Effect of Light Characteristics on the Sensory Properties of Red Lettuce (<i>Lactuca sativa</i>)
Leafy green production in high tunnels (HTs) results in increased yields, improved visual quality, and extended production with polyethylene (poly) film and/or shade cloth coverings. However, altering visible and ultra-violet light with HT coverings may reduce phytochemicals, thus influencing plant...
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MDPI AG
2021-11-01
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Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/10/11/2660 |
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author | Kelly Gude Martin Talavera Audra M. Sasse Cary L. Rivard Eleni Pliakoni |
author_facet | Kelly Gude Martin Talavera Audra M. Sasse Cary L. Rivard Eleni Pliakoni |
author_sort | Kelly Gude |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Leafy green production in high tunnels (HTs) results in increased yields, improved visual quality, and extended production with polyethylene (poly) film and/or shade cloth coverings. However, altering visible and ultra-violet light with HT coverings may reduce phytochemicals, thus influencing plant pigmentation and taste. The objective of this study was to examine various HT coverings on the sensory perceptions, soil temperature, color, and anthocyanin accumulation of red leaf lettuce. The coverings included standard poly, standard poly with removal two weeks prior to harvest (movable), diffuse poly, clear poly, UV-A/B blocking poly (block), standard poly with 55% shade cloth, and the open field. A highly trained descriptive panel evaluated the samples using a scale from 0 (none) to 15 (extremely high) and determined a list of 20 sensory attributes. The color intensity attribute had the most differentiation between coverings, and the open field was higher (i.e., darker) than the others at 7.5 (<i>p</i> < 0.0001), followed by clear and movable coverings at 6.8, and the shade covering scored a 2. Strong relationships existed between both colorimetric (hue°) and anthocyanin analysis to panelist-based scores (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.847 and 0.640, respectively). The initial crispness was similar for movable, standard, diffuse, and block coverings at 5.3 on average, which was higher than the open field at 4 (<i>p</i> < 0.01). The open field lettuce grew under cooler soil temperatures, which may have slowed down maturation and resulted in softer tissue. Based on this study, HT growers can implement specific coverings to cater to markets that value visual quality. |
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language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:30:32Z |
publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
publisher | MDPI AG |
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series | Foods |
spelling | doaj.art-7401ea691ff4415cb1295b9ae63e66f92023-11-22T23:20:07ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582021-11-011011266010.3390/foods10112660Effect of Light Characteristics on the Sensory Properties of Red Lettuce (<i>Lactuca sativa</i>)Kelly Gude0Martin Talavera1Audra M. Sasse2Cary L. Rivard3Eleni Pliakoni4Department of Horticulture & Natural Resources, Kansas State University, 22201 West Innovation Drive, Olathe, KS 66061, USADepartment of Food, Nutrition, Dietetics and Health, Kansas State University, 22201 West Innovation Drive, Olathe, KS 66061, USADepartment of Food, Nutrition, Dietetics and Health, Kansas State University, 22201 West Innovation Drive, Olathe, KS 66061, USADepartment of Horticulture & Natural Resources, Kansas State University, 35230 West 135th Street, Olathe, KS 66061, USADepartment of Horticulture & Natural Resources, Kansas State University, 22201 West Innovation Drive, Olathe, KS 66061, USALeafy green production in high tunnels (HTs) results in increased yields, improved visual quality, and extended production with polyethylene (poly) film and/or shade cloth coverings. However, altering visible and ultra-violet light with HT coverings may reduce phytochemicals, thus influencing plant pigmentation and taste. The objective of this study was to examine various HT coverings on the sensory perceptions, soil temperature, color, and anthocyanin accumulation of red leaf lettuce. The coverings included standard poly, standard poly with removal two weeks prior to harvest (movable), diffuse poly, clear poly, UV-A/B blocking poly (block), standard poly with 55% shade cloth, and the open field. A highly trained descriptive panel evaluated the samples using a scale from 0 (none) to 15 (extremely high) and determined a list of 20 sensory attributes. The color intensity attribute had the most differentiation between coverings, and the open field was higher (i.e., darker) than the others at 7.5 (<i>p</i> < 0.0001), followed by clear and movable coverings at 6.8, and the shade covering scored a 2. Strong relationships existed between both colorimetric (hue°) and anthocyanin analysis to panelist-based scores (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.847 and 0.640, respectively). The initial crispness was similar for movable, standard, diffuse, and block coverings at 5.3 on average, which was higher than the open field at 4 (<i>p</i> < 0.01). The open field lettuce grew under cooler soil temperatures, which may have slowed down maturation and resulted in softer tissue. Based on this study, HT growers can implement specific coverings to cater to markets that value visual quality.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/10/11/2660sensory lexiconvisible lightultra-violet lighthoop-house |
spellingShingle | Kelly Gude Martin Talavera Audra M. Sasse Cary L. Rivard Eleni Pliakoni Effect of Light Characteristics on the Sensory Properties of Red Lettuce (<i>Lactuca sativa</i>) Foods sensory lexicon visible light ultra-violet light hoop-house |
title | Effect of Light Characteristics on the Sensory Properties of Red Lettuce (<i>Lactuca sativa</i>) |
title_full | Effect of Light Characteristics on the Sensory Properties of Red Lettuce (<i>Lactuca sativa</i>) |
title_fullStr | Effect of Light Characteristics on the Sensory Properties of Red Lettuce (<i>Lactuca sativa</i>) |
title_full_unstemmed | Effect of Light Characteristics on the Sensory Properties of Red Lettuce (<i>Lactuca sativa</i>) |
title_short | Effect of Light Characteristics on the Sensory Properties of Red Lettuce (<i>Lactuca sativa</i>) |
title_sort | effect of light characteristics on the sensory properties of red lettuce i lactuca sativa i |
topic | sensory lexicon visible light ultra-violet light hoop-house |
url | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/10/11/2660 |
work_keys_str_mv | AT kellygude effectoflightcharacteristicsonthesensorypropertiesofredlettuceilactucasativai AT martintalavera effectoflightcharacteristicsonthesensorypropertiesofredlettuceilactucasativai AT audramsasse effectoflightcharacteristicsonthesensorypropertiesofredlettuceilactucasativai AT carylrivard effectoflightcharacteristicsonthesensorypropertiesofredlettuceilactucasativai AT elenipliakoni effectoflightcharacteristicsonthesensorypropertiesofredlettuceilactucasativai |