Protein Hydrolysate Combined with Hydroponics Divergently Modifies Growth and Shuffles Pigments and Free Amino Acids of Carrot and Dill Microgreens
Microgreens are the new sophisticated commodity in horticulture that boost the human diet with bioactive metabolites and garnish it with colors and tastes. Microgreens thrive well when cultivated in soilless systems, of which closed-loop soilless systems combined with biostimulant application can pr...
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MDPI AG
2021-09-01
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Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/7/9/279 |
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author | Christophe El-Nakhel Michele Ciriello Luigi Formisano Antonio Pannico Maria Giordano Beniamino Riccardo Gentile Giovanna Marta Fusco Marios C. Kyriacou Petronia Carillo Youssef Rouphael |
author_facet | Christophe El-Nakhel Michele Ciriello Luigi Formisano Antonio Pannico Maria Giordano Beniamino Riccardo Gentile Giovanna Marta Fusco Marios C. Kyriacou Petronia Carillo Youssef Rouphael |
author_sort | Christophe El-Nakhel |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Microgreens are the new sophisticated commodity in horticulture that boost the human diet with bioactive metabolites and garnish it with colors and tastes. Microgreens thrive well when cultivated in soilless systems, of which closed-loop soilless systems combined with biostimulant application can provide a sustainable, innovative method of growing microgreens. <i>Daucus carota</i> L. and <i>Anethum graveolens</i> L. microgreens were grown in greenhouse conditions implementing a floating raft system combined with a protein hydrolysate of leguminous origin as root application (0.3 mL L<sup>−1</sup> nutrient solution). Growth, colorimetric parameters, macronutrients, chlorophylls, carotenoids, carbohydrates, free amino acids, and soluble proteins were assessed. The use of a protein hydrolysate in the nutrient solution engendered an increase in anthocyanins (+461.7%) and total phenols (+12.4%) in carrot, while in dill, the fresh yield (+13.5%) and ascorbic acid (+17.2%) increased. In both species, soluble proteins and total free amino acids increased by 20.6% and 18.5%, respectively. The floating raft system proved to be promising for microgreens and can ease the application of biostimulants through root application. Future research should also investigate the yield and nutritional parameter responses of other species of microgreens with the aim of large-scale sustainable production. |
first_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:36:48Z |
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issn | 2311-7524 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:36:48Z |
publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
publisher | MDPI AG |
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series | Horticulturae |
spelling | doaj.art-7d5e29e7c41e4f6a8cca01ca3e6c10f62023-11-22T13:21:03ZengMDPI AGHorticulturae2311-75242021-09-017927910.3390/horticulturae7090279Protein Hydrolysate Combined with Hydroponics Divergently Modifies Growth and Shuffles Pigments and Free Amino Acids of Carrot and Dill MicrogreensChristophe El-Nakhel0Michele Ciriello1Luigi Formisano2Antonio Pannico3Maria Giordano4Beniamino Riccardo Gentile5Giovanna Marta Fusco6Marios C. Kyriacou7Petronia Carillo8Youssef Rouphael9Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, ItalyDepartment of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81100 Caserta, ItalyDepartment of Vegetable Crops, Agricultural Research Institute, Nicosia 1516, CyprusDepartment of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81100 Caserta, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, ItalyMicrogreens are the new sophisticated commodity in horticulture that boost the human diet with bioactive metabolites and garnish it with colors and tastes. Microgreens thrive well when cultivated in soilless systems, of which closed-loop soilless systems combined with biostimulant application can provide a sustainable, innovative method of growing microgreens. <i>Daucus carota</i> L. and <i>Anethum graveolens</i> L. microgreens were grown in greenhouse conditions implementing a floating raft system combined with a protein hydrolysate of leguminous origin as root application (0.3 mL L<sup>−1</sup> nutrient solution). Growth, colorimetric parameters, macronutrients, chlorophylls, carotenoids, carbohydrates, free amino acids, and soluble proteins were assessed. The use of a protein hydrolysate in the nutrient solution engendered an increase in anthocyanins (+461.7%) and total phenols (+12.4%) in carrot, while in dill, the fresh yield (+13.5%) and ascorbic acid (+17.2%) increased. In both species, soluble proteins and total free amino acids increased by 20.6% and 18.5%, respectively. The floating raft system proved to be promising for microgreens and can ease the application of biostimulants through root application. Future research should also investigate the yield and nutritional parameter responses of other species of microgreens with the aim of large-scale sustainable production.https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/7/9/279floating raft systembiostimulantroot applicationanthocyaninsphenolsreduced sugars |
spellingShingle | Christophe El-Nakhel Michele Ciriello Luigi Formisano Antonio Pannico Maria Giordano Beniamino Riccardo Gentile Giovanna Marta Fusco Marios C. Kyriacou Petronia Carillo Youssef Rouphael Protein Hydrolysate Combined with Hydroponics Divergently Modifies Growth and Shuffles Pigments and Free Amino Acids of Carrot and Dill Microgreens Horticulturae floating raft system biostimulant root application anthocyanins phenols reduced sugars |
title | Protein Hydrolysate Combined with Hydroponics Divergently Modifies Growth and Shuffles Pigments and Free Amino Acids of Carrot and Dill Microgreens |
title_full | Protein Hydrolysate Combined with Hydroponics Divergently Modifies Growth and Shuffles Pigments and Free Amino Acids of Carrot and Dill Microgreens |
title_fullStr | Protein Hydrolysate Combined with Hydroponics Divergently Modifies Growth and Shuffles Pigments and Free Amino Acids of Carrot and Dill Microgreens |
title_full_unstemmed | Protein Hydrolysate Combined with Hydroponics Divergently Modifies Growth and Shuffles Pigments and Free Amino Acids of Carrot and Dill Microgreens |
title_short | Protein Hydrolysate Combined with Hydroponics Divergently Modifies Growth and Shuffles Pigments and Free Amino Acids of Carrot and Dill Microgreens |
title_sort | protein hydrolysate combined with hydroponics divergently modifies growth and shuffles pigments and free amino acids of carrot and dill microgreens |
topic | floating raft system biostimulant root application anthocyanins phenols reduced sugars |
url | https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/7/9/279 |
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