Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

LED Enhances Plant Performance and Both Carotenoids and Nitrates Profiles in Lettuce

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Plant Foods for Human Nutrition Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Recent studies show that vegetables at early stage of development contain higher amounts of phytonutrients and minerals, and lower amounts of nitrates than at fully developed stage. Nevertheless, the effects of some spectrum light on the carotenoid content of lettuce microgreens are unknown. Three different LED lamps were checked: (i) artificial white light (T0); (ii) continuous light-emitting diodes with longer blue-wavelength (T1), and (iii) continuous light-emitting diodes with longer red-wavelength (T2). Different lettuce cvs. were grown under the above described lamps. Plants were collected after 10, 15, 35 and 50 days from planting to produce sprouts, microgreens, initial baby leaf, and baby leaf, respectively. Response to different continuous spectrum lights related to productivity and nitrate content was variable for the different plants. Accumulation of nitrates at initial stages in plant tissues was clearly lower than at final stages of crop development, ranging from 50.2 to 73.4 mg 100 g1 fresh weight for T2. Lettuce consumption is preferable at microgreen stage in comparison with baby leaf stage. Nitrate amounts at microgreen stage were lower than in baby leaf stage, and this content was inversely correlated with carotenoid content, which in tissues was higher at microgreens stage influenced by LED.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Kyriacou MC, Rouphael Y, Di Gioia F, Kyratzis A, Serio F, Renna M, De Pascale S, Santamaria P (2016) Micro-scale vegetable production and the rise of microgreens. Trends Food Sci Technol 57:103–115

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Sun J, Xiao Z, Lin LZ, Lester GE, Wang Q, Harnly JM, Chen P (2013) Profiling polyphenols in five brassica species microgreens by UHPLC-PDA- ESI/HRMSn. J Agric Food Chem 61:10960–10970

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Di Goia F, De Bellis P, Minnini C, Santamaria P, Serio F (2017) Physicochemical, agronomical and microbiological evaluation of alternative growing media for the production of rapini (Brassica rapa L.) microgreens. J Sci Food Agric 97:1212–1219

  4. Lester GE, Hallman GJ, Pérez JA (2010) gamma-Irradiation dose: effects on baby-leaf spinach ascorbic acid, carotenoids, folate, α-tocopherol, and phylloquinone concentrations. J Agric Food Chem 58:4901–4906

  5. Oh M, Carey EE, Rajashekar CB (2010) Regulated water deficits improve phytochemical concentration in lettuce. J Am Soc Hortic Sci 135:223–229

  6. Pinto E, Almeida AA, Aguilar AA, Ferreira I (2015) Comparison between the mineral profile and nitrate content of microgreens and mature lettuces. J Food Compos Anal 37:38–43

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Urrestarazu M, Postigo A, Salas MC, Sánchez A, Carrasco G (1988) Nitrate accumulation reduction using chloride in the nutrient solution on lettuce growing by NFT in semiarid climate conditions. J Plant Nutr 21:1705–1714

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Sotelo A, López-García S, Basurto-Peña F (2007) Content of nutrient and antinutrient in edible flowers of wild plants in Mexico. Plant Foods Hum Nutr 62:133–138

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. EC, European Commission Regulation (2011) No. 1258/2011 of 2 December 2011 amending Regulation No. 1881/2006 as regards maximum levels for nitrates in foodstuffs. Off J Eur Union L 320:15–17

    Google Scholar 

  10. Urrestarazu M, Nájera C, Gea MM (2016) Effect of the spectral quality and intensity of light-emitting diodes on several horticultural crops. HortScience 51:268–271

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Brazaityte A, Sakalauskiene S, Samuoliene G, Jankauskiene J, Viršile A, Novičkovas A, Sirtautas R, Miliauskiene J, Vastakaite V, Dabasinskas L, Duchovskis P (2015) The effects of LED illumination spectra and intensity on carotenoid content in Brassicaceae microgreens. Food Chem 173:600–606

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Samuolienė G, Viršilė A, Brazaitytė A, Jankauskienė J, Sakalauskienė S, Vaštakaitė V, Novickovas A, Viskeliene A, Sasnauskas A, Duchovskis P (2017) Blue light dosage affects carotenoids and tocopherols in microgreens. Food Chem 228:50–56

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Hasan MM, Bashir T, Ghosh R, Lee SK, Bae H (2017) An overview of LEDs’ effects on the production of bioactive compounds and crop quality. Molecule 22:1–12

    Google Scholar 

  14. Ohashi-Kaneko K, Takase M, Kon N, Fujiwara K, Kurata K (2007) Effect of light quality on growth and vegetable quality in leaf lettuce, spinach and komatsuna. Environ Control Biol 45:189–198

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Sonneveld C, Straver N (1994) Voedingsoplossinger voor groenten en bloemen geteeld in water of substraten (Nutrient solutions for vegetables and flower grown in water or substrates), 10th edn. Proefstation voor Tuinbouw order Glas, Naald wtijk, Naald wtijk

    Google Scholar 

  16. Morales I, Urrestarazu M (2014) Effect of a passive mixing device on the electrical conductivity and pH values of a nutrient solution. J Irrig Drain Eng 140:04013022

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Kimura M, Kobori CN, Rodriguez-Amaya DB, Nestel P (2007) Screening and HPLC methods for carotenoids in sweetpotato, cassava and maize for plant breeding trials. Food Chem 100:1734–1746

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Kimura M, Rodriguez-Amaya DB (2002) A scheme for obtaining standards and HPLC quantification of leafy vegetable carotenoids. Food Chem 78:389–398

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Ohtake N, Ishikura M, Suzuki H, Yamori W, Goto E (2018) Continuous irradiation with alternating red and blue light enhances plant growth while keeping nutritional quality in lettuce. HortScience 53:1804–1809

  20. Chang CL, Chang KP (2014) The growth response of leaf lettuce at different stages to multiple wavelength-band light-emitting diode lighting. Sci Hortic 179:78–84

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. EFSA (2008) Opinion of the scientific panel on contaminants in the food chain on a request from the European Commission to perform a scientific risk assessment on nitrate in vegetables. The EFSA Journal 689:1–79. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2008.689

  22. Sánchez CA, Crump KS, Krieger RI, Khandaker NR, Gibbs JP (2005) Perchlorate and nitrate in leafy vegetables of North America. Environ Sci Technol 39:9391–9397

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Najera C, Urrestarazu M (2019) Effect of the intensity and spectral quality of LED light on yield and nitrate accumulation in vegetables. HortScience 54:1745–1750

  24. Wojciechowska R, Anna Kołton O, Długosz-Grochowska O, Knop E (2016) Nitrate content in Valerianella locusta L. plants is affected by supplemental LED lighting. Sci Hortic 211:79–186

  25. Santamaria P (2006) Nitrate in vegetables: toxicity, content, intake and EC regulation. J Sci Food Agric 86:10–17. https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.2351

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Bulgari R, Baldi A, Ferrante A, Lenzi A (2016) Yield and quality of basil, Swiss chard, and rocket microgreens grown in a hydroponic system. N Z J Crop Hortic Sci 45:119–129

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Lin KH, Huang MY, Huang WD, Hsu MH, Yang ZW, Yang CM (2013) The effects of red, blue, and white light-emitting diodes on the growth, development, and edible quality of hydroponically grown lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. capitata). Sci Hortic 150:86–91

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Lillo C, Appenroth KJ (2001) Light regulation of nitrate reductase in higher plants: which photoreceptors are involved? Plant Biol 3:455–465. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2001-17732

  29. Yorio NC, Goins GD, Kagie HR, Wheeler RM, Sager JC (2001) Improving spinach, radish, and lettuce growth under red light-emitting diodes (LED) with blue light supplementation. HortSscience 36:380–383

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Li Q, Kubota C (2009) Effects of supplemental light quality on growth and phytochemicals of baby leaf lettuce. Environ Exp Bot 67:59–64

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Chensom S, Shimada Y, Nakayama H, Yoshida K, Kondo T, Katsuzaki H, Hasegawa S, Mishima T (2020) Determination of anthocyanins and antioxidants in ‘Titanbicus’ edible flowers in vitro and in vivo. Plant Foods Hum Nutr 75:265–271

  32. Farina V, Cinquanta L, Vella F, Niro S, Panfili G, Metallo A, Corona O (2020) Evolution of carotenoids, sensory profiles and volatile compounds in microwave-dried fruits of three different loquat cultivars (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.). Plant Foods Hum Nutr 75:200–207

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Tang G (2010) Bioconversion of dietary provitamin A carotenoids to vitamin A in humans. Am J Clin Nutr 91:1468S–1473S

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Higdon J, Drake VJ, Delage B, Johnson JJ (2016) Carotenoids. α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, lutein, and zeaxanthin. Micronutrient Information Center. Linus Pauling Institute. Oregon State University

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Almería, Almería, 04120, Spain

    Francisca Ferrón-Carrillo, José Luis Guil-Guerrero, María José González-Fernández, Svetlana Lyashenko, Filippo Battafarano, Tatiana Pagan Loeiro da Cunha-Chiamolera & Miguel Urrestarazu

Authors
  1. Francisca Ferrón-Carrillo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. José Luis Guil-Guerrero
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. María José González-Fernández
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Svetlana Lyashenko
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Filippo Battafarano
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Tatiana Pagan Loeiro da Cunha-Chiamolera
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Miguel Urrestarazu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Miguel Urrestarazu.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ferrón-Carrillo, F., Guil-Guerrero, J.L., González-Fernández, M.J. et al. LED Enhances Plant Performance and Both Carotenoids and Nitrates Profiles in Lettuce. Plant Foods Hum Nutr 76, 210–218 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11130-021-00894-8

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11130-021-00894-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation