Sow thistle (Sonchus oleraceus L.) plants are known for their medicinal properties and for their nutritional features as part of human diet, as well as for presenting phenolic compounds in their composition. The aim of the present study is to assess Sonchus oleraceus plantlet production in vitro based on photon flux intensity, wavelength and natural ventilation system (NVS) effect on its growth, photosynthetic pigments and chicoric acid accumulation. Nodal segments were cultured in MS culture medium under intensities 26, 70, 100, 113 and 144 mu mol m-2 s-1. Nodal segments were cultured in MS medium under the following LED light spectra to assess light quality: red (R), blue (B), green, white, 70 %R: 30 %B; 50 %R: 50 %B; 30 %R: 70 %B. As for NVS, nodal segments comprising a pair of leaves were cultivated in conventional system (CS); ventilation system with one (NVS1), two (NVS2) and four (NVS4) porous membranes, without sucrose. Plantlets were assessed after 40-day cultivation: number of leaves; leaf, stem and root dry weight; photosynthetic pigments and chicoric acid content. High-intensity sow thistle plantlets produced a larger number of leaves bigger than 0.6 cm and the lowintensity ones accounted for a larger number of leaves smaller than 0.3 cm. Higher light intensity led to higher dry weight accumulation in all analyzed variables. Intensity equal to 113 mu mol m(-2) s(-1) resulted in higher chicoric acid contents. Plantlet cultivation under white LED light pointed out the highest leaf, stem, root and total dry weight. Plantlets showed etiolation trend under red and green monochromatic spectra. Green light induced higher chlorophyll a, b and carotenoid levels. Plantlets grown under white light recorded the highest total phenolic compound levels and the 50 %R:50 %B combination accounted for the highest chicoric acid content. Plantlets in NVS4 presented the largest number of leaves, and the highest dry weight (LDW, SDW, RDW and TDW) and photosynthetic pigments values (chlorophyll a, b and carotenoids). Total phenolic compound contents were higher in SVN4 and SVN1, and CS recorded higher chicoric acid content. Based on the results, Sonchus oleraceus plantlets best development was observed in NVS4, at intensity ranging from 70 to 144 mu mol m(-2) s(-1), under white light spectrum. As chicoric acid has applications in the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries, identifying the best light conditions can increase the production of this compound in S. oleraceus, making its cultivation more sustainable and economically attractive.