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...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Kelly Gude, Martin Talavera, Audra M. Sasse, Cary L. Rivard, Eleni Pliakoni
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-11-01
Series:Foods
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/10/11/2660
_version_ 1797510369608990720
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.
first_indexed 2024-03-10T05:30:32Z
format Article
id doaj.art-7401ea691ff4415cb1295b9ae63e66f9
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2304-8158
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-10T05:30:32Z
publishDate 2021-11-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
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