Abstract
Recent advancements in light-emitting diode technology provide an opportunity to evaluate the correlation between different light sources and plant growth as well as their secondary metabolites. The aim of this study was to determine the optimal light intensity and photoperiod for increasing plant growth and glucosinolate concentration and content in watercress. Two-week-old seedlings were transplanted in a semi-deep flow technique system of a plant factory for 28 days under four photoperiod–light intensity treatments (12 h—266 µmol·m−2·s−1, 16 h—200 µmol·m−2·s−1, 20 h—160 µmol·m−2·s−1, and 24 h—133 µmol·m−2·s−1) with the same daily light integral. The mean values of shoot fresh and dry weights were the highest under the 20 h—160 µmol·m−2·s−1 treatment, although there was no significant difference. Net photosynthesis and stomatal conductance gradually decreased with decreasing light intensity and increasing photoperiod. However, total glucosinolate concentration was significantly higher under 20 h—160 µmol·m−2·s−1 and 24 h—133 µmol·m−2·s−1 compared with 12 h—266 µmol·m−2·s−1 and 16 h—200 µmol·m−2·s−1. The total glucosinolate content was the greatest under 20 h—160 µmol·m−2·s−1 treatment. These data suggest that the 20 h—160 µmol·m−2·s−1 treatment promoted the maximum shoot biomass and glucosinolate content in watercress. This study supplies the optimal light strategies for the future industrial large-watercress cultivation.
Highlights
Watercress (Nasturtium officinale L.; Brassicaceae) is a semi-aquatic or aquatic perennial herb mainly cultivated in Asia, North and South America, and Europe [1]
The 12 h—266 μmol, 16 h—200 μmol, and 20 h—160 μmol treatments resulted in higher growth parameters relative to the 24 h—133 μmol treatment
A larger leaf leads to more light light interinterception, which might have resulted in a significant increment in the shoot fresh ception, which might have resulted in a significant increment in the shoot fresh and anddry dry weights light intensity
Summary
Watercress (Nasturtium officinale L.; Brassicaceae) is a semi-aquatic or aquatic perennial herb mainly cultivated in Asia, North and South America, and Europe [1]. Watercress is evaluated as an aquatic weed in some regions. It is used in soups (as garnish), fresh salads, and in other dishes [2]. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention selected watercress as one of the crops containing the highest nutrient content per calorie [4]. It contains compounds such as vitamins, polyphenols, carotenoids, and isothiocyanates, and glucosinolates are the most crucial components present in watercress [2]. Because of the abundance of chemical components, watercress can be used in the food, medicine, and cosmetics industries
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