Abstract
Spinach is a leafy vegetable containing a plethora of bioactive compounds. Our study aimed to evaluate the physiological (i.e., JIP-test) and phytochemical response of spinach baby leaves grown with regular or mildly saline (40 mM NaCl) nutrient solution and irradiated by four light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with broad spectra. T1 (highest red and far-red, low blue) and T3 (high red, balanced blue, green and far-red) led to a better developed photosynthetic apparatus compared to T2 (red peak in 631 nm) and T4 (highest blue and green), highlighted by PIABS and its structural components: RC/ABS, φP0, ψE0, and ΔVIP. Elevated salinity only affected the latter parameter. T1 induced the maximum yield production but also the highest nitrate content which was far below the maximum level permitted by European legislation. Regardless of salinity level, T3 enhanced total phenol, chlorophyll, and carotenoid content. T2 and T4 led to inferior nutritional quality. Non-saline nutrient solution promoted the chlorophyll and carotenoid contents and the antioxidant potential, regardless of light treatment. By contrast, soluble sugar content was enhanced by saline nutrient solution. Our study shows that physiology and nutritional quality of spinach baby leaves can be manipulated by small interplays in the light spectra and salinity level.
Highlights
An active immune system is important for the human defense against chronic diseases and viral organisms such as the newly identified SARS-CoV-2
Contents, (C) total carotenoid content, (D) ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), (E) soluble sugar content (SSC), and (F) nitrate content of baby leaf spinach cultivated in a growth chamber under four light treatments and two salinity levels
These environmental constraints can be weathered by plant factories with artificial light (PFALs) using light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with varying spectra, which may improve the quality of produced spinach plants
Summary
An active immune system is important for the human defense against chronic diseases and viral organisms such as the newly identified SARS-CoV-2. Vegetables are essential for a healthy diet because they offer a plethora of bioactive compounds such as vitamins, phenolics, and carotenoids among other antioxidants providing a means of controlling oxidative stress in humans [2]. Baby leaf vegetables are popular since they have a higher bioactive compound concentration compared to the respective fully grown plants [3]. The floating system is ideal for baby leaf vegetable production due to several benefits such as reduced cost, handling simplicity, efficient use of water and nutrients, absence of weeds and soil-borne pathogens, mechanical and automated harvesting, as well as greater yield and product quality. Since nutrient composition is customizable, this system offers the option to control bioactive compound accumulation in plants [4]. How do environmental stresses accelerate photoinhibition? Trends Plant Sci. 2008, 13, 178–182. [CrossRef]
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