Effects of light quality on the growth, mineral, and functional contents of green and red amaranth

Amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor L.) is a highly nutritious leafy vegetable, and the varieties have bright light green (green amaranth) and red (red amaranth) leaves. Light quality control is an important factor for high vegetable productivity in plant factories; however, the effects of light quality...

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Main Authors: Yukiko Tomari, Gauri Maharjan, Hiroyuki Watanabe
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Julius Kühn-Institut 2023-11-01
Series:Journal of Applied Botany and Food Quality
Online Access:https://ojs.openagrar.de/index.php/JABFQ/article/view/17057
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author Yukiko Tomari
Gauri Maharjan
Hiroyuki Watanabe
author_facet Yukiko Tomari
Gauri Maharjan
Hiroyuki Watanabe
author_sort Yukiko Tomari
collection DOAJ
description Amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor L.) is a highly nutritious leafy vegetable, and the varieties have bright light green (green amaranth) and red (red amaranth) leaves. Light quality control is an important factor for high vegetable productivity in plant factories; however, the effects of light quality on growth, mineral compositions, and functional contents of amaranth have not been investigated. In this experiment, green and red amaranth seedlings were transplanted 28 days after sowing to a plant factory, with three LED treatments with different red/blue ratios and the presence or absence of far-red light, and cultivated for 24 days. Results showed that the growth of red amaranth was enhanced by the white and far-red light with the lowest blue light ratio, whereas the betalain and β-carotene contents in green amaranth were considerably enhanced by the middle blue light ratio. The highest iron content in both varieties was obtained under the light condition with the highest blue light ratio. Our findings suggest that amaranth yield can be increased, and their carotenoid, betalain, and mineral contents can be controlled by adjusting far-red and blue light intensities. The results of this study will help in light quality control during amaranth production in plant factories.
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spelling doaj.art-d31efb029a364419aab486e2049000582023-11-20T10:31:27ZengJulius Kühn-InstitutJournal of Applied Botany and Food Quality1613-92161439-040X2023-11-019610.5073/JABFQ.2023.096.016Effects of light quality on the growth, mineral, and functional contents of green and red amaranthYukiko Tomari0Gauri Maharjan1Hiroyuki Watanabe2College of Agriculture, Tamagawa University, Tokyo, JapanHorticulture LED Solutions, Signify, Eindhoven, NetherlandsCollege of Agriculture, Tamagawa University, Tokyo, Japan Amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor L.) is a highly nutritious leafy vegetable, and the varieties have bright light green (green amaranth) and red (red amaranth) leaves. Light quality control is an important factor for high vegetable productivity in plant factories; however, the effects of light quality on growth, mineral compositions, and functional contents of amaranth have not been investigated. In this experiment, green and red amaranth seedlings were transplanted 28 days after sowing to a plant factory, with three LED treatments with different red/blue ratios and the presence or absence of far-red light, and cultivated for 24 days. Results showed that the growth of red amaranth was enhanced by the white and far-red light with the lowest blue light ratio, whereas the betalain and β-carotene contents in green amaranth were considerably enhanced by the middle blue light ratio. The highest iron content in both varieties was obtained under the light condition with the highest blue light ratio. Our findings suggest that amaranth yield can be increased, and their carotenoid, betalain, and mineral contents can be controlled by adjusting far-red and blue light intensities. The results of this study will help in light quality control during amaranth production in plant factories. https://ojs.openagrar.de/index.php/JABFQ/article/view/17057
spellingShingle Yukiko Tomari
Gauri Maharjan
Hiroyuki Watanabe
Effects of light quality on the growth, mineral, and functional contents of green and red amaranth
Journal of Applied Botany and Food Quality
title Effects of light quality on the growth, mineral, and functional contents of green and red amaranth
title_full Effects of light quality on the growth, mineral, and functional contents of green and red amaranth
title_fullStr Effects of light quality on the growth, mineral, and functional contents of green and red amaranth
title_full_unstemmed Effects of light quality on the growth, mineral, and functional contents of green and red amaranth
title_short Effects of light quality on the growth, mineral, and functional contents of green and red amaranth
title_sort effects of light quality on the growth mineral and functional contents of green and red amaranth
url https://ojs.openagrar.de/index.php/JABFQ/article/view/17057
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