Comprehensive characterization of selected phytochemicals and minerals of selected edible halophytes grown in saline indoor farming for future food production

Abstract

Sustainable and resilient agri-food systems are needed to ensure food security in the face of increasing urbanization, water scarcity and climate change. Saline indoor farming offers a flexible use of urban production areas with resource-saving water management. Salt-tolerant plants (halophytes) are crops that can be grown in saline environments, have excellent nutritional properties, such as being rich in minerals and phytochemicals. The aim of this study was to evaluate plant performance and selected nutritional properties of five halophyte species (glasswort, quinoa, garden orache, scurvy grass and palm kale) in saline indoor farming with different salinities. In particular, we evaluated morphological parameters, as well as, carotenoids, chlorophylls, glucosinolates, plant hormones by LC-MS, and anion composition by IC. The five halophyte species showed differences in plant growth performance and nutritional properties depending on the salinity level. For example, we found a total carotenoid content ranging from 1581.4 ± 180.4 ng mg-1 DW (scurvy grass) to 188.3 ± 48 ng mg-1 DW (glasswort; no salt) and a 40-times higher increase of β-carotene (200 mM salt) for glasswort, compared to the other halophytes. In summary, we observed that the phytochemical content varied with salinity and that halophytes require species-specific growing conditions to enhance valuable metabolites.