Effects of Nonthermal Plasma (NTP) on the Growth and Quality of Baby Leaf Lettuce (<i>Lactuca sativa</i> var. <i>acephala</i> Alef.) Cultivated in an Indoor Hydroponic Growing System
The aim of this research was to develop an effective protocol for the application of nonthermal plasma (NTP) technology to the hydroponic nutrient solution, and to investigate its effects on the growth and quality of baby leaf lettuce (<i>Lactuca sativa</i> var. <i>acephala</i&g...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-03-01
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| Series: | Horticulturae |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/8/3/251 |
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| author | Giulia Carmassi Fatjon Cela Alice Trivellini Francesca Gambineri Lamberto Cursi Antonio Cecchi Alberto Pardossi Luca Incrocci |
| author_facet | Giulia Carmassi Fatjon Cela Alice Trivellini Francesca Gambineri Lamberto Cursi Antonio Cecchi Alberto Pardossi Luca Incrocci |
| author_sort | Giulia Carmassi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The aim of this research was to develop an effective protocol for the application of nonthermal plasma (NTP) technology to the hydroponic nutrient solution, and to investigate its effects on the growth and quality of baby leaf lettuce (<i>Lactuca sativa</i> var. <i>acephala</i> Alef.) grown in a hydroponic growing system (HGS) specifically designed for indoor home cultivation. Four HGSs were placed in separate growth chambers with temperature of 24 ± 1 °C and relative humidity of 70 ± 5%). Lettuce plants were grown for nine days in nutrient solutions treated with NTP for 0 (control) to 120 s every hour. Results of the first experiments showed that the optimal operating time of NTP was 120 s h<sup>−1</sup>. Fresh leaf biomass was increased by the 60 and 120 s NTP treatments compared to the control. Treating the nutrient solution with NTP also resulted in greater leaf content of total chlorophylls, carotenoids, total phenols, and total antioxidant capacity. NTP also positively influenced chlorophyll <i>a</i> fluorescence in Photosystem I (<i>PSI</i>) and photosynthetic electron transport. These results revealed that the NTP treatment of the nutrient solution could improve the production and quality of hydroponically grown baby leaf lettuce. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:45:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fb6f2b9ef6684fecb2e2d80c1775372c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2311-7524 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:45:54Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Horticulturae |
| spelling | doaj.art-fb6f2b9ef6684fecb2e2d80c1775372c2023-11-24T01:26:02ZengMDPI AGHorticulturae2311-75242022-03-018325110.3390/horticulturae8030251Effects of Nonthermal Plasma (NTP) on the Growth and Quality of Baby Leaf Lettuce (<i>Lactuca sativa</i> var. <i>acephala</i> Alef.) Cultivated in an Indoor Hydroponic Growing SystemGiulia Carmassi0Fatjon Cela1Alice Trivellini2Francesca Gambineri3Lamberto Cursi4Antonio Cecchi5Alberto Pardossi6Luca Incrocci7Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, ItalyInstitute of Life Sciences, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, 56127 Pisa, ItalyARCHA SRL, Ospedaletto, 56121 Pisa, ItalyARCHA SRL, Ospedaletto, 56121 Pisa, ItalyJONIX SpA, Tribano, 35020 Padova, ItalyDepartment of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, ItalyThe aim of this research was to develop an effective protocol for the application of nonthermal plasma (NTP) technology to the hydroponic nutrient solution, and to investigate its effects on the growth and quality of baby leaf lettuce (<i>Lactuca sativa</i> var. <i>acephala</i> Alef.) grown in a hydroponic growing system (HGS) specifically designed for indoor home cultivation. Four HGSs were placed in separate growth chambers with temperature of 24 ± 1 °C and relative humidity of 70 ± 5%). Lettuce plants were grown for nine days in nutrient solutions treated with NTP for 0 (control) to 120 s every hour. Results of the first experiments showed that the optimal operating time of NTP was 120 s h<sup>−1</sup>. Fresh leaf biomass was increased by the 60 and 120 s NTP treatments compared to the control. Treating the nutrient solution with NTP also resulted in greater leaf content of total chlorophylls, carotenoids, total phenols, and total antioxidant capacity. NTP also positively influenced chlorophyll <i>a</i> fluorescence in Photosystem I (<i>PSI</i>) and photosynthetic electron transport. These results revealed that the NTP treatment of the nutrient solution could improve the production and quality of hydroponically grown baby leaf lettuce.https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/8/3/251antioxidantschlorophyll <i>a</i> florescenceeustressfloating systemhydroponicsnonthermal plasma treatment |
| spellingShingle | Giulia Carmassi Fatjon Cela Alice Trivellini Francesca Gambineri Lamberto Cursi Antonio Cecchi Alberto Pardossi Luca Incrocci Effects of Nonthermal Plasma (NTP) on the Growth and Quality of Baby Leaf Lettuce (<i>Lactuca sativa</i> var. <i>acephala</i> Alef.) Cultivated in an Indoor Hydroponic Growing System Horticulturae antioxidants chlorophyll <i>a</i> florescence eustress floating system hydroponics nonthermal plasma treatment |
| title | Effects of Nonthermal Plasma (NTP) on the Growth and Quality of Baby Leaf Lettuce (<i>Lactuca sativa</i> var. <i>acephala</i> Alef.) Cultivated in an Indoor Hydroponic Growing System |
| title_full | Effects of Nonthermal Plasma (NTP) on the Growth and Quality of Baby Leaf Lettuce (<i>Lactuca sativa</i> var. <i>acephala</i> Alef.) Cultivated in an Indoor Hydroponic Growing System |
| title_fullStr | Effects of Nonthermal Plasma (NTP) on the Growth and Quality of Baby Leaf Lettuce (<i>Lactuca sativa</i> var. <i>acephala</i> Alef.) Cultivated in an Indoor Hydroponic Growing System |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of Nonthermal Plasma (NTP) on the Growth and Quality of Baby Leaf Lettuce (<i>Lactuca sativa</i> var. <i>acephala</i> Alef.) Cultivated in an Indoor Hydroponic Growing System |
| title_short | Effects of Nonthermal Plasma (NTP) on the Growth and Quality of Baby Leaf Lettuce (<i>Lactuca sativa</i> var. <i>acephala</i> Alef.) Cultivated in an Indoor Hydroponic Growing System |
| title_sort | effects of nonthermal plasma ntp on the growth and quality of baby leaf lettuce i lactuca sativa i var i acephala i alef cultivated in an indoor hydroponic growing system |
| topic | antioxidants chlorophyll <i>a</i> florescence eustress floating system hydroponics nonthermal plasma treatment |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/8/3/251 |
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