Abstract
The current study investigated the impacts of light quality and different levels of fertility on mineral nutrient concentrations in the shoot and root tissues of Chinese kale (Brassica oleracea var. alboglabra). “Green Lance” Chinese kale was grown under: (1) fluorescent/incandescent light; (2) 10% blue (447 ± 5 nm)/90% red (627 ± 5 nm) light emitting diode (LED) light; (3) 20% blue/80% red LED light; and (4) 40% blue/60% red LED light as sole-source lighting at two different levels of fertility. All plants were harvested 30 days after seeding and shoot and root tissues were analyzed for mineral nutrients. Lighting and fertility interacted to influence kale shoot and root mineral nutrient concentrations. The results indicate that sole-source LED lighting used in production can impact the mineral nutritional values of baby leafy greens now popular for the packaged market. This is evident in the current and previous studies in which lighting affects biomass and indirectly affects mineral nutrient concentrations.
Highlights
Inorganic elements participate in many different mechanisms in plant photosynthesis.Some elements participate in the structure of the photosynthetic apparatus, while others play vital roles in the translocation of photosynthetic products and sink tissue formation [1]
The acquisition of mineral nutrients in Chinese kale shoot tissue demonstrated a significant interaction when plants were grown under four light quality treatments within two fertility regimes
The micronutrients Ca, K, Mg, P, and S (Table 1) were all affected by the interaction and, in general, had the highest recorded concentrations in shoot tissue under the 1⁄2 strength fertilizer paired with the 20% blue/80% red light emitting diode (LED) light treatment
Summary
Some elements participate in the structure of the photosynthetic apparatus, while others play vital roles in the translocation of photosynthetic products and sink tissue formation (fruits, grains, and storage organs) [1]. Elements can be considered to have direct effects on photosynthesis when deficiencies of a particular element cause a rapid decline in photosynthetic activity. The direct effects of elemental deficiencies are usually considered reversible as reintroduction at a proper level results in the resumption of photosynthetic activity. The indirect effects occur over a more extended period of time and involve elements not necessarily critical in the photosynthetic process. Instead, they are crucial in the production of metabolites or organs that are directly involved in photosynthesis. The symptoms of many elemental deficiencies are the visual manifestations of decreased photosynthetic activity [2], which have impacts on light utilization and photosynthetic efficiencies, which may lead to decreased mineral nutrient uptake
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