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Effects of Different Light Spectra on Final Biomass Production and Nutritional Quality of Two Microgreens
To improve microgreen yield and nutritional quality, suitable light spectra can be used. Two species—amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor L.) and turnip greens (B
Stefania Toscano, Valeria Cavallaro, A. Ferrante, Daniela Romano, Cristina Patanè
Plants · 2021 · https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10081584
Abstract
To improve microgreen yield and nutritional quality, suitable light spectra can be used. Two species—amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor L.) and turnip greens (Brassica rapa L. subsp. oleifera (DC.) Metzg)—were studied. The experiment was performed in a controlled LED environment growth chamber (day/night temperatures of 24 ± 2 °C, 16 h photoperiod, and 50/60% relative humidity). Three emission wavelengths of a light-emitting diode (LED) were adopted for microgreen lighting: (1) white LED (W); (2) blue LED (B), and (3) red LED (R); the photosynthetic photon flux densities were 200 ± 5 µmol for all light spectra. The response to light spectra was often species-specific, and the interaction effects were significant. Morphobiometric parameters were influenced by species, light, and their interaction; at harvest, in both species, the fresh weight was significantly greater under B. In amaranth, Chl a was maximized in B, whereas it did not change with light in turnip greens. Sugar content varied with the species but not with the light spectra. Nitrate content of shoots greatly varied with the species; in amaranth, more nitrates were measured in R, while no difference in turnip greens was registered for the light spectrum effect. Polyphenols were maximized under B in both species, while R depressed the polyphenol content in amaranth.
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How to credit this work
Stefania Toscano; Valeria Cavallaro; A. Ferrante; Daniela Romano; Cristina Patanè (2021). Effects of Different Light Spectra on Final Biomass Production and Nutritional Quality of Two Microgreens. Plants. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10081584 Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Hosted by EVEC Athens (microgreens.org.gr). No changes were made to this article. Provided as-is, without warranties. EVEC Athens is not affiliated with, and this copy is not endorsed by, the authors or the publisher.
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