3dstarts%2bwith%26CSspqtype%3dstarts%2bwith|archive-date=22 December 2015|url-status=live }}</ref> Synonyms for ''L.&nbsp;sativa'' include ''Lactuca scariola'' {{abbr|var.|variety}} ''sativa'',<ref name="Kew" /> ''L.&nbsp;scariola'' {{abbr|var.|variety}} ''integrata'' and ''L.&nbsp;scariola'' {{abbr|var.|variety}} ''integrifolia''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=LASA3|title=''Lactuca sativa'' L|publisher=United States Department of Agriculture|access-date=2 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120608120552/http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=LASA3|archive-date=8 June 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''L.&nbsp;scariola'' is itself a [[synonym (taxonomy)|synonym]] for ''[[Lactuca serriola|L.&nbsp;serriola]]'', the common wild or prickly lettuce.<ref name="USDA">{{cite web|url=http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=LASE|title=''Lactuca serriola'' L|publisher=United States Department of Agriculture|access-date=2 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120605153004/http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=LASE|archive-date=5 June 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''L.&nbsp;sativa'' also has many identified taxonomic [[species complex|groups]], [[subspecies]] and [[Variety (botany)|varieties]], which delineate the various [[cultivar group]]s of domesticated lettuce.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ars-grin.gov/misc/mmpnd/Lactuca.html|title=Sorting ''Lactuca'' Names|work=Multilingual Multiscript Plant Name Database|publisher=University of Melbourne|author=Porcher, Michael H.|access-date=2 April 2012|year=2005|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120916125457/http://www.ars-grin.gov/misc/mmpnd/Lactuca.html|archive-date=16 September 2012}}</ref> Lettuce is closely related to several ''Lactuca'' species from southwest Asia; the closest relationship is to ''L.&nbsp;serriola'', an aggressive [[weed]] common in temperate and subtropical zones in much of the world.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1hHSYoqY-AwC&pg=PA157|title=Domestication of Plants in the Old World: The Origin and Spread of Domesticated Plants in Southwest Asia, Europe, and the Mediterranean Basin|author1=Zohary, Daniel|author2=Hopf, Maria|author3=Weiss, Ehud|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2012|isbn=978-0-19-954906-1|page=157|access-date=10 January 2016|archive-date=23 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160723001748/https://books.google.com/books?id=1hHSYoqY-AwC&pg=PA157|url-status=live}}</ref>
''Lactuca sativa'' is a member of the ''[[Lactuca]]'' (lettuce) genus and the [[Asteraceae]] ([[helianthus|sunflower]] or [[aster (genus)|aster]]) family.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=36607|title=''Lactuca sativa'' L|publisher=Integrated Taxonomic Information System|access-date=27 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111025171631/http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=36607|archive-date=25 October 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> The species was first described in 1753 by [[Carl Linnaeus]] in the second volume of his ''[[Species Plantarum]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/data/linnaean-typification/search/detail.dsml?ID=492400&listPageURL=list%2edsml%3fVarqtype%3dstarts%2bwith%26CVarqtype%3dstarts%2bwith%26CGenusqtype%3dstarts%2bwith%26CSpeciesqtype%3dstarts%2bwith%26Species%3dsativa%26sort%3dGenus%252cSpecies%26Speciesqtype%3dequals%26Genus%3dLactuca%26Genusqtype%3dstarts%2bwith%26CSspqtype%3dstarts%2bwith|title=The Linnaean Plant Name Typification Project|year=2022 |publisher=Natural History Museum|doi=10.5519/qwv6u7j5 |access-date=17 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222085030/http://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/data/linnaean-typification/search/detail.dsml?ID=492400&listPageURL=list%2edsml%3fVarqtype%3dstarts%2bwith%26CVarqtype%3dstarts%2bwith%26CGenusqtype%3dstarts%2bwith%26CSpeciesqtype%3dstarts%2bwith%26Species%3dsativa%26sort%3dGenus%252cSpecies%26Speciesqtype%3dequals%26Genus%3dLactuca%26Genusqtype%3dstarts%2bwith%26CSspqtype%3dstarts%2bwith|archive-date=22 December 2015|url-status=live |author1=Natural History Museum }}</ref> Synonyms for ''L.&nbsp;sativa'' include ''Lactuca scariola'' {{abbr|var.|variety}} ''sativa'',<ref name="Kew" /> ''L.&nbsp;scariola'' {{abbr|var.|variety}} ''integrata'' and ''L.&nbsp;scariola'' {{abbr|var.|variety}} ''integrifolia''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=LASA3|title=''Lactuca sativa'' L|publisher=United States Department of Agriculture|access-date=2 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120608120552/http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=LASA3|archive-date=8 June 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''L.&nbsp;scariola'' is itself a [[synonym (taxonomy)|synonym]] for ''[[Lactuca serriola|L.&nbsp;serriola]]'', the common wild or prickly lettuce.<ref name="USDA">{{cite web|url=http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=LASE|title=''Lactuca serriola'' L|publisher=United States Department of Agriculture|access-date=2 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120605153004/http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=LASE|archive-date=5 June 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''L.&nbsp;sativa'' also has many identified taxonomic [[species complex|groups]], [[subspecies]] and [[Variety (botany)|varieties]], which delineate the various [[cultivar group]]s of domesticated lettuce.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ars-grin.gov/misc/mmpnd/Lactuca.html|title=Sorting ''Lactuca'' Names|work=Multilingual Multiscript Plant Name Database|publisher=University of Melbourne|author=Porcher, Michael H.|access-date=2 April 2012|year=2005|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120916125457/http://www.ars-grin.gov/misc/mmpnd/Lactuca.html|archive-date=16 September 2012}}</ref> Lettuce is closely related to several ''Lactuca'' species from southwest Asia; the closest relationship is to ''L.&nbsp;serriola'', an aggressive [[weed]] common in temperate and subtropical zones in much of the world.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1hHSYoqY-AwC&pg=PA157|title=Domestication of Plants in the Old World: The Origin and Spread of Domesticated Plants in Southwest Asia, Europe, and the Mediterranean Basin|author1=Zohary, Daniel|author2=Hopf, Maria|author3=Weiss, Ehud|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2012|isbn=978-0-19-954906-1|page=157|access-date=10 January 2016|archive-date=23 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160723001748/https://books.google.com/books?id=1hHSYoqY-AwC&pg=PA157|url-status=live}}</ref>


The Romans referred to lettuce as {{lang|la|lactuca}} ({{lang|la|lac}} meaning "dairy" in [[Latin]]), an allusion to the white substance, [[latex]], exuded by cut stems.<ref name="Weaver170" /> The name ''Lactuca'' has become the genus name, while {{lang|la|sativa}} (meaning "sown" or "cultivated") was added to create the species name.<ref name="Katz376">Katz and Weaver, p. 376.</ref> The current word ''lettuce'', originally from [[Middle English]], came from the [[Old French]] {{lang|fro|letues}} or {{lang|fro|laitues}}, which derived from the Roman name.<ref>{{cite book|page=[https://archive.org/details/oxforddictionary0000unse_x2z7/page/300 300]|title=The Oxford Dictionary of Word Histories|editor=Chantrell, Glynnis|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2002|isbn=0-19-863121-9|url=https://archive.org/details/oxforddictionary0000unse_x2z7/page/300}}</ref> The name ''romaine'' came from the variety of lettuce grown in the Roman papal gardens, while ''cos'', another term for [[romaine lettuce]], came from the earliest European seeds of the type from the Greek island of [[Kos]], a center of lettuce farming in the [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine period]].<ref name="Weaver172">Weaver, p. 172.</ref>
The Romans referred to lettuce as {{lang|la|lactuca}} ({{lang|la|lac}} meaning "dairy" in [[Latin]]), an allusion to the white substance, [[latex]], exuded by cut stems.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Weaver |first=William Woys |title=Heirloom vegetable gardening: a master gardener's guide to planting, growing, seed saving, and cultural history |date=1997 |publisher=Henry Holt and Company |isbn=978-0-8050-4025-8 |edition=1st |location=New York |pages=170–172}}</ref> The name ''Lactuca'' has become the genus name, while {{lang|la|sativa}} (meaning "sown" or "cultivated") was added to create the species name.<ref name="Katz376">Katz and Weaver, p. 376.</ref> The current word ''lettuce'', originally from [[Middle English]], came from the [[Old French]] {{lang|fro|letues}} or {{lang|fro|laitues}}, which derived from the Roman name.<ref>{{cite book|page=[https://archive.org/details/oxforddictionary0000unse_x2z7/page/300 300]|title=The Oxford Dictionary of Word Histories|editor=Chantrell, Glynnis|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2002|isbn=0-19-863121-9|url=https://archive.org/details/oxforddictionary0000unse_x2z7/page/300}}</ref> The name ''romaine'' came from the variety of lettuce grown in the Roman papal gardens, while {{Lang|la|cos}}, another term for [[romaine lettuce]], came from the earliest European seeds of the type from the Greek island of [[Kos]], a center of lettuce farming in the [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine period]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite book |last=Weaver |first=William Woys |title=Heirloom vegetable gardening: a master gardener's guide to planting, growing, seed saving, and cultural history |date=1997 |publisher=Henry Holt and Company |isbn=978-0-8050-4025-8 |edition=1st |location=New York |page=172}}</ref>


==Description==
==Description==
[[File:Lactuca sativa, botersla.jpg|thumb|Lettuce flowers]]
[[File:Lactuca sativa, botersla.jpg|thumb|Lettuce inflorescences]]
[[File:Kropsla vruchten (Lactuca sativa fruits).jpg|thumb|Mature lettuce [[inflorescence]] in fruit]]
[[File:Kropsla vruchten (Lactuca sativa fruits).jpg|thumb|Mature lettuce [[inflorescence]] in fruit]]
[[File:Lettuce seeds 01.jpg|thumb|Lettuce seeds]]
Lettuce's native range spreads from the [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]] to [[Siberia]], although it has been transported to almost all areas of the world. Plants generally have a height and spread of {{convert|15|to|30|cm|abbr=on|0}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/plant-finder/plant-details/kc/a679/lactuca-sativa.aspx|title=''Lactuca sativa''|publisher=Missouri Botanical Garden|access-date=27 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130616211830/http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/plant-finder/plant-details/kc/a679/lactuca-sativa.aspx|archive-date=16 June 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> The leaves are colorful, mainly in the green and red color spectrums, with some [[Variegation|variegated]] varieties.<ref name="FineCooking" /> There are also a few varieties with yellow, gold or blue-teal leaves.<ref name="Ryder">{{cite book|chapter-url=http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/proceedings1993/v2-528.html|chapter=New Directions in Salad Crops: New Forms, New Tools, and Old Philosophy|author1=Ryder, J.|author2=Waycott, Williams|year=1993|pages=528–532|editor-last1=Janick|editor-first1=J. |editor-last2= Simon|editor-first2= J.E.|title=New Crops|publisher=Wiley|access-date=11 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717013724/http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/proceedings1993/v2-528.html|archive-date=17 July 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Lettuce's native range spreads from the [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]] to [[Siberia]], although it has been transported to almost all areas of the world. Plants generally have a height and spread of {{convert|15|to|30|cm|abbr=on|0}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/plant-finder/plant-details/kc/a679/lactuca-sativa.aspx|title=''Lactuca sativa''|publisher=Missouri Botanical Garden|access-date=27 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130616211830/http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/plant-finder/plant-details/kc/a679/lactuca-sativa.aspx|archive-date=16 June 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> The leaves are colorful, mainly in the green and red color spectrums, with some [[Variegation|variegated]] varieties.<ref name="FineCooking" /> There are also a few varieties with yellow, gold or blue-teal leaves.<ref name="Ryder">{{cite book|chapter-url=http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/proceedings1993/v2-528.html|chapter=New Directions in Salad Crops: New Forms, New Tools, and Old Philosophy|author1=Ryder, J.|author2=Waycott, Williams|year=1993|pages=528–532|editor-last1=Janick|editor-first1=J. |editor-last2= Simon|editor-first2= J.E.|title=New Crops|publisher=Wiley|access-date=11 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717013724/http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/proceedings1993/v2-528.html|archive-date=17 July 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>


Line 49: Line 50:
== History ==
== History ==
[[File:Romaine lettuce.jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[Romaine lettuce]], a descendant of some of the earliest cultivated lettuce]]
[[File:Romaine lettuce.jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[Romaine lettuce]], a descendant of some of the earliest cultivated lettuce]]
DNA analysis of 445 types of lettuce indicates that lettuce was first domesticated from its [[Lactuca serriola|wild ancestor]] near the [[Caucasus]], where [[Shattering (agriculture)|seed shattering]] was first selected out of the [[cultivar]]. At this time, the lettuce plant was only suitable for harvesting its [[Seed|seeds]], which could be pressed to extract [[Vegetable oil|oil]], likely used for cooking, among other purposes.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last1=Wei |first1=Tong |last2=van Treuren |first2=Rob |last3=Liu |first3=Xinjiang |last4=Zhang |first4=Zhaowu |last5=Chen |first5=Jiongjiong |last6=Liu |first6=Yang |last7=Dong |first7=Shanshan |last8=Sun |first8=Peinan |last9=Yang |first9=Ting |last10=Lan |first10=Tianming |last11=Wang |first11=Xiaogang |last12=Xiong |first12=Zhouquan |last13=Liu |first13=Yaqiong |last14=Wei |first14=Jinpu |last15=Lu |first15=Haorong |date=2021-04-12 |title=Whole-genome resequencing of 445 Lactuca accessions reveals the domestication history of cultivated lettuce |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41588-021-00831-0 |journal=Nature Genetics |language=en |volume=53 |issue=5 |pages=752–760 |doi=10.1038/s41588-021-00831-0 |pmid=33846635 |issn=1546-1718}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=van Treuren |first=Rob |date=2021-04-12 |title=The DNA of lettuce unravelled: in 6000 years from weed to beloved vegetable |url=https://www.wur.nl/en/newsarticle/the-dna-of-lettuce-unravelled-in-6000-years-from-weed-to-beloved-vegetable.htm |access-date=2024-10-22 |website=Wageningen University & Research}}</ref> From there, lettuce was likely transported to the [[Near East]] and then to [[ancient Egypt]],<ref name=":0" /> where the first depictions of lettuce cultivation can be found as early as 2680 BC.<ref name=":3" /> Like the early lettuce from the Caucasus, this lettuce was grown to produce cooking oil from its seeds.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last1=Katz |first1=Solomon H. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CAtXswEACAAJ |title=Encyclopedia of Food and Culture |last2=Weaver |first2=William Woys |publisher=Scribner |year=2003 |isbn=978-0-684-80568-9 |volume=2 |pages=375–376 |language=en}}</ref>
Lettuce was first cultivated in [[ancient Egypt]] for the production of oil from its seeds. The plant was probably selectively bred by the Egyptians into a plant grown for its edible leaves,<ref name="Katz375">Katz and Weaver, pp. 375–376.</ref> with evidence of its cultivation appearing as early as 2680 BC.<ref name="Weaver170" /> Lettuce was considered a sacred plant of the reproduction god [[Min (god)|Min]], and was carried during his festivals and placed near his images. The plant was thought to help the god "perform the sexual act untiringly".<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q1LAiPylZm4C&q=lettuce+in+egyptian+ritual&pg=PA95|author=Hart, George|title=The Routledge Dictionary of Egyptian Gods and Goddesses|edition=2nd|publisher=Routledge|year=2005|isbn=1-134-28424-1|page=95|access-date=6 October 2020|archive-date=28 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928054557/https://books.google.com/books?id=Q1LAiPylZm4C&q=lettuce+in+egyptian+ritual&pg=PA95|url-status=live}}</ref> Its use in religious ceremonies resulted in the creation of many images in tombs and wall paintings. The cultivated variety appears to have been about {{convert|75|cm|abbr=on}} tall and resembled a large version of the modern [[romaine lettuce]]. These upright lettuces were developed by the Egyptians and passed to the Greeks, who in turn shared them with the Romans. Around 50 AD, Roman agriculturalist [[Columella]] described several lettuce varieties&nbsp;– some of which may have been ancestors of today's lettuces.<ref name="Weaver170">Weaver, pp. 170–172.</ref>


Lettuce appears in many medieval writings, especially as a medicinal herb. [[Hildegard of Bingen]] mentioned it in her writings on medicinal herbs between 1098 and 1179, and many early [[herbal]]s also describe its uses. In 1586, [[Joachim Camerarius]] provided descriptions of the three basic modern lettuces&nbsp;– head lettuce, loose-leaf lettuce, and romaine (or cos) lettuce.<ref name="Weaver172" /> Lettuce was first brought to the Americas from Europe by [[Christopher Columbus]] in the late 15th century.<ref name="CDC" /><ref>{{cite book|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DxrMm9lMFUAC&q=Christopher+Columbus+lettuce+new+world&pg=PA313|chapter=Lettuce Diseases: Ecology and Control|author1=Subbarao, Krishna V.|author2=Koike, Steven T.|title=Encyclopedia of Pest Management, Volume 2|editor=Pimentel, David|publisher=CRC Press|year=2007|isbn=978-1-4200-5361-6|page=313|access-date=6 October 2020|archive-date=28 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928054449/https://books.google.com/books?id=DxrMm9lMFUAC&q=Christopher+Columbus+lettuce+new+world&pg=PA313|url-status=live}}</ref> Between the late 16th century and the early 18th century, many varieties were developed in Europe, particularly Holland. Books published in the mid-18th and early 19th centuries describe several varieties found in gardens today.<ref name="Weaver173">Weaver, pp. 172–173.</ref>
Lettuce was considered a sacred plant of the reproduction god [[Min (god)|Min]], and was carried during his festivals and placed near his images. The plant was thought to help the god "perform the sexual act untiringly".<ref>{{cite book |author=Hart, George |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q1LAiPylZm4C&q=lettuce+in+egyptian+ritual&pg=PA95 |title=The Routledge Dictionary of Egyptian Gods and Goddesses |publisher=Routledge |year=2005 |isbn=1-134-28424-1 |edition=2nd |page=95 |access-date=6 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928054557/https://books.google.com/books?id=Q1LAiPylZm4C&q=lettuce+in+egyptian+ritual&pg=PA95 |archive-date=28 September 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> Its use in religious ceremonies resulted in the creation of many images in tombs and wall paintings. The cultivated variety appears to have been about {{convert|75|cm|abbr=on}} tall and resembled a large version of the modern [[romaine lettuce]]. These upright lettuces were developed by the Egyptians and passed to the Greeks, who in turn shared them with the Romans.{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}} Around 50 AD, Roman agriculturalist [[Columella]] described several lettuce varieties&nbsp;– some of which may have been ancestors of today's lettuces.<ref name=":3" />


The plant was eventually selectively bred into a plant grown for its edible leaves.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /> The long leaves in Egyptian depictions suggest that it may have been grown for its leaves, which would make it the first lettuce cultivar grown for this purpose.<ref name=":2" /> However, genome wide analysis suggests the traits needed for cultivation as a leafy vegetable, like the loss of bitterness and thorns, evolved much later, from around 500 BC in Southern Europe. Lettuce cultivars radiated more rapidly from this point, with [[Lettuce#Cultivars (varieties)|oilseed lettuce]] likely being brought by the ancient Greeks from Egypt to Italy, where it was modified into [[Romaine lettuce|''cos'' lettuce]] and cultivated for its leaves. From there, it was brought north to Central Europe, where it was modified into [[Lettuce#Cultivars (varieties)|butterhead lettuce]] and other varieties.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":5" />
Due to its short lifespan after harvest, lettuce was originally sold relatively close to where it was grown. The early 20th century saw the development of new packing, storage and shipping technologies that improved the lifespan and transportability of lettuce and resulted in a significant increase in availability.<ref name="CommProfile" /> During the 1950s, lettuce production was revolutionized with the development of [[vacuum cooling]], which allowed field cooling and packing of lettuce, replacing the previously used method of ice-cooling in packing houses outside the fields.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/files/repositoryfiles/ca1011p3-64576.pdf|title=House Packing Western Lettuce|author1=Enochian, R.V.|author2=Smith, F.J|journal=California Agriculture|date=November 1956|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130615003744/http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/files/repositoryfiles/ca1011p3-64576.pdf|archive-date=15 June 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref>


Lettuce appears in many medieval writings, especially as a medicinal herb. [[Hildegard of Bingen]] mentioned it in her writings on medicinal herbs between 1098 and 1179, and many early [[herbal]]s also describe its uses. In 1586, [[Joachim Camerarius]] provided descriptions of the three basic modern lettuces&nbsp;– head lettuce, loose-leaf lettuce, and romaine (or cos) lettuce.<ref name=":4" /> Lettuce was first brought to the Americas from Europe by [[Christopher Columbus]] in the late 15th century.<ref name="CDC" /><ref>{{cite book|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DxrMm9lMFUAC&q=Christopher+Columbus+lettuce+new+world&pg=PA313|chapter=Lettuce Diseases: Ecology and Control|author1=Subbarao, Krishna V.|author2=Koike, Steven T.|title=Encyclopedia of Pest Management, Volume 2|editor=Pimentel, David|publisher=CRC Press|year=2007|isbn=978-1-4200-5361-6|page=313|access-date=6 October 2020|archive-date=28 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928054449/https://books.google.com/books?id=DxrMm9lMFUAC&q=Christopher+Columbus+lettuce+new+world&pg=PA313|url-status=live}}</ref> Between the late 16th century and the early 18th century, many varieties were developed in Europe, particularly Holland. Books published in the mid-18th and early 19th centuries describe several varieties found in gardens today.<ref name=":2" />
Lettuce is very easy to grow, and as such has been a significant source of sales for many [[seed companies]]. Tracing the history of many varieties is complicated by the practice of many companies, particularly in the US, of changing a variety's name from year to year. This practice is conducted for several reasons, the most prominent being to boost sales by promoting a "new" variety, or to prevent customers from knowing that the variety had been developed by a competing seed company. Documentation from the late 19th century shows between 65 and 140 distinct varieties of lettuce, depending on the amount of variation allowed between types&nbsp;– a distinct difference from the 1,100 named lettuce varieties on the market at the time. Names also often changed significantly from country to country.<ref>Weaver, pp. 173–174.</ref> Although most lettuce grown today is used as a vegetable, a minor amount is used in the production of [[tobacco-free cigarettes]]; however, domestic lettuce's wild relatives produce a leaf that visually more closely resembles tobacco.<ref name="Katz377">Katz and Weaver, p. 377.</ref>

Due to its short lifespan after harvest, lettuce was originally sold relatively close to where it was grown. The early 20th century saw the development of new packing, storage and shipping technologies that improved the lifespan and transportability of lettuce and resulted in a significant increase in availability.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Twilley |first1=Nicola |title=Frostbite: How Refrigeration Changed Our Food, Our Planet, and Ourselves |date=2024 |publisher=Penguin Press |location=New York |isbn=9780735223288 |pages=124–131 |edition=1st}}</ref>{{citation needed|date=April 2024}} During the 1950s, lettuce production was revolutionized with the development of [[vacuum cooling]], which allowed field cooling and packing of lettuce, replacing the previously used method of ice-cooling in packing houses outside the fields.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/files/repositoryfiles/ca1011p3-64576.pdf|title=House Packing Western Lettuce|author1=Enochian, R.V.|author2=Smith, F.J|journal=California Agriculture|date=November 1956|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130615003744/http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/files/repositoryfiles/ca1011p3-64576.pdf|archive-date=15 June 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Lettuce is easy to grow, and as such has been a significant source of sales for many [[seed companies]]. Tracing the history of many varieties is complicated by the practice of many companies, particularly in the US, of changing a variety's name from year to year. This practice is conducted for several reasons, the most prominent being to boost sales by promoting a "new" variety, or to prevent customers from knowing that the variety had been developed by a competing seed company. Documentation from the late 19th century shows between 65 and 140 distinct varieties of lettuce, depending on the amount of variation allowed between types&nbsp;– a distinct difference from the 1,100 named lettuce varieties on the market at the time. Names also often changed significantly from country to country.<ref>Weaver, pp. 173–174.</ref> Although most lettuce grown today is used as a vegetable, a minor amount is used in the production of [[tobacco-free cigarettes]]; however, domestic lettuce's wild relatives produce a leaf that visually more closely resembles tobacco.<ref name="Katz377">Katz and Weaver, p. 377.</ref>


== Cultivation ==
== Cultivation ==
[[File:Park Lane Nurseries - geograph.org.uk - 583201.jpg|thumb|right|A lettuce farm in the United Kingdom]]
[[File:Park Lane Nurseries - geograph.org.uk - 583201.jpg|thumb|right|A lettuce farm in the United Kingdom]]
A [[Hardiness (plants)|hardy]] annual, some varieties of lettuce can be [[Overwintering|overwintered]] even in relatively cold climates under a layer of straw, and older, [[heirloom variety|heirloom varieties]] are often grown in [[cold frame]]s.<ref name="Weaver173" /> Lettuces meant for the cutting of individual leaves are generally planted straight into the garden in thick rows. Heading varieties of lettuces are commonly started in flats, then [[transplanting|transplant]]ed to individual spots, usually {{convert|20|to|36|cm|abbr=on}} apart, in the garden after developing several leaves. Lettuce spaced farther apart receives more sunlight, which improves color and nutrient quantities in the leaves. Pale to white lettuce, such as the centers in some iceberg lettuce, contain few nutrients.<ref name="Weaver175" />
A [[Hardiness (plants)|hardy]] annual, some varieties of lettuce can be [[Overwintering|overwintered]] even in relatively cold climates under a layer of straw, and older, [[heirloom variety|heirloom varieties]] are often grown in [[cold frame]]s.<ref name="Weaver173">Weaver, pp. 172–173.</ref> Lettuces meant for the cutting of individual leaves are generally planted straight into the garden in thick rows. Heading varieties of lettuces are commonly started in flats, then [[transplanting|transplant]]ed to individual spots, usually {{convert|20|to|36|cm|abbr=on}} apart, in the garden after developing several leaves. Lettuce spaced farther apart receives more sunlight, which improves color and nutrient quantities in the leaves. Pale to white lettuce, such as the centers in some iceberg lettuce, contain few nutrients.<ref name="Weaver175" />


[[File:Planche Lactuca sativa.jpg|thumb|left|A transplanted bed of lettuce in a [[polytunnel]]]]
[[File:Planche Lactuca sativa.jpg|thumb|left|A transplanted bed of lettuce in a [[polytunnel]]]]
Line 72: Line 77:
=== Cultivars (varieties) ===
=== Cultivars (varieties) ===
{{Anchor|Cultivars}}
{{Anchor|Cultivars}}
[[File:Lactuca sativa 'Forellenschluss', Longwood Gardens 2023 01.jpg|thumb|Romaine lettuce 'Forellenschluss' from [[Austria]]]]
There are several types or [[cultivar]]s of lettuce. Three types – leaf, head and cos or romaine – are the most common.<ref name="Bradley129">Bradley, p. 129.</ref> There are seven main cultivar groups of lettuce, each including many varieties:
There are several types or [[cultivar]]s of lettuce. Three types – leaf, head and cos or romaine – are the most common.<ref name="Bradley129">Bradley, p. 129.</ref> There are seven main cultivar groups of lettuce, each including many varieties:
* Leaf&mdash;Also known as looseleaf, cutting or bunching lettuce,<ref name="WSU" /> this type has loosely bunched leaves and is the most widely planted. It is used mainly for salads.<ref name="UI">{{cite web|url=http://urbanext.illinois.edu/veggies/lettuce.cfm|title=Lettuce|publisher=University of Illinois Extension|access-date=25 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315133237/http://urbanext.illinois.edu/veggies/lettuce.cfm|archive-date=15 March 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* Leaf&mdash;Also known as looseleaf, cutting or bunching lettuce,<ref name="WSU" /> this type has loosely bunched leaves and is the most widely planted. It is used mainly for salads.<ref name="UI">{{cite web|url=http://urbanext.illinois.edu/veggies/lettuce.cfm|title=Lettuce|publisher=University of Illinois Extension|access-date=25 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315133237/http://urbanext.illinois.edu/veggies/lettuce.cfm|archive-date=15 March 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Line 91: Line 97:
Soil nutrient deficiencies can cause a variety of plant problems that range from malformed plants to a lack of head growth.<ref name="Bradley129" /> Many insects are attracted to lettuce, including [[cutworm]]s, which cut seedlings off at the soil line; [[wireworm]]s and [[nematode]]s, which cause yellow, stunted plants; [[tarnished plant bug]]s and [[aphid]]s, which cause yellow, distorted leaves; [[leafhopper]]s, which cause stunted growth and pale leaves; [[thrip]]s, which turn leaves gray-green or silver; [[leafminer]]s, which create tunnels within the leaves; [[flea beetle]]s, which cut small holes in leaves and [[caterpillar]]s, [[slug]]s and [[snail]]s, which cut large holes in leaves. For example, the larvae of the [[ghost moth]] is a common pest of lettuce plants.<ref name="Edwards64">{{Cite journal|last=Edwards|first=C. A.|date=May 1964|title=The bionomics of swift moths. I.—The ghost swift moth, Hepialus humuli (L.)|journal=Bulletin of Entomological Research|volume=55|issue=1|pages=147–160|doi=10.1017/S000748530004935X|issn=1475-2670}}</ref> Mammals, including [[rabbit]]s and [[groundhog]]s, also eat the plants.<ref name="Bradley132">Bradley, pp. 129–132.</ref> Lettuce contains several defensive compounds, including [[sesquiterpene lactone]]s, and other natural [[phenols|phenolics]] such as [[flavonol]] and [[Flavonols#Flavonols glycosides|glycosides]], which help to protect it against pests. Certain varieties contain more than others, and some selective breeding and genetic modification studies have focused on using this trait to identify and produce commercial varieties with increased pest resistance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reeis.usda.gov/web/crisprojectpages/198636.html|title=Developing Multi-Species Insect Resistance in Romaine Lettuce|publisher=United States Department of Agriculture|access-date=5 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019193634/http://www.reeis.usda.gov/web/crisprojectpages/198636.html|archive-date=19 October 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Soil nutrient deficiencies can cause a variety of plant problems that range from malformed plants to a lack of head growth.<ref name="Bradley129" /> Many insects are attracted to lettuce, including [[cutworm]]s, which cut seedlings off at the soil line; [[wireworm]]s and [[nematode]]s, which cause yellow, stunted plants; [[tarnished plant bug]]s and [[aphid]]s, which cause yellow, distorted leaves; [[leafhopper]]s, which cause stunted growth and pale leaves; [[thrip]]s, which turn leaves gray-green or silver; [[leafminer]]s, which create tunnels within the leaves; [[flea beetle]]s, which cut small holes in leaves and [[caterpillar]]s, [[slug]]s and [[snail]]s, which cut large holes in leaves. For example, the larvae of the [[ghost moth]] is a common pest of lettuce plants.<ref name="Edwards64">{{Cite journal|last=Edwards|first=C. A.|date=May 1964|title=The bionomics of swift moths. I.—The ghost swift moth, Hepialus humuli (L.)|journal=Bulletin of Entomological Research|volume=55|issue=1|pages=147–160|doi=10.1017/S000748530004935X|issn=1475-2670}}</ref> Mammals, including [[rabbit]]s and [[groundhog]]s, also eat the plants.<ref name="Bradley132">Bradley, pp. 129–132.</ref> Lettuce contains several defensive compounds, including [[sesquiterpene lactone]]s, and other natural [[phenols|phenolics]] such as [[flavonol]] and [[Flavonols#Flavonols glycosides|glycosides]], which help to protect it against pests. Certain varieties contain more than others, and some selective breeding and genetic modification studies have focused on using this trait to identify and produce commercial varieties with increased pest resistance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reeis.usda.gov/web/crisprojectpages/198636.html|title=Developing Multi-Species Insect Resistance in Romaine Lettuce|publisher=United States Department of Agriculture|access-date=5 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019193634/http://www.reeis.usda.gov/web/crisprojectpages/198636.html|archive-date=19 October 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>


Lettuce also suffers from several [[Plant virus|viral diseases]], including [[Lettuce big-vein disease|big vein]], which causes yellow, distorted leaves, and [[lettuce mosaic virus|mosaic virus]], which is spread by aphids and causes stunted plant growth and deformed leaves. [[Aster yellows]] are a disease-causing bacteria carried by leafhoppers, which causes deformed leaves. Fungal diseases include [[powdery mildew]] and [[downy mildew]], which cause leaves to mold and die and [[Fungicide use in the United States#Bottom rot|bottom rot]], [[Fungicide use in the United States#Lettuce drop|lettuce drop]] and [[gray mold]], which cause entire plants to rot and collapse.<ref name="Bradley132" /> Bacterial diseases include ''[[Botrytis cinerea]]'', for which [[UV-C]] treatments may be used: Vàsquez et al. 2017 find that [[phenylalanine ammonia-lyase]] activity, phenolic production, and ''B. cinerea'' [[plant disease resistance|resistance]] are increased by UV-C.<ref name="Urban-et-al-2018">{{cite journal | last1=Urban | first1=L. | last2=Chabane Sari | first2=D. | last3=Orsal | first3=B. | last4=Lopes | first4=M. | last5=Miranda | first5=R. | last6=Aarrouf | first6=J. | title=UV-C light and pulsed light as alternatives to chemical and biological elicitors for stimulating plant natural defenses against fungal diseases | journal=[[Scientia Horticulturae]] | publisher=[[Elsevier]] | volume=235 | year=2018 | issn=0304-4238 | doi=10.1016/j.scienta.2018.02.057 | pages=452–459 | s2cid=90436989}}</ref> Crowding lettuce tends to attract pests and diseases.<ref name="Weaver175" /> Weeds can also be an issue, as cultivated lettuce is generally not competitive with them, especially when directly seeded into the ground. Transplanted lettuce (started in flats and later moved to growing beds) is generally more competitive initially, but can still be crowded later in the season, causing misshapen lettuce and lower yields. Weeds also act as homes for insects and disease and can make harvesting more difficult.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r441700111.html|title=Lettuce: Integrated Weed Management|work=UC Pest Management Guidelines|publisher=University of California|date=August 2007|access-date=3 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120707190840/http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r441700111.html|archive-date=7 July 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> Herbicides are often used to control weeds in commercial production. However, this has led to the development of [[herbicide-resistant]] weeds in lettuce cultivation.<ref name="Davey222" />
Lettuce also suffers from several [[Plant virus|viral diseases]], including [[Lettuce big-vein disease|big vein]], which causes yellow, distorted leaves, and [[lettuce mosaic virus|mosaic virus]], which is spread by aphids and causes stunted plant growth and deformed leaves. [[Aster yellows]] are a disease-causing bacteria carried by leafhoppers, which causes deformed leaves. Fungal diseases include [[powdery mildew]] and [[downy mildew]], which cause leaves to mold and die and [[Fungicide use in the United States#Bottom rot|bottom rot]], [[Fungicide use in the United States#Lettuce drop|lettuce drop]] and [[gray mold]], which cause entire plants to rot and collapse.<ref name="Bradley132" /> Bacterial diseases include ''[[Botrytis cinerea]]'', for which [[UV-C]] treatments may be used: Vàsquez et al. 2017 find that [[phenylalanine ammonia-lyase]] activity, phenolic production, and ''B. cinerea'' [[plant disease resistance|resistance]] are increased by UV-C.<ref name="Urban-et-al-2018">{{cite journal | last1=Urban | first1=L. | last2=Chabane Sari | first2=D. | last3=Orsal | first3=B. | last4=Lopes | first4=M. | last5=Miranda | first5=R. | last6=Aarrouf | first6=J. | title=UV-C light and pulsed light as alternatives to chemical and biological elicitors for stimulating plant natural defenses against fungal diseases | journal=Scientia Horticulturae | publisher=[[Elsevier]] | volume=235 | year=2018 | issn=0304-4238 | doi=10.1016/j.scienta.2018.02.057 | pages=452–459 | bibcode=2018ScHor.235..452U | s2cid=90436989}}</ref> Crowding lettuce tends to attract pests and diseases.<ref name="Weaver175" /> Weeds can also be an issue, as cultivated lettuce is generally not competitive with them, especially when directly seeded into the ground. Transplanted lettuce (started in flats and later moved to growing beds) is generally more competitive initially, but can still be crowded later in the season, causing misshapen lettuce and lower yields. Weeds also act as homes for insects and disease and can make harvesting more difficult.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r441700111.html|title=Lettuce: Integrated Weed Management|work=UC Pest Management Guidelines|publisher=University of California|date=August 2007|access-date=3 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120707190840/http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r441700111.html|archive-date=7 July 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> Herbicides are often used to control weeds in commercial production. However, this has led to the development of [[herbicide-resistant]] weeds in lettuce cultivation.<ref name="Davey222" />


== Production ==
== Production ==
{| class="wikitable floatright"
{| class="wikitable floatright" style="clear:right; width:12em; text-align:center; margin-right:1em;"
|+ Lettuce production in 2021
|-
|-
! colspan=2|Lettuce production 2022
! style="background:#ddf; | Country
! style="background:#ddf; | Millions of <br />[[tonne]]s
|-
|-
! style="background:#ddf;"| Country
| {{China}}|| {{right|14.4}}
! style="background:#ddf;"| {{small|millions<br /> of [[tonne]]s}}
|-
|-
| {{USA}}|| {{right|3.4}}
| {{CHN}} || 15.0
|-
|-
| {{IND}}|| {{right|1.1}}
| {{USA}}|| 3.3
|-
|-
| {{ESP}}|| {{right|1.1}}
| {{IND}}|| 1.2
|-
|-
| {{ITA}}|| {{right|1.0}}
| {{ESP}}|| 1.0
|-
|-
| '''World'''|| {{right|'''27'''}}
| '''World'''|| '''27.1'''
|-
|-
! colspan=2 |<small>Source: [[UN Food and Agriculture Organization|FAO]]<ref name="faostat">{{cite web|url=http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QC|publisher=UN Food & Agriculture Organization, Statistics Division (FAOSTAT)|title=Lettuce (with chicory) production in 2021; Countries/Regions/Production Quantity from pick lists|year=2023|access-date=12 April 2023}}</ref></small>
! colspan=2 |<small>Source: [[UN Food and Agriculture Organization]]<ref name="faostat">{{cite web|url=http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QC|publisher=UN Food & Agriculture Organization, Statistics Division (FAOSTAT)|title=Lettuce (with chicory) production in 2022; Countries/Regions/Production Quantity/Year from pick lists|year=2024|access-date=16 April 2024}}</ref></small>
|}
|}


In 2021, world production of lettuce (report combined with [[chicory]]) was 27 million tonnes, with [[Lettuce production in China|China]] alone producing 14.4 million tonnes or 53% of the world total (table).
In 2022, world production of lettuce (report combined with [[chicory]]) was 27 million tonnes, with [[Lettuce production in China|China]] alone producing 55% of the total (table).


Lettuce is the only member of the genus ''Lactuca'' to be grown commercially.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iPgTGhaGRl4C&pg=PA296|title=Vegetable Diseases: A Color Handbook|page=296|publisher=Gulf Professional Publishing|year=2006|author1=Koike, Steven T|author2=Gladders, Peter|author3=Paulus, Albert O.|isbn=0-12-373675-7|access-date=10 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160430102732/https://books.google.com/books?id=iPgTGhaGRl4C&pg=PA296|archive-date=30 April 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Although China is the top world producer of lettuce, the majority of the crop is consumed domestically. Spain is the world's largest exporter of lettuce, with the US ranking second.<ref name="CommProfile">{{cite web|url=http://aic.ucdavis.edu/profiles/lettuce-2005.pdf|title=Commodity Profile: Lettuce|date=October 2005|publisher=University of California|author1=Boriss, Hayley|author2=Brunke, Henrich|page=296|access-date=2 July 2012|archive-date=7 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120707193112/http://aic.ucdavis.edu/profiles/lettuce-2005.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
Lettuce is the only member of the genus ''Lactuca'' to be grown commercially.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iPgTGhaGRl4C&pg=PA296|title=Vegetable Diseases: A Color Handbook|page=296|publisher=Gulf Professional Publishing|year=2006|author1=Koike, Steven T|author2=Gladders, Peter|author3=Paulus, Albert O.|isbn=0-12-373675-7|access-date=10 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160430102732/https://books.google.com/books?id=iPgTGhaGRl4C&pg=PA296|archive-date=30 April 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Although China is the top world producer of lettuce, the majority of the crop is consumed domestically.


===Markets===
Western Europe and North America were the original major markets for large-scale lettuce production. By the late 1900s, Asia, South America, Australia and Africa became more substantial markets. Different locations tended to prefer different types of lettuce, with butterhead prevailing in northern Europe and Great Britain, romaine in the Mediterranean and stem lettuce in China and Egypt. By the late 20th century, the preferred types began to change, with crisphead, especially iceberg, lettuce becoming the dominant type in northern Europe and Great Britain and more popular in western Europe. In the US, no one type predominated until the early 20th century, when crisphead lettuces began gaining popularity. After the 1940s, with the development of iceberg lettuce, 95 percent of the lettuce grown and consumed in the US was crisphead lettuce. By the end of the century, other types began to regain popularity and eventually made up over 30 percent of production.<ref name="Katz378">Katz and Weaver, p. 378.</ref> Stem lettuce was first developed in China, where it remains primarily cultivated.<ref name="Simoons">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Fo087ZxohA4C&pg=PA148|title=Food in China: A Cultural and Historical Inquiry|author=Simoons, Frederick J.|pages=147–148|isbn=0-8493-8804-X|publisher=CRC Press|year=1991|access-date=22 March 2020|archive-date=26 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191226104737/https://books.google.com/books?id=Fo087ZxohA4C&pg=PA148|url-status=live}}</ref>
Western Europe and North America were the original major markets for large-scale lettuce production. By the late 1900s, Asia, South America, Australia and Africa became more substantial markets. Different locations tended to prefer different types of lettuce, with butterhead prevailing in northern Europe and Great Britain, romaine in the Mediterranean and stem lettuce in China and Egypt. By the late 20th century, the preferred types began to change, with crisphead, especially iceberg, lettuce becoming the dominant type in northern Europe and Great Britain and more popular in western Europe. In the US, no one type predominated until the early 20th century, when crisphead lettuces began gaining popularity. After the 1940s, with the development of iceberg lettuce, 95 percent of the lettuce grown and consumed in the US was crisphead lettuce. By the end of the century, other types began to regain popularity and eventually made up over 30 percent of production.<ref name="Katz378">Katz and Weaver, p. 378.</ref> Stem lettuce was first developed in China, where it remains primarily cultivated.<ref name="Simoons">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Fo087ZxohA4C&pg=PA148|title=Food in China: A Cultural and Historical Inquiry|author=Simoons, Frederick J.|pages=147–148|isbn=0-8493-8804-X|publisher=CRC Press|year=1991|access-date=22 March 2020|archive-date=26 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191226104737/https://books.google.com/books?id=Fo087ZxohA4C&pg=PA148|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Lettuce plant reaching for the sky.jpg|thumb|A lettuce plant that has bolted]]
[[File:Lettuce plant reaching for the sky.jpg|thumb|A lettuce plant that has bolted]]


In the early 21st century, bagged salad products increased in the lettuce market, especially in the US where innovative packaging and shipping methods prolonged freshness.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Lettuce Grows into A Processed Food|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2002/aug/19/business/fi-lettuce19|journal=Los Angeles Times|author=Fulmer, Melinda|date=19 August 2002|access-date=30 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131218114512/http://articles.latimes.com/2002/aug/19/business/fi-lettuce19|archive-date=18 December 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=agmrc/><ref name="npr">{{Cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2016/07/12/485098252/as-bagged-salad-kits-boom-americans-eat-more-greens |title=As Bagged Salad Kits Boom, Americans Eat More Greens |last1=Charles |first1=Dan |last2=Aubrey |first2=Allison |newspaper=NPR.org |publisher=National Public Radio |date=12 July 2016 |access-date=5 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180403101039/https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2016/07/12/485098252/as-bagged-salad-kits-boom-americans-eat-more-greens |archive-date=3 April 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>
In the early 21st century, bagged salad products increased in the lettuce market, especially in the US where innovative packaging and shipping methods prolonged freshness.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Lettuce Grows into A Processed Food|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-aug-19-fi-lettuce19-story.html|journal=Los Angeles Times|author=Fulmer, Melinda|date=19 August 2002|access-date=30 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131218114512/http://articles.latimes.com/2002/aug/19/business/fi-lettuce19|archive-date=18 December 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=agmrc/><ref name="npr">{{Cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2016/07/12/485098252/as-bagged-salad-kits-boom-americans-eat-more-greens |title=As Bagged Salad Kits Boom, Americans Eat More Greens |last1=Charles |first1=Dan |last2=Aubrey |first2=Allison |newspaper=NPR.org |publisher=National Public Radio |date=12 July 2016 |access-date=5 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180403101039/https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2016/07/12/485098252/as-bagged-salad-kits-boom-americans-eat-more-greens |archive-date=3 April 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>


In the United States in 2013, [[California]] (71%) and [[Arizona]] (29%) produced nearly all of the country's fresh head and leaf lettuce, with head lettuce yielding $9,400 of value per acre and leaf lettuce yielding $8,000 per acre.<ref name="agmrc">{{cite web | url=http://www.agmrc.org/commodities-products/vegetables/lettuce/ | title=Lettuce | publisher=Agricultural Marketing Resource Center, Iowa State University | date=May 2015 | access-date=7 October 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161013110426/http://www.agmrc.org/commodities-products/vegetables/lettuce | archive-date=13 October 2016 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
In the United States in 2022, lettuce was the main vegetable ingredient in salads, and was the most consumed among leaf vegetables; its market was about 20% of all vegetables, with Romaine and iceberg having about equal sales.<ref name="agmrc">{{cite web | url=https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/chart-gallery/gallery/chart-detail/?chartId=106516 | title=Lettuce | publisher=Agricultural Marketing Resource Center, Iowa State University | date=April 2023 | access-date=16 April 2024}}</ref> Some 85% of the lettuce consumed in the United States in 2022 was produced domestically.<ref name=agmrc/>


== Uses ==
== Uses ==
=== Culinary ===
=== Culinary ===
As described around 50 AD, lettuce leaves were often cooked and served by the Romans with an oil-and-vinegar dressing; however, smaller leaves were sometimes eaten raw. During the 81–96 AD reign of [[Domitian]], the tradition of serving a lettuce [[salad]] before a meal began. Post-Roman Europe continued the tradition of [[Poaching (cooking)|poaching]] lettuce, mainly with large romaine types, as well as the method of pouring a hot oil and vinegar mixture over the leaves.<ref name="Weaver170" />
As described around 50 AD, lettuce leaves were often cooked and served by the Romans with an oil-and-vinegar dressing; however, smaller leaves were sometimes eaten raw. During the 81–96 AD reign of [[Domitian]], the tradition of serving a lettuce [[salad]] before a meal began. Post-Roman Europe continued the tradition of [[Poaching (cooking)|poaching]] lettuce, mainly with large romaine types, as well as the method of pouring a hot oil and vinegar mixture over the leaves.<ref name="Weaver170">Weaver, pp. 170–172.</ref>


Today, the majority of lettuce is grown for its leaves, although one type is grown for its stem and one for its seeds, which are made into an oil.<ref name="Katz375" /> Most lettuce is used in salads, either alone or with other greens, vegetables, meats and cheeses. Romaine lettuce is often used for [[Caesar salad]]s. Lettuce leaves can also be found in soups, sandwiches and wraps, while the stems are eaten both raw and cooked.<ref name="Katz376" />
Today, the majority of lettuce is grown for its leaves, although one type is grown for its stem and one for its seeds, which are made into an oil.<ref name=":2" /> Most lettuce is used in salads, either alone or with other greens, vegetables, meats and cheeses. Romaine lettuce is often used for [[Caesar salad]]s. Lettuce leaves can also be found in soups, sandwiches and wraps, while the stems are eaten both raw and cooked.<ref name="Katz376" />


{{nutritional value | name=Lettuce (butterhead)
{{nutritional value | name=Lettuce (iceberg, raw)
| water=95.63 g
| water=95.6 g
| kJ=55
| kJ=58
| protein=1.35 g
| protein=0.9 g
| fat=0.22 g
| fat=0.14 g
| carbs=2.23 g
| carbs=3.0 g
| fiber=1.1 g
| fiber=1.2 g
| sugars=0.94
| sugars=2.0 g
| calcium_mg=35
| calcium_mg=18
| iron_mg=1.24
| iron_mg=0.41
| magnesium_mg=13
| magnesium_mg=7
| phosphorus_mg=33
| phosphorus_mg=20
| potassium_mg=238
| potassium_mg=141
| sodium_mg=5
| sodium_mg=10
| zinc_mg=0.2
| zinc_mg=0.15
| manganese_mg=0.179
| manganese_mg=0.125
| vitC_mg=3.7
| vitC_mg=2.8
| thiamin_mg=0.057
| thiamin_mg=0.041
| riboflavin_mg=0.062
| riboflavin_mg=0.025
| pantothenic_mg=0.15
| pantothenic_mg=0.091
| vitB6_mg=0.082
| vitB6_mg=0.042
| folate_ug=73
| folate_ug=29
| vitA_ug=166
| vitA_ug=25
| betacarotene_ug=1987
| betacarotene_ug=299
| lutein_ug=1223
| lutein_ug=277
| vitE_mg=0.18
| vitE_mg=0.18
| vitK_ug=102.3
| vitK_ug=24.1
| source_usda=1
| source_usda=1
| note=[https://web.archive.org/web/20120827011041/http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/foods/show/3000 Link to USDA Database entry]
| note=[https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/169248/nutrients Link to USDA Database entry]
}}
}}


The consumption of lettuce in China developed differently from in Western countries, due to health risks and cultural aversion to eating raw leaves; Chinese "salads" are composed of cooked vegetables and are served hot or cold. Lettuce is also used in a larger variety of dishes than in Western countries, contributing to a range of dishes including [[bean curd]] and meat dishes, soups and [[stir-fry]]s plain or with other vegetables. Stem lettuce, widely consumed in China, is eaten either raw or cooked, the latter primarily in soups and stir-frys.<ref name="Simoons" /> Lettuce is also used as a primary ingredient in the preparation of [[lettuce soup]].
The consumption of lettuce in China developed differently from in Western countries, due to health risks and cultural aversion to eating raw leaves; Chinese "salads" are composed of cooked vegetables and are served hot or cold. Lettuce is also used in a larger variety of dishes than in Western countries, contributing to a range of dishes including [[bean curd]] and meat dishes, soups and [[stir-fry]]s plain or with other vegetables. Stem lettuce, widely consumed in China, is eaten either raw or cooked, the latter primarily in soups and stir-frys.<ref name="Simoons" /> Lettuce is also used as a primary ingredient in the preparation of [[lettuce soup]].


== Nutritional content ==
== Nutrition ==
Depending on the variety, lettuce is an excellent source (20% of the [[Daily Value]], DV, or higher) of [[vitamin K]] (97% DV) and [[vitamin A]] (21% DV) (table), with higher concentrations of the [[provitamin A]] compound, [[beta-carotene]], found in darker green lettuces, such as romaine.<ref name="UI"/> With the exception of the iceberg variety, lettuce is also a good source (10–19% DV) of [[folate]] and [[iron]] (table).<ref name="UI"/>
Raw iceberg lettuce is 96% water, 3% [[carbohydrate]]s, and contains negligible [[protein (nutrient)|protein]] and [[fat]] (table). In a reference amount of {{convert|100|g}}, iceberg lettuce supplies 14 [[calorie]]s and is a rich source (20% or more of the [[Daily Value]], DV) of [[vitamin K]] (20% DV), with no other [[micronutrient]]s in significant content (table).

In lettuce varieties with dark green leaves, such as [[Romaine lettuce|romaine (also called ''cos'')]], [[vitamin A]] contents are appreciable due to the presence of the [[provitamin A]] compound, [[beta-carotene]].<ref name="UI"/> Dark green varieties of lettuce also contain moderate amounts of [[calcium in biology|calcium]] and [[iron in biology|iron]].<ref name="UI"/> The edible spine and ribs of the lettuce plant supply [[dietary fiber]], while micronutrients are contained in the leaf portion.<ref name="UI"/>


== Food-borne illness ==
== Food-borne illness ==
[[Food-borne illness|Food-borne]] [[pathogen]]s that can survive on lettuce include ''[[Listeria monocytogenes]]'', the causative agent of [[listeriosis]], which multiplies in storage. However, despite high levels of bacteria being found on ready-to-eat lettuce products, a 2008 study found no incidents of food-borne illness related to listeriosis, possibly due to the product's short [[shelf life]], indigenous microflora competing with the ''Listeria'' bacteria or inhibition of bacteria to cause listeriosis.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Precut prepackaged lettuce: a risk for listeriosis?|author1=Hanning, I.B. |author2=Johnson, M.G. |author3=Ricke, S.C |journal=Foodborne Pathogens and Disease|date=December 2008|volume=5|issue=6|pages=731–746|pmid=18847382|doi=10.1089/fpd.2008.0142}}</ref>
[[Food-borne illness|Food-borne]] [[pathogen]]s that can survive on lettuce include ''[[Listeria monocytogenes]]'', the causative agent of [[listeriosis]], which multiplies in storage. However, despite high levels of bacteria being found on ready-to-eat lettuce products, a 2008 study found no incidents of food-borne illness related to listeriosis, possibly due to the product's short [[shelf life]], indigenous microflora competing with the ''Listeria'' bacteria or inhibition of bacteria to cause listeriosis.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Precut prepackaged lettuce: a risk for listeriosis?|author1=Hanning, I.B. |author2=Johnson, M.G. |author3=Ricke, S.C |journal=Foodborne Pathogens and Disease|date=December 2008|volume=5|issue=6|pages=731–746|pmid=18847382|doi=10.1089/fpd.2008.0142}}</ref>


Other bacteria found on lettuce include ''[[Aeromonas]]'' species, which have not been linked to any outbreaks; ''[[Campylobacter]]'' species, which cause [[campylobacteriosis]]; and ''[[Yersinia intermedia]]'' and ''[[Yersinia kristensenii]]'' (species of ''[[Yersinia]]''), which have been found mainly in lettuce.<ref name="FDA">{{cite web|url=https://www.fda.gov/Food/ScienceResearch/ResearchAreas/SafePracticesforFoodProcesses/ucm091265.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109123857/https://www.fda.gov/Food/ScienceResearch/ResearchAreas/SafePracticesforFoodProcesses/ucm091265.htm|archive-date=2012-11-09|title=Chapter IV. Outbreaks Associated with Fresh and Fresh-Cut Produce. Incidence, Growth, and Survival of Pathogens in Fresh and Fresh-Cut Produce|publisher=US Food and Drug Administration|access-date=19 April 2012|work=Analysis and Evaluation of Preventive Control Measures for the Control and Reduction/Elimination of Microbial Hazards on Fresh and Fresh-Cut Produce|date=12 April 2012}}</ref> ''[[Salmonella]]'' bacteria, including the uncommon ''[[Salmonella braenderup]]'' type, have also caused outbreaks traced to contaminated lettuce.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Multiple outbreaks of ''Salmonella braenderup'' associated with consumption of iceberg lettuce|journal=International Journal of Environmental Health Research|volume=22|issue=2|date=April 2012|author1=Gajraj, Roger |author2=Pooransingh, Shalini |author3=Hawker, Jeremy |author4=Olowokure, Babatunde |pages=150–155|doi=10.1080/09603123.2011.613114|pmid=21916661|s2cid=27881973}}</ref> Viruses, including [[hepatitis A]], [[calicivirus]] and a [[Norwalk virus|Norwalk-like]] strain, have been found in lettuce. The vegetable has also been linked to outbreaks of parasitic infestations, including ''[[Giardia lamblia]]''.<ref name="FDA" />
Other bacteria found on lettuce include ''[[Aeromonas]]'' species, which have not been linked to any outbreaks; ''[[Campylobacter]]'' species, which cause [[campylobacteriosis]]; and ''[[Yersinia intermedia]]'' and ''[[Yersinia kristensenii]]'' (species of ''[[Yersinia]]''), which have been found mainly in lettuce.<ref name="FDA">{{cite web|url=https://www.fda.gov/Food/ScienceResearch/ResearchAreas/SafePracticesforFoodProcesses/ucm091265.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109123857/https://www.fda.gov/Food/ScienceResearch/ResearchAreas/SafePracticesforFoodProcesses/ucm091265.htm|archive-date=2012-11-09|title=Chapter IV. Outbreaks Associated with Fresh and Fresh-Cut Produce. Incidence, Growth, and Survival of Pathogens in Fresh and Fresh-Cut Produce|publisher=US Food and Drug Administration|access-date=19 April 2012|work=Analysis and Evaluation of Preventive Control Measures for the Control and Reduction/Elimination of Microbial Hazards on Fresh and Fresh-Cut Produce|date=12 April 2012}}</ref> ''[[Salmonella]]'' bacteria, including the uncommon ''Salmonella braenderup'' type, have also caused outbreaks traced to contaminated lettuce.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Multiple outbreaks of ''Salmonella braenderup'' associated with consumption of iceberg lettuce|journal=International Journal of Environmental Health Research|volume=22|issue=2|date=April 2012|author1=Gajraj, Roger |author2=Pooransingh, Shalini |author3=Hawker, Jeremy |author4=Olowokure, Babatunde |pages=150–155|doi=10.1080/09603123.2011.613114|pmid=21916661|bibcode=2012IJEHR..22..150G |s2cid=27881973}}</ref> Viruses, including [[hepatitis A]], [[calicivirus]] and a [[Norwalk virus|Norwalk-like]] strain, have been found in lettuce. The vegetable has also been linked to outbreaks of parasitic infestations, including ''[[Giardia lamblia]]''.<ref name="FDA" />


Lettuce has been linked to numerous outbreaks of the bacteria [[E. coli O157:H7|''E.coli'' O157:H7]] and ''[[Shigella]]''; the plants were most likely contaminated through contact with animal<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/foodnut/09369.html|title=Preventing ''E. coli'' from Garden to Plate|publisher=Colorado State University|author1=Davis, J. G.|author2=Kendall, P.|access-date=26 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305133942/http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/foodnut/09369.html|archive-date=5 March 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> or human feces.<ref name="Summ">{{cite journal|display-authors=3 |last1=Summerlin III |first1=HN |last2=Pola |first2=CC |last3=McLamore |first3=ES |last4=Gentry |first4=T |last5=Karthikeyan |first5=R |last6=Gomes |first6=CL |title=Prevalence of ''Escherichia coli'' and Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria During Fresh Produce Production (Romaine Lettuce) Using Municipal Wastewater Effluents |journal=Front. Microbiol. |date=May 20, 2021 |volume=12 |issue=660047 |page=660047 |doi=10.3389/fmicb.2021.660047 |pmid=34093474 |pmc=8172605 |doi-access=free }}</ref> A 2007 study determined that the vacuum cooling method, especially prevalent in the California lettuce industry, increased the uptake and survival rates of ''E. coli'' O157:H7.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Impact of Vacuum Cooling on ''Escherichia coli'' O157:H7 Infiltration into Lettuce Tissue|journal=Applied and Environmental Microbiology |year=2008 |volume=74 |issue=10 |pages=3138–42 |pmid=18344328 |pmc=2394940 |doi=10.1128/AEM.02811-07 |last1=Li|first1=Haiping|last2=Tajkarimi|first2=Mehrdad|last3=Osburn|first3=Bennie I|bibcode=2008ApEnM..74.3138L|author-link3=Bennie Osburn}}</ref> Scientific experiments using treated [[municipal wastewater]] as irrigation for romaine lettuce have shown that the contamination levels of foliage, leachate, and soil with ''E. coli'' <ref name="Summ"/> and ''AP205 [[bacteriophage]]'' (used by researchers as a surrogate for [[enteric virus]]es), respectively, were directly correlated with the presence of these organisms in the irrigation water.<ref name="Summerlin 2">{{cite journal|display-authors=3 |last1=Summerlin III |first1=HN |last2=Pola |first2=CC |last3=Chamakura |first3=KR |last4=Young |first4=R |last5=Gentry |first5=T |last6=McLamore |first6=ES |last7=Karthikeyan |first7=R |last8=Gomes |first8=CL |title=Fate of enteric viruses during leafy greens (romaine lettuce) production using treated municipal wastewater and AP205 bacteriophage as a surrogate |journal= Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A|date=2021 |volume=566 |issue=10 |pages=1138–1144 |doi=10.1080/10934529.2021.1968231 |pmid=34427159|s2cid=237282172 }}</ref>
Lettuce has been linked to numerous outbreaks of the bacteria [[E. coli O157:H7|''E.coli'' O157:H7]] and ''[[Shigella]]''; the plants were most likely contaminated through contact with animal<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/foodnut/09369.html|title=Preventing ''E. coli'' from Garden to Plate|publisher=Colorado State University|author1=Davis, J. G.|author2=Kendall, P.|access-date=26 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305133942/http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/foodnut/09369.html|archive-date=5 March 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> or human feces.<ref name="Summ">{{cite journal|display-authors=3 |last1=Summerlin III |first1=HN |last2=Pola |first2=CC |last3=McLamore |first3=ES |last4=Gentry |first4=T |last5=Karthikeyan |first5=R |last6=Gomes |first6=CL |title=Prevalence of ''Escherichia coli'' and Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria During Fresh Produce Production (Romaine Lettuce) Using Municipal Wastewater Effluents |journal=Front. Microbiol. |date=May 20, 2021 |volume=12 |issue=660047 |page=660047 |doi=10.3389/fmicb.2021.660047 |pmid=34093474 |pmc=8172605 |doi-access=free }}</ref> A 2007 study determined that the vacuum cooling method, especially prevalent in the California lettuce industry, increased the uptake and survival rates of ''E. coli'' O157:H7.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Impact of Vacuum Cooling on ''Escherichia coli'' O157:H7 Infiltration into Lettuce Tissue|journal=Applied and Environmental Microbiology |year=2008 |volume=74 |issue=10 |pages=3138–42 |pmid=18344328 |pmc=2394940 |doi=10.1128/AEM.02811-07 |last1=Li|first1=Haiping|last2=Tajkarimi|first2=Mehrdad|last3=Osburn|first3=Bennie I|bibcode=2008ApEnM..74.3138L|author-link3=Bennie Osburn}}</ref> Scientific experiments using treated [[municipal wastewater]] as irrigation for romaine lettuce have shown that the contamination levels of foliage, leachate, and soil with ''E. coli''<ref name="Summ"/> and ''AP205 [[bacteriophage]]'' (used by researchers as a surrogate for [[enteric virus]]es), respectively, were directly correlated with the presence of these organisms in the irrigation water.<ref name="Summerlin 2">{{cite journal|display-authors=3 |last1=Summerlin III |first1=HN |last2=Pola |first2=CC |last3=Chamakura |first3=KR |last4=Young |first4=R |last5=Gentry |first5=T |last6=McLamore |first6=ES |last7=Karthikeyan |first7=R |last8=Gomes |first8=CL |title=Fate of enteric viruses during leafy greens (romaine lettuce) production using treated municipal wastewater and AP205 bacteriophage as a surrogate |journal= Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A|date=2021 |volume=566 |issue=10 |pages=1138–1144 |doi=10.1080/10934529.2021.1968231 |pmid=34427159|bibcode=2021JESHA..56.1138S |s2cid=237282172 }}</ref>


Due to the increase in food demand, the use of treated wastewater effluent for irrigation and animal or human excreta (i.e., manure or biosolids) as soil amendments is increasing.<ref name="Mays">{{cite journal |last1=Mays |first1=C |last2=Garza |first2=GL |last3=Waite-Cusic |first3=J |last4=Radniecki |first4=TS |last5=Navab-Daneshmanda |first5=Tala |title=Impact of biosolids amendment and wastewater effluent irrigation on enteric antibiotic-resistant bacteria – a greenhouse study |journal=Water Res X |date=1 Dec 2021 |volume=13 |issue=100119 |page=100119 |doi=10.1016/j.wroa.2021.100119 |pmid=34585133 |pmc=8452883 |bibcode=2021WRX....1300119M }}</ref> As such, so are the outbreaks of food-borne illnesses. Due to the overuse of antibiotics in farming, the number of pathogens [[antibiotic resistance|resistant]] to antibiotics is increasing,<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Xu |first1=C |last2=Kong |first2=L |last3=Liao |first3=Y |last4=Wu |first4=Q |last5=Liu |first5=H |last6=Wang |first6=X |title=Mini-Review: Antibiotic-Resistant Escherichia coli from Farm Animal-Associated Sources |journal=Antibiotics |date=Nov 2022 |volume=11 |issue=11 |page=1535 |doi=10.3390/antibiotics11111535 |pmid=36358190 |pmc=9686710|doi-access=free }}</ref> one of these being ''AR E.coli'', which has been found on lettuce irrigated with wastewater.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=O'Flaherty |first1=E |last2=Solimini |first2=AG |last3=Pantanella |first3=F |last4=De Giusti |first4=M |last5=Cummins |first5=E |title=Human exposure to antibiotic resistant-Escherichia coli through irrigated lettuce |journal= Environment International|date=Jan 2019 |volume=122 |pages=270–280 |doi= 10.1016/j.envint.2018.11.022 |pmid=30449627 |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30449627/ |access-date=12 April 2023}}[https://reader.elsevier.com/reader/sd/pii/S016041201831643X?token=6585D28FDB16B77BA3788376DE943682C9ACD372BB9D47147E75615A28E1D9FDE92B07AE629981AED95FDED694DB104F&originRegion=us-east-1&originCreation=20230412164332 PDF]</ref>
Due to the increase in food demand, the use of treated wastewater effluent for irrigation and animal or human excreta (i.e., manure or biosolids) as soil amendments is increasing.<ref name="Mays">{{cite journal |last1=Mays |first1=C |last2=Garza |first2=GL |last3=Waite-Cusic |first3=J |last4=Radniecki |first4=TS |last5=Navab-Daneshmanda |first5=Tala |title=Impact of biosolids amendment and wastewater effluent irrigation on enteric antibiotic-resistant bacteria – a greenhouse study |journal=Water Res X |date=1 Dec 2021 |volume=13 |issue=100119 |page=100119 |doi=10.1016/j.wroa.2021.100119 |pmid=34585133 |pmc=8452883 |bibcode=2021WRX....1300119M }}</ref> As such, so are the outbreaks of food-borne illnesses. Due to the overuse of antibiotics in farming, the number of pathogens [[antibiotic resistance|resistant]] to antibiotics is increasing,<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Xu |first1=C |last2=Kong |first2=L |last3=Liao |first3=Y |last4=Wu |first4=Q |last5=Liu |first5=H |last6=Wang |first6=X |title=Mini-Review: Antibiotic-Resistant Escherichia coli from Farm Animal-Associated Sources |journal=Antibiotics |date=Nov 2022 |volume=11 |issue=11 |page=1535 |doi=10.3390/antibiotics11111535 |pmid=36358190 |pmc=9686710|doi-access=free }}</ref> one of these being ''AR E.coli'', which has been found on lettuce irrigated with wastewater.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=O'Flaherty |first1=E |last2=Solimini |first2=AG |last3=Pantanella |first3=F |last4=De Giusti |first4=M |last5=Cummins |first5=E |title=Human exposure to antibiotic resistant-Escherichia coli through irrigated lettuce |journal= Environment International|date=Jan 2019 |volume=122 |pages=270–280 |doi= 10.1016/j.envint.2018.11.022 |pmid=30449627 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2019EnInt.122..270O }}[https://reader.elsevier.com/reader/sd/pii/S016041201831643X?token=6585D28FDB16B77BA3788376DE943682C9ACD372BB9D47147E75615A28E1D9FDE92B07AE629981AED95FDED694DB104F&originRegion=us-east-1&originCreation=20230412164332 PDF]</ref>


Pathogens found on lettuce are not specific to lettuce (though some ''E. coli'' strains have affinity for Romaine). But, unlike other vegetables which tend to be cooked, lettuce is eaten raw, thus food-borne outbreaks associated with it are more frequent and affect a larger number of people.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Gudda |first1=FO |last2=Waigi |first2=MG |last3=Odinga |first3=ES |last4=Yang |first4=B |last5=Carter |first5=L |last6=Gao |first6=Y |title=Antibiotic-contaminated wastewater irrigated vegetables pose resistance selection risks to the gut microbiome |journal= Environmental Pollution|date=Sep 2020 |volume=264 |pages=114752 |doi=10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114752 |pmid=32417582|s2cid=218679107 }}</ref>
Pathogens found on lettuce are not specific to lettuce (though some ''E. coli'' strains have affinity for Romaine). But, unlike other vegetables which tend to be cooked, lettuce is eaten raw, thus food-borne outbreaks associated with it are more frequent and affect a larger number of people.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Gudda |first1=FO |last2=Waigi |first2=MG |last3=Odinga |first3=ES |last4=Yang |first4=B |last5=Carter |first5=L |last6=Gao |first6=Y |title=Antibiotic-contaminated wastewater irrigated vegetables pose resistance selection risks to the gut microbiome |journal= Environmental Pollution|date=Sep 2020 |volume=264 |pages=114752 |doi=10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114752 |pmid=32417582|bibcode=2020EPoll.26414752G |s2cid=218679107 }}</ref>


== References ==
== References ==
Line 229: Line 237:
* {{cite book
* {{cite book
| last = Weaver
| last = Weaver
| first = Williams Woys
| first = William Woys
| year = 1997
| year = 1997
| title = Heirloom Vegetable Gardening: A Master Gardener's Guide to Planting, Seed Saving and Cultural History
| title = Heirloom Vegetable Gardening: A Master Gardener's Guide to Planting, Seed Saving and Cultural History
Line 238: Line 246:
== External links ==
== External links ==
{{portal|Food}}
{{portal|Food}}
* {{Commons-inline|Lactuca sativa}}


{{Sister bar|d=Q83193|wikt=lettuce|c=lettuce|species=Lactuca sativa|n=yes |q=yes |s=yes |b=yes |v=yes
{{Featured article}}
|voy=yes |commonscat= |author= |cookbook=yes|auto=1}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q83193}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q83193}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Featured article}}


[[Category:Lettuce| ]]
[[Category:Lettuce| ]]
[[Category:Leaf vegetables]]
[[Category:Crops]]
[[Category:Crops]]
[[Category:Crops originating from Egypt]]
[[Category:Crops originating from Egypt]]

Latest revision as of 14:23, 7 November 2024

Lettuce
A field of bright green heads of lettuce.
A field of iceberg lettuces in California
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Lactuca
Species:
L. sativa
Binomial name
Lactuca sativa
Synonyms[1][2]

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is an annual plant of the family Asteraceae. It is most often grown as a leaf vegetable, but sometimes for its stem and seeds. Lettuce is most often used for salads, although it is also seen in other kinds of food, such as soups, sandwiches and wraps; it can also be grilled.[3] One variety, celtuce (asparagus lettuce), is grown for its stems, which are eaten either raw or cooked. In addition to its main use as a leafy green, it has also gathered religious and medicinal significance over centuries of human consumption. Europe and North America originally dominated the market for lettuce, but by the late 20th century the consumption of lettuce had spread throughout the world. As of 2021, world production of lettuce and chicory was 27 million tonnes, 53 percent of which came from China.[4]

Lettuce was originally farmed by the ancient Egyptians, who transformed it from a plant whose seeds were used to obtain oil into an important food crop raised for its succulent leaves and oil-rich seeds. Lettuce spread to the Greeks and Romans; the latter gave it the name lactuca, from which the English lettuce is derived. By 50 AD, many types were described, and lettuce appeared often in medieval writings, including several herbals. The 16th through 18th centuries saw the development of many varieties in Europe, and by the mid-18th century, cultivars were described that can still be found in modern gardens.

Generally grown as a hardy annual, lettuce is easily cultivated, although it requires relatively low temperatures to prevent it from flowering quickly. It can be plagued by numerous nutrient deficiencies, as well as insect and mammal pests, and fungal and bacterial diseases. L. sativa crosses easily within the species and with some other species within the genus Lactuca. Although this trait can be a problem to home gardeners who attempt to save seeds, biologists have used it to broaden the gene pool of cultivated lettuce varieties.

Lettuce is a rich source of vitamin K and vitamin A, and a moderate source of folate and iron. Contaminated lettuce is often a source of bacterial, viral, and parasitic outbreaks in humans, including E. coli and Salmonella.

Taxonomy and etymology

L. sativa seeds

Lactuca sativa is a member of the Lactuca (lettuce) genus and the Asteraceae (sunflower or aster) family.[5] The species was first described in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus in the second volume of his Species Plantarum.[6] Synonyms for L. sativa include Lactuca scariola var. sativa,[1] L. scariola var. integrata and L. scariola var. integrifolia.[7] L. scariola is itself a synonym for L. serriola, the common wild or prickly lettuce.[2] L. sativa also has many identified taxonomic groups, subspecies and varieties, which delineate the various cultivar groups of domesticated lettuce.[8] Lettuce is closely related to several Lactuca species from southwest Asia; the closest relationship is to L. serriola, an aggressive weed common in temperate and subtropical zones in much of the world.[9]

The Romans referred to lettuce as lactuca (lac meaning "dairy" in Latin), an allusion to the white substance, latex, exuded by cut stems.[10] The name Lactuca has become the genus name, while sativa (meaning "sown" or "cultivated") was added to create the species name.[11] The current word lettuce, originally from Middle English, came from the Old French letues or laitues, which derived from the Roman name.[12] The name romaine came from the variety of lettuce grown in the Roman papal gardens, while cos, another term for romaine lettuce, came from the earliest European seeds of the type from the Greek island of Kos, a center of lettuce farming in the Byzantine period.[13]

Description

Lettuce inflorescences
Mature lettuce inflorescence in fruit
Lettuce seeds

Lettuce's native range spreads from the Mediterranean to Siberia, although it has been transported to almost all areas of the world. Plants generally have a height and spread of 15 to 30 cm (6 to 12 in).[14] The leaves are colorful, mainly in the green and red color spectrums, with some variegated varieties.[15] There are also a few varieties with yellow, gold or blue-teal leaves.[16]

Lettuces have a wide range of shapes and textures, from the dense heads of the iceberg type to the notched, scalloped, frilly or ruffly leaves of leaf varieties.[15] Lettuce plants have a root system that includes a main taproot and smaller secondary roots. Some varieties, especially those found in the United States and Western Europe, have long, narrow taproots and a small set of secondary roots. Longer taproots and more extensive secondary systems are found in varieties from Asia.[16]

Depending on the variety and time of year, lettuce generally lives 65–130 days from planting to harvesting. Because lettuce that flowers (through the process known as "bolting") becomes bitter and unsaleable, plants grown for consumption are rarely allowed to grow to maturity. Lettuce flowers more quickly in hot temperatures, while freezing temperatures cause slower growth and sometimes damage to outer leaves.[17]

Once plants move past the edible stage, they develop flower stalks up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) high with small yellow blossoms.[18] Like other members of the tribe Cichorieae, lettuce inflorescences (also known as flower heads or capitula) are composed of multiple florets, each with a modified calyx called a pappus (which becomes the feathery "parachute" of the fruit), a corolla of five petals fused into a ligule or strap, and the reproductive parts. These include fused anthers that form a tube which surrounds a style and bipartite stigma. As the anthers shed pollen, the style elongates to allow the stigmas, now coated with pollen, to emerge from the tube.[16][19] The ovaries form compressed, obovate (teardrop-shaped) dry fruits that do not open at maturity, measuring 3 to 4 mm long. The fruits have 5–7 ribs on each side and are tipped by two rows of small white hairs. The pappus remains at the top of each fruit as a dispersal structure. Each fruit contains one seed, which can be white, yellow, gray or brown depending on the variety of lettuce.[1]

The domestication of lettuce over the centuries has resulted in several changes through selective breeding: delayed bolting, larger seeds, larger leaves and heads, better taste and texture, a lower latex content, and different leaf shapes and colors. Work in these areas continues through the present day.[20] Scientific research into the genetic modification of lettuce is ongoing, with over 85 field trials taking place between 1992 and 2005 in the European Union and the United States to test modifications allowing greater herbicide tolerance, greater resistance to insects and fungi and slower bolting patterns. However, genetically modified lettuce is not currently used in commercial agriculture.[21]

History

Romaine lettuce, a descendant of some of the earliest cultivated lettuce

DNA analysis of 445 types of lettuce indicates that lettuce was first domesticated from its wild ancestor near the Caucasus, where seed shattering was first selected out of the cultivar. At this time, the lettuce plant was only suitable for harvesting its seeds, which could be pressed to extract oil, likely used for cooking, among other purposes.[22][23] From there, lettuce was likely transported to the Near East and then to ancient Egypt,[22] where the first depictions of lettuce cultivation can be found as early as 2680 BC.[10] Like the early lettuce from the Caucasus, this lettuce was grown to produce cooking oil from its seeds.[22][24]

Lettuce was considered a sacred plant of the reproduction god Min, and was carried during his festivals and placed near his images. The plant was thought to help the god "perform the sexual act untiringly".[25] Its use in religious ceremonies resulted in the creation of many images in tombs and wall paintings. The cultivated variety appears to have been about 75 cm (30 in) tall and resembled a large version of the modern romaine lettuce. These upright lettuces were developed by the Egyptians and passed to the Greeks, who in turn shared them with the Romans.[citation needed] Around 50 AD, Roman agriculturalist Columella described several lettuce varieties – some of which may have been ancestors of today's lettuces.[10]

The plant was eventually selectively bred into a plant grown for its edible leaves.[22][24] The long leaves in Egyptian depictions suggest that it may have been grown for its leaves, which would make it the first lettuce cultivar grown for this purpose.[24] However, genome wide analysis suggests the traits needed for cultivation as a leafy vegetable, like the loss of bitterness and thorns, evolved much later, from around 500 BC in Southern Europe. Lettuce cultivars radiated more rapidly from this point, with oilseed lettuce likely being brought by the ancient Greeks from Egypt to Italy, where it was modified into cos lettuce and cultivated for its leaves. From there, it was brought north to Central Europe, where it was modified into butterhead lettuce and other varieties.[22][23]

Lettuce appears in many medieval writings, especially as a medicinal herb. Hildegard of Bingen mentioned it in her writings on medicinal herbs between 1098 and 1179, and many early herbals also describe its uses. In 1586, Joachim Camerarius provided descriptions of the three basic modern lettuces – head lettuce, loose-leaf lettuce, and romaine (or cos) lettuce.[13] Lettuce was first brought to the Americas from Europe by Christopher Columbus in the late 15th century.[26][27] Between the late 16th century and the early 18th century, many varieties were developed in Europe, particularly Holland. Books published in the mid-18th and early 19th centuries describe several varieties found in gardens today.[24]

Due to its short lifespan after harvest, lettuce was originally sold relatively close to where it was grown. The early 20th century saw the development of new packing, storage and shipping technologies that improved the lifespan and transportability of lettuce and resulted in a significant increase in availability.[28][citation needed] During the 1950s, lettuce production was revolutionized with the development of vacuum cooling, which allowed field cooling and packing of lettuce, replacing the previously used method of ice-cooling in packing houses outside the fields.[29]

Lettuce is easy to grow, and as such has been a significant source of sales for many seed companies. Tracing the history of many varieties is complicated by the practice of many companies, particularly in the US, of changing a variety's name from year to year. This practice is conducted for several reasons, the most prominent being to boost sales by promoting a "new" variety, or to prevent customers from knowing that the variety had been developed by a competing seed company. Documentation from the late 19th century shows between 65 and 140 distinct varieties of lettuce, depending on the amount of variation allowed between types – a distinct difference from the 1,100 named lettuce varieties on the market at the time. Names also often changed significantly from country to country.[30] Although most lettuce grown today is used as a vegetable, a minor amount is used in the production of tobacco-free cigarettes; however, domestic lettuce's wild relatives produce a leaf that visually more closely resembles tobacco.[31]

Cultivation

A lettuce farm in the United Kingdom

A hardy annual, some varieties of lettuce can be overwintered even in relatively cold climates under a layer of straw, and older, heirloom varieties are often grown in cold frames.[32] Lettuces meant for the cutting of individual leaves are generally planted straight into the garden in thick rows. Heading varieties of lettuces are commonly started in flats, then transplanted to individual spots, usually 20 to 36 cm (7.9 to 14.2 in) apart, in the garden after developing several leaves. Lettuce spaced farther apart receives more sunlight, which improves color and nutrient quantities in the leaves. Pale to white lettuce, such as the centers in some iceberg lettuce, contain few nutrients.[18]

A transplanted bed of lettuce in a polytunnel

Lettuce grows best in full sun in loose, nitrogen-rich soils with a pH of between 6.0 and 6.8. Heat generally prompts lettuce to bolt, with most varieties growing poorly above 24 °C (75 °F); cool temperatures prompt better performance, with 16 to 18 °C (61 to 64 °F) being preferred and as low as 7 °C (45 °F) being tolerated.[33] Plants in hot areas that are provided partial shade during the hottest part of the day will bolt more slowly. Temperatures above 27 °C (81 °F) will generally result in poor or non-existent germination of lettuce seeds.[33] After harvest, lettuce lasts the longest when kept at 0 °C (32 °F) and 96 percent humidity. The high water content of lettuce (94.9 percent) creates problems when attempting to preserve the plant – it cannot be successfully frozen, canned or dried and must be eaten fresh.[34] In spite of its high water content, traditionally grown lettuce has a low water footprint, with 237 liters (52 imp gal; 63 U.S. gal) of water required for each kilogram of lettuce produced.[35] Hydroponic growing methods can reduce this water consumption by nearly two orders of magnitude.

Lettuce varieties will cross with each other, making spacing of 1.5 to 6 m (60 to 240 in) between varieties necessary to prevent contamination when saving seeds. Lettuce will also cross with Lactuca serriola (wild lettuce), with the resulting seeds often producing a plant with tough, bitter leaves. Celtuce, a lettuce variety grown primarily in Asia for its stems, crosses easily with lettuces grown for their leaves.[18] This propensity for crossing, however, has led to breeding programs using closely related species in Lactuca, such as L. serriola, L. saligna, and L. virosa, to broaden the available gene pool. Starting in the 1990s, such programs began to include more distantly related species such as L. tatarica.[36]

A selection of lettuce cultivars
The lettuce variety celtuce is grown for its stem, used in Chinese cooking.
A butterhead lettuce
Prajzerica, a lettuce variety from Croatia

Seeds keep best when stored in cool conditions, and, unless stored cryogenically, remain viable the longest when stored at −20 °C (−4 °F); they are relatively short lived in storage.[1] At room temperature, lettuce seeds remain viable for only a few months. However, when newly harvested lettuce seed is stored cryogenically, this life increases to a half-life of 500 years for vaporized nitrogen and 3,400 years for liquid nitrogen; this advantage is lost if seeds are not frozen promptly after harvesting.[37]

Cultivars (varieties)

Romaine lettuce 'Forellenschluss' from Austria

There are several types or cultivars of lettuce. Three types – leaf, head and cos or romaine – are the most common.[33] There are seven main cultivar groups of lettuce, each including many varieties:

  • Leaf—Also known as looseleaf, cutting or bunching lettuce,[38] this type has loosely bunched leaves and is the most widely planted. It is used mainly for salads.[34]
  • Romaine/Cos—Used mainly for salads and sandwiches, this type forms long, upright heads.[34] This is the most often used lettuce in Caesar salads.[26]
    • Little Gem—a dwarf, compact romaine lettuce, popular in the UK.[39]
  • Iceberg/Crisphead—The most popular type in the United States. Iceberg lettuce is very heat-sensitive and was originally developed in 1894 for growth in the northern United States by Burpee Seeds and Plants. It gets its name from the way it was transported in crushed ice, where the heads of lettuce looked like icebergs.[40] Today, it ships well, but is low in flavor and nutritional content, being composed of even more water than other lettuce types.[34]
  • Butterhead—Also known as Boston or Bibb lettuce,[38] and traditionally in the UK as "round lettuce",[41] this type is a head lettuce with a loose arrangement of leaves, known for its sweet flavor and tender texture.[34]
  • Summercrisp—Also called Batavian or French crisp, this lettuce is midway between the crisphead and leaf types. These lettuces tend to be larger, bolt-resistant and well-flavored.[38]
  • Celtuce/Stem—This type is grown for its seedstalk, rather than its leaves, and is used in Asian cooking, primarily Chinese, as well as stewed and creamed dishes.[34]
  • Oilseed—This type is grown for its seeds, which are pressed to extract an oil mainly used for cooking. It has few leaves, bolts quickly and produces seeds around 50 percent larger than other types of lettuce.[42]
  • Red leaf lettuce—A group of lettuce types with red leaves.

The butterhead and crisphead types are sometimes known together as "cabbage" lettuce, because their heads are shorter, flatter, and more cabbage-like than romaine lettuces.[43]

Cultivation problems

A lettuce surrounded by weeds, which have crowded it to the point of bolting

Soil nutrient deficiencies can cause a variety of plant problems that range from malformed plants to a lack of head growth.[33] Many insects are attracted to lettuce, including cutworms, which cut seedlings off at the soil line; wireworms and nematodes, which cause yellow, stunted plants; tarnished plant bugs and aphids, which cause yellow, distorted leaves; leafhoppers, which cause stunted growth and pale leaves; thrips, which turn leaves gray-green or silver; leafminers, which create tunnels within the leaves; flea beetles, which cut small holes in leaves and caterpillars, slugs and snails, which cut large holes in leaves. For example, the larvae of the ghost moth is a common pest of lettuce plants.[44] Mammals, including rabbits and groundhogs, also eat the plants.[45] Lettuce contains several defensive compounds, including sesquiterpene lactones, and other natural phenolics such as flavonol and glycosides, which help to protect it against pests. Certain varieties contain more than others, and some selective breeding and genetic modification studies have focused on using this trait to identify and produce commercial varieties with increased pest resistance.[46]

Lettuce also suffers from several viral diseases, including big vein, which causes yellow, distorted leaves, and mosaic virus, which is spread by aphids and causes stunted plant growth and deformed leaves. Aster yellows are a disease-causing bacteria carried by leafhoppers, which causes deformed leaves. Fungal diseases include powdery mildew and downy mildew, which cause leaves to mold and die and bottom rot, lettuce drop and gray mold, which cause entire plants to rot and collapse.[45] Bacterial diseases include Botrytis cinerea, for which UV-C treatments may be used: Vàsquez et al. 2017 find that phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity, phenolic production, and B. cinerea resistance are increased by UV-C.[47] Crowding lettuce tends to attract pests and diseases.[18] Weeds can also be an issue, as cultivated lettuce is generally not competitive with them, especially when directly seeded into the ground. Transplanted lettuce (started in flats and later moved to growing beds) is generally more competitive initially, but can still be crowded later in the season, causing misshapen lettuce and lower yields. Weeds also act as homes for insects and disease and can make harvesting more difficult.[48] Herbicides are often used to control weeds in commercial production. However, this has led to the development of herbicide-resistant weeds in lettuce cultivation.[20]

Production

Lettuce production – 2022
Country millions
of tonnes
 China 15.0
 United States 3.3
 India 1.2
 Spain 1.0
World 27.1
Source: UN Food and Agriculture Organization[4]

In 2022, world production of lettuce (report combined with chicory) was 27 million tonnes, with China alone producing 55% of the total (table).

Lettuce is the only member of the genus Lactuca to be grown commercially.[49] Although China is the top world producer of lettuce, the majority of the crop is consumed domestically.

Markets

Western Europe and North America were the original major markets for large-scale lettuce production. By the late 1900s, Asia, South America, Australia and Africa became more substantial markets. Different locations tended to prefer different types of lettuce, with butterhead prevailing in northern Europe and Great Britain, romaine in the Mediterranean and stem lettuce in China and Egypt. By the late 20th century, the preferred types began to change, with crisphead, especially iceberg, lettuce becoming the dominant type in northern Europe and Great Britain and more popular in western Europe. In the US, no one type predominated until the early 20th century, when crisphead lettuces began gaining popularity. After the 1940s, with the development of iceberg lettuce, 95 percent of the lettuce grown and consumed in the US was crisphead lettuce. By the end of the century, other types began to regain popularity and eventually made up over 30 percent of production.[50] Stem lettuce was first developed in China, where it remains primarily cultivated.[51]

A lettuce plant that has bolted

In the early 21st century, bagged salad products increased in the lettuce market, especially in the US where innovative packaging and shipping methods prolonged freshness.[52][53][54]

In the United States in 2022, lettuce was the main vegetable ingredient in salads, and was the most consumed among leaf vegetables; its market was about 20% of all vegetables, with Romaine and iceberg having about equal sales.[53] Some 85% of the lettuce consumed in the United States in 2022 was produced domestically.[53]

Uses

Culinary

As described around 50 AD, lettuce leaves were often cooked and served by the Romans with an oil-and-vinegar dressing; however, smaller leaves were sometimes eaten raw. During the 81–96 AD reign of Domitian, the tradition of serving a lettuce salad before a meal began. Post-Roman Europe continued the tradition of poaching lettuce, mainly with large romaine types, as well as the method of pouring a hot oil and vinegar mixture over the leaves.[55]

Today, the majority of lettuce is grown for its leaves, although one type is grown for its stem and one for its seeds, which are made into an oil.[24] Most lettuce is used in salads, either alone or with other greens, vegetables, meats and cheeses. Romaine lettuce is often used for Caesar salads. Lettuce leaves can also be found in soups, sandwiches and wraps, while the stems are eaten both raw and cooked.[11]

Lettuce (iceberg, raw)
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy58 kJ (14 kcal)
3.0 g
Sugars2.0 g
Dietary fiber1.2 g
0.14 g
0.9 g
Vitamins and minerals
VitaminsQuantity
%DV
Vitamin A equiv.
3%
25 μg
3%
299 μg
277 μg
Thiamine (B1)
3%
0.041 mg
Riboflavin (B2)
2%
0.025 mg
Pantothenic acid (B5)
2%
0.091 mg
Vitamin B6
2%
0.042 mg
Folate (B9)
7%
29 μg
Vitamin C
3%
2.8 mg
Vitamin E
1%
0.18 mg
Vitamin K
20%
24.1 μg
MineralsQuantity
%DV
Calcium
1%
18 mg
Iron
2%
0.41 mg
Magnesium
2%
7 mg
Manganese
5%
0.125 mg
Phosphorus
2%
20 mg
Potassium
5%
141 mg
Sodium
0%
10 mg
Zinc
1%
0.15 mg
Other constituentsQuantity
Water95.6 g

Percentages estimated using US recommendations for adults,[56] except for potassium, which is estimated based on expert recommendation from the National Academies.[57]

The consumption of lettuce in China developed differently from in Western countries, due to health risks and cultural aversion to eating raw leaves; Chinese "salads" are composed of cooked vegetables and are served hot or cold. Lettuce is also used in a larger variety of dishes than in Western countries, contributing to a range of dishes including bean curd and meat dishes, soups and stir-frys plain or with other vegetables. Stem lettuce, widely consumed in China, is eaten either raw or cooked, the latter primarily in soups and stir-frys.[51] Lettuce is also used as a primary ingredient in the preparation of lettuce soup.

Nutrition

Raw iceberg lettuce is 96% water, 3% carbohydrates, and contains negligible protein and fat (table). In a reference amount of 100 grams (3.5 oz), iceberg lettuce supplies 14 calories and is a rich source (20% or more of the Daily Value, DV) of vitamin K (20% DV), with no other micronutrients in significant content (table).

In lettuce varieties with dark green leaves, such as romaine (also called cos), vitamin A contents are appreciable due to the presence of the provitamin A compound, beta-carotene.[34] Dark green varieties of lettuce also contain moderate amounts of calcium and iron.[34] The edible spine and ribs of the lettuce plant supply dietary fiber, while micronutrients are contained in the leaf portion.[34]

Food-borne illness

Food-borne pathogens that can survive on lettuce include Listeria monocytogenes, the causative agent of listeriosis, which multiplies in storage. However, despite high levels of bacteria being found on ready-to-eat lettuce products, a 2008 study found no incidents of food-borne illness related to listeriosis, possibly due to the product's short shelf life, indigenous microflora competing with the Listeria bacteria or inhibition of bacteria to cause listeriosis.[58]

Other bacteria found on lettuce include Aeromonas species, which have not been linked to any outbreaks; Campylobacter species, which cause campylobacteriosis; and Yersinia intermedia and Yersinia kristensenii (species of Yersinia), which have been found mainly in lettuce.[59] Salmonella bacteria, including the uncommon Salmonella braenderup type, have also caused outbreaks traced to contaminated lettuce.[60] Viruses, including hepatitis A, calicivirus and a Norwalk-like strain, have been found in lettuce. The vegetable has also been linked to outbreaks of parasitic infestations, including Giardia lamblia.[59]

Lettuce has been linked to numerous outbreaks of the bacteria E.coli O157:H7 and Shigella; the plants were most likely contaminated through contact with animal[61] or human feces.[62] A 2007 study determined that the vacuum cooling method, especially prevalent in the California lettuce industry, increased the uptake and survival rates of E. coli O157:H7.[63] Scientific experiments using treated municipal wastewater as irrigation for romaine lettuce have shown that the contamination levels of foliage, leachate, and soil with E. coli[62] and AP205 bacteriophage (used by researchers as a surrogate for enteric viruses), respectively, were directly correlated with the presence of these organisms in the irrigation water.[64]

Due to the increase in food demand, the use of treated wastewater effluent for irrigation and animal or human excreta (i.e., manure or biosolids) as soil amendments is increasing.[65] As such, so are the outbreaks of food-borne illnesses. Due to the overuse of antibiotics in farming, the number of pathogens resistant to antibiotics is increasing,[66] one of these being AR E.coli, which has been found on lettuce irrigated with wastewater.[67]

Pathogens found on lettuce are not specific to lettuce (though some E. coli strains have affinity for Romaine). But, unlike other vegetables which tend to be cooked, lettuce is eaten raw, thus food-borne outbreaks associated with it are more frequent and affect a larger number of people.[68]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Lactuca sativa". Kew Royal Botanical Gardens. Archived from the original on 2 November 2012. Retrieved 2 April 2012.
  2. ^ a b "Lactuca serriola L". United States Department of Agriculture. Archived from the original on 5 June 2012. Retrieved 2 April 2012.
  3. ^ Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. "Grilled lettuce with goats' cheese". BBC. Archived from the original on 17 July 2013. Retrieved 17 May 2013.
  4. ^ a b "Lettuce (with chicory) production in 2022; Countries/Regions/Production Quantity/Year from pick lists". UN Food & Agriculture Organization, Statistics Division (FAOSTAT). 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  5. ^ "Lactuca sativa L". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Archived from the original on 25 October 2011. Retrieved 27 March 2010.
  6. ^ Natural History Museum (2022). "The Linnaean Plant Name Typification Project". Natural History Museum. doi:10.5519/qwv6u7j5. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  7. ^ "Lactuca sativa L". United States Department of Agriculture. Archived from the original on 8 June 2012. Retrieved 2 April 2012.
  8. ^ Porcher, Michael H. (2005). "Sorting Lactuca Names". Multilingual Multiscript Plant Name Database. University of Melbourne. Archived from the original on 16 September 2012. Retrieved 2 April 2012.
  9. ^ Zohary, Daniel; Hopf, Maria; Weiss, Ehud (2012). Domestication of Plants in the Old World: The Origin and Spread of Domesticated Plants in Southwest Asia, Europe, and the Mediterranean Basin. Oxford University Press. p. 157. ISBN 978-0-19-954906-1. Archived from the original on 23 July 2016. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  10. ^ a b c Weaver, William Woys (1997). Heirloom vegetable gardening: a master gardener's guide to planting, growing, seed saving, and cultural history (1st ed.). New York: Henry Holt and Company. pp. 170–172. ISBN 978-0-8050-4025-8.
  11. ^ a b Katz and Weaver, p. 376.
  12. ^ Chantrell, Glynnis, ed. (2002). The Oxford Dictionary of Word Histories. Oxford University Press. p. 300. ISBN 0-19-863121-9.
  13. ^ a b Weaver, William Woys (1997). Heirloom vegetable gardening: a master gardener's guide to planting, growing, seed saving, and cultural history (1st ed.). New York: Henry Holt and Company. p. 172. ISBN 978-0-8050-4025-8.
  14. ^ "Lactuca sativa". Missouri Botanical Garden. Archived from the original on 16 June 2013. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  15. ^ a b Fine Cooking Magazine (2011). Fine Cooking in Season: Your Guide to Choosing and Preparing the Season's Best. Taunton Press. p. 28. ISBN 978-1-60085-303-6. Archived from the original on 20 May 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  16. ^ a b c Ryder, J.; Waycott, Williams (1993). "New Directions in Salad Crops: New Forms, New Tools, and Old Philosophy". In Janick, J.; Simon, J.E. (eds.). New Crops. Wiley. pp. 528–532. Archived from the original on 17 July 2012. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
  17. ^ Smith, Richard; Cahn, Michael; Daugovish, Oleg; Koike, Steven; Natwick, Eric; Smith, Hugh; Subbarao, Krishna; Takele, Etaferahu; Turin, Thomas. "Leaf Lettuce Production in California" (PDF). University of California Vegetable Research and Information Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 June 2012. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
  18. ^ a b c d Weaver, pp. 175–176.
  19. ^ Barkley, Theodore M.; Brouillet, Luc; Strother, John L. "Asteraceae tribe Cichorieae". In Flora of North America Editorial Committee (ed.). Flora of North America North of Mexico (FNA). Vol. 19, 20 and 21. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press. Retrieved 24 September 2012 – via eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
  20. ^ a b Davey, et al., pp. 222–225.
  21. ^ "Lettuce". GMO Compass. Archived from the original on 11 May 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2012.
  22. ^ a b c d e Wei, Tong; van Treuren, Rob; Liu, Xinjiang; Zhang, Zhaowu; Chen, Jiongjiong; Liu, Yang; Dong, Shanshan; Sun, Peinan; Yang, Ting; Lan, Tianming; Wang, Xiaogang; Xiong, Zhouquan; Liu, Yaqiong; Wei, Jinpu; Lu, Haorong (12 April 2021). "Whole-genome resequencing of 445 Lactuca accessions reveals the domestication history of cultivated lettuce". Nature Genetics. 53 (5): 752–760. doi:10.1038/s41588-021-00831-0. ISSN 1546-1718. PMID 33846635.
  23. ^ a b van Treuren, Rob (12 April 2021). "The DNA of lettuce unravelled: in 6000 years from weed to beloved vegetable". Wageningen University & Research. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  24. ^ a b c d e Katz, Solomon H.; Weaver, William Woys (2003). Encyclopedia of Food and Culture. Vol. 2. Scribner. pp. 375–376. ISBN 978-0-684-80568-9.
  25. ^ Hart, George (2005). The Routledge Dictionary of Egyptian Gods and Goddesses (2nd ed.). Routledge. p. 95. ISBN 1-134-28424-1. Archived from the original on 28 September 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  26. ^ a b "Vegetable of the Month: Lettuce". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
  27. ^ Subbarao, Krishna V.; Koike, Steven T. (2007). "Lettuce Diseases: Ecology and Control". In Pimentel, David (ed.). Encyclopedia of Pest Management, Volume 2. CRC Press. p. 313. ISBN 978-1-4200-5361-6. Archived from the original on 28 September 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  28. ^ Twilley, Nicola (2024). Frostbite: How Refrigeration Changed Our Food, Our Planet, and Ourselves (1st ed.). New York: Penguin Press. pp. 124–131. ISBN 9780735223288.
  29. ^ Enochian, R.V.; Smith, F.J (November 1956). "House Packing Western Lettuce" (PDF). California Agriculture. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 June 2013.
  30. ^ Weaver, pp. 173–174.
  31. ^ Katz and Weaver, p. 377.
  32. ^ Weaver, pp. 172–173.
  33. ^ a b c d Bradley, p. 129.
  34. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Lettuce". University of Illinois Extension. Archived from the original on 15 March 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  35. ^ Holden, Joseph (2013). Water Resources: An Integrated Approach. Routledge. p. 335. ISBN 9780203489413. Archived from the original on 5 June 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  36. ^ Koopman, Wim J.M.; Guetta, Eli; van de Wiel, Clemens C.M.; Vosman, Ben; van den Berg, Ronald G (1998). "Phylogenetic relationships among Lactuca (Asteraceae) species and related genera based on ITS-1 DNA sequences". American Journal of Botany. 85 (11): 1517–1530. doi:10.2307/2446479. JSTOR 2446479. PMID 21680311.
  37. ^ Davey, et al., p. 241.
  38. ^ a b c Miles, Carol. "Winter Lettuce". Washington State University. Archived from the original on 11 April 2012. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
  39. ^ "Lactuca sativa 'Little Gem' | lettuce (Cos) 'Little Gem' Annual Biennial/RHS Gardening". www.rhs.org.uk. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  40. ^ Renna (3 July 2007). "Iceberg lettuce". Chicago Tribune. Tribune Publishing. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
  41. ^ "Lettuce". Tesco Real Food. Tesco. Archived from the original on 18 January 2017. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
  42. ^ Katz and Weaver, p. 375.
  43. ^ Rana, M. K. (2 October 2017). Vegetable Crop Science. CRC Press. p. 173. ISBN 978-1-351-65279-7. Archived from the original on 28 September 2021. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  44. ^ Edwards, C. A. (May 1964). "The bionomics of swift moths. I.—The ghost swift moth, Hepialus humuli (L.)". Bulletin of Entomological Research. 55 (1): 147–160. doi:10.1017/S000748530004935X. ISSN 1475-2670.
  45. ^ a b Bradley, pp. 129–132.
  46. ^ "Developing Multi-Species Insect Resistance in Romaine Lettuce". United States Department of Agriculture. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
  47. ^ Urban, L.; Chabane Sari, D.; Orsal, B.; Lopes, M.; Miranda, R.; Aarrouf, J. (2018). "UV-C light and pulsed light as alternatives to chemical and biological elicitors for stimulating plant natural defenses against fungal diseases". Scientia Horticulturae. 235. Elsevier: 452–459. Bibcode:2018ScHor.235..452U. doi:10.1016/j.scienta.2018.02.057. ISSN 0304-4238. S2CID 90436989.
  48. ^ "Lettuce: Integrated Weed Management". UC Pest Management Guidelines. University of California. August 2007. Archived from the original on 7 July 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2012.
  49. ^ Koike, Steven T; Gladders, Peter; Paulus, Albert O. (2006). Vegetable Diseases: A Color Handbook. Gulf Professional Publishing. p. 296. ISBN 0-12-373675-7. Archived from the original on 30 April 2016. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  50. ^ Katz and Weaver, p. 378.
  51. ^ a b Simoons, Frederick J. (1991). Food in China: A Cultural and Historical Inquiry. CRC Press. pp. 147–148. ISBN 0-8493-8804-X. Archived from the original on 26 December 2019. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  52. ^ Fulmer, Melinda (19 August 2002). "Lettuce Grows into A Processed Food". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 18 December 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2012.
  53. ^ a b c "Lettuce". Agricultural Marketing Resource Center, Iowa State University. April 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  54. ^ Charles, Dan; Aubrey, Allison (12 July 2016). "As Bagged Salad Kits Boom, Americans Eat More Greens". NPR.org. National Public Radio. Archived from the original on 3 April 2018. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  55. ^ Weaver, pp. 170–172.
  56. ^ United States Food and Drug Administration (2024). "Daily Value on the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels". FDA. Archived from the original on 27 March 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  57. ^ National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Health and Medicine Division; Food and Nutrition Board; Committee to Review the Dietary Reference Intakes for Sodium and Potassium (2019). Oria, Maria; Harrison, Meghan; Stallings, Virginia A. (eds.). Dietary Reference Intakes for Sodium and Potassium. The National Academies Collection: Reports funded by National Institutes of Health. Washington, DC: National Academies Press (US). ISBN 978-0-309-48834-1. PMID 30844154. Archived from the original on 9 May 2024. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  58. ^ Hanning, I.B.; Johnson, M.G.; Ricke, S.C (December 2008). "Precut prepackaged lettuce: a risk for listeriosis?". Foodborne Pathogens and Disease. 5 (6): 731–746. doi:10.1089/fpd.2008.0142. PMID 18847382.
  59. ^ a b "Chapter IV. Outbreaks Associated with Fresh and Fresh-Cut Produce. Incidence, Growth, and Survival of Pathogens in Fresh and Fresh-Cut Produce". Analysis and Evaluation of Preventive Control Measures for the Control and Reduction/Elimination of Microbial Hazards on Fresh and Fresh-Cut Produce. US Food and Drug Administration. 12 April 2012. Archived from the original on 9 November 2012. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
  60. ^ Gajraj, Roger; Pooransingh, Shalini; Hawker, Jeremy; Olowokure, Babatunde (April 2012). "Multiple outbreaks of Salmonella braenderup associated with consumption of iceberg lettuce". International Journal of Environmental Health Research. 22 (2): 150–155. Bibcode:2012IJEHR..22..150G. doi:10.1080/09603123.2011.613114. PMID 21916661. S2CID 27881973.
  61. ^ Davis, J. G.; Kendall, P. "Preventing E. coli from Garden to Plate". Colorado State University. Archived from the original on 5 March 2012. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
  62. ^ a b Summerlin III, HN; Pola, CC; McLamore, ES; et al. (20 May 2021). "Prevalence of Escherichia coli and Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria During Fresh Produce Production (Romaine Lettuce) Using Municipal Wastewater Effluents". Front. Microbiol. 12 (660047): 660047. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2021.660047. PMC 8172605. PMID 34093474.
  63. ^ Li, Haiping; Tajkarimi, Mehrdad; Osburn, Bennie I (2008). "Impact of Vacuum Cooling on Escherichia coli O157:H7 Infiltration into Lettuce Tissue". Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 74 (10): 3138–42. Bibcode:2008ApEnM..74.3138L. doi:10.1128/AEM.02811-07. PMC 2394940. PMID 18344328.
  64. ^ Summerlin III, HN; Pola, CC; Chamakura, KR; et al. (2021). "Fate of enteric viruses during leafy greens (romaine lettuce) production using treated municipal wastewater and AP205 bacteriophage as a surrogate". Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A. 566 (10): 1138–1144. Bibcode:2021JESHA..56.1138S. doi:10.1080/10934529.2021.1968231. PMID 34427159. S2CID 237282172.
  65. ^ Mays, C; Garza, GL; Waite-Cusic, J; Radniecki, TS; Navab-Daneshmanda, Tala (1 December 2021). "Impact of biosolids amendment and wastewater effluent irrigation on enteric antibiotic-resistant bacteria – a greenhouse study". Water Res X. 13 (100119): 100119. Bibcode:2021WRX....1300119M. doi:10.1016/j.wroa.2021.100119. PMC 8452883. PMID 34585133.
  66. ^ Xu, C; Kong, L; Liao, Y; Wu, Q; Liu, H; Wang, X (November 2022). "Mini-Review: Antibiotic-Resistant Escherichia coli from Farm Animal-Associated Sources". Antibiotics. 11 (11): 1535. doi:10.3390/antibiotics11111535. PMC 9686710. PMID 36358190.
  67. ^ O'Flaherty, E; Solimini, AG; Pantanella, F; De Giusti, M; Cummins, E (January 2019). "Human exposure to antibiotic resistant-Escherichia coli through irrigated lettuce". Environment International. 122: 270–280. Bibcode:2019EnInt.122..270O. doi:10.1016/j.envint.2018.11.022. PMID 30449627.PDF
  68. ^ Gudda, FO; Waigi, MG; Odinga, ES; Yang, B; Carter, L; Gao, Y (September 2020). "Antibiotic-contaminated wastewater irrigated vegetables pose resistance selection risks to the gut microbiome". Environmental Pollution. 264: 114752. Bibcode:2020EPoll.26414752G. doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114752. PMID 32417582. S2CID 218679107.

Cited literature