Articles
Accumulation of secondary metabolites and nitrate in basil as affected by light spectrum and nutrient amount in nutrient solution
Article number
1369_26
Pages
211 – 220
Language
English
Abstract
The accumulation of secondary metabolites and nitrate content in plants are important indicators for evaluating vegetable quality.
They are affected by environmental conditions such as light spectrum and nutrient supply.
Quantitative nutrient management is a new method that delivers a certain quantity of fertilizer elements to the nutrient solution regularly without controlling the nutrient concentration.
The effects of the light spectrum with different red:blue ratios (3:7, 7:3, and 9:1, represented by RB3:7, RB7:3, and RB9:1 respectively) and quantitative nutrient management with different applied nutrient amounts (0.5, 1, and 2 times of absorption amount under optimal growth, represented by 0.5T, 1T, and 2T respectively) in nutrient solution on the accumulation of secondary metabolites and nitrate content of basil plants grown in a plant factory with artificial lighting were investigated in this study.
The results showed that 0.5T nutrient treatment significantly increased the antioxidant capacity and total phenolic content in basil leaves compared to 1T and 2T treatments, regardless of red:blue ratios.
Under the 0.5T nutrient treatment, RB7:3 significantly increased the leaf biomass and secondary metabolite accumulation in basil compared to other red:blue ratios.
Moreover, the nitrate content in basil leaves was not significantly affected by red:blue ratios under the same nutrient treatment, whereas the nitrate content significantly decreased with the decreased applied nutrient amount.
Therefore, the 0.5T nutrient treatment combined with RB7:3 is considered the optimal combination for enhancing the basil plant quality.
They are affected by environmental conditions such as light spectrum and nutrient supply.
Quantitative nutrient management is a new method that delivers a certain quantity of fertilizer elements to the nutrient solution regularly without controlling the nutrient concentration.
The effects of the light spectrum with different red:blue ratios (3:7, 7:3, and 9:1, represented by RB3:7, RB7:3, and RB9:1 respectively) and quantitative nutrient management with different applied nutrient amounts (0.5, 1, and 2 times of absorption amount under optimal growth, represented by 0.5T, 1T, and 2T respectively) in nutrient solution on the accumulation of secondary metabolites and nitrate content of basil plants grown in a plant factory with artificial lighting were investigated in this study.
The results showed that 0.5T nutrient treatment significantly increased the antioxidant capacity and total phenolic content in basil leaves compared to 1T and 2T treatments, regardless of red:blue ratios.
Under the 0.5T nutrient treatment, RB7:3 significantly increased the leaf biomass and secondary metabolite accumulation in basil compared to other red:blue ratios.
Moreover, the nitrate content in basil leaves was not significantly affected by red:blue ratios under the same nutrient treatment, whereas the nitrate content significantly decreased with the decreased applied nutrient amount.
Therefore, the 0.5T nutrient treatment combined with RB7:3 is considered the optimal combination for enhancing the basil plant quality.
Publication
Authors
Xiaowei Ren, Na Lu, Wenshuo Xu, Yunfei Zhuang, M. Takagaki
Keywords
hydroponic, quantitative nutrient management, plant factory, light-emitting diodes, red:blue ratio, antioxidant capacity, total phenolic content
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