Biomass Production and Pigment Accumulation in Kale Grown Under Increasing Photoperiods

Consumption of fruit and vegetable crops rich in lutein and β-carotene carotenoids is associated with reduced risk of cancers and aging eye diseases. Kale (Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala D.C.) ranks highest for lutein concentrations and is an excellent source of dietary carotenoids. Kale plants were grown under varied photoperiods to determine changes in the accumulation of fresh and dry biomass, chlorophyll a and b, and lutein and β-carotene carotenoids. The plants were cultured in a controlled environment using nutrient solutions under photoperiod treatments of 6, 12, 16, or 24 hours (continuous). Fresh and dry mass production increased linearly as photoperiod increased, reaching a maximum under the 24-hour photoperiod. Maximum accumulation of lutein, β-carotene, and chlorophyll b occurred under the 24-h photoperiod at 13.5, 10.4, and 58.6 mg/100 g fresh mass, respectively. However, maximum chlorophyll a (235.1 mg/100 g fresh mass) occurred under the 12-hour photoperiod. When β-carotene and lutein were measured on a dry mass basis, the maximum accumulation was shifted to the 16-hour photoperiod. An increase in photoperiod resulted in increased pigment accumulation, but maximum concentrations of pigments were not correlated with maximum biomass production.

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Irradiance from Distinct Wavelength Light-emitting Diodes Affect Secondary Metabolites in Kale

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.43.7.2243 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 43 (7) ◽

pp. 2243-2244 ◽

Cited By ~ 88

Author(s):

Mark G. Lefsrud ◽

Dean A. Kopsell ◽

Carl E. Sams

Keyword(s):

Secondary Metabolites ◽

Light Emitting Diodes ◽

Dry Mass ◽

Plant Production ◽

Great Promise ◽

Vegetable Crops ◽

Light Emitting ◽

Maximum Accumulation ◽

Wavelength Control ◽

Mass Basis

The use of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) for plant production is a new field of research that has great promise to optimize wavelength-specific lighting systems for precise management of plant physiological responses and important secondary metabolite production. In our experiment, hydroponically cultured kale plants (Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala D.C.) were grown under specific LED wavelength treatments of 730, 640, 525, 440, and 400 nm to determine changes in the accumulation of chlorophylls, carotenoids, and glucosinolates. Maximum accumulation, on a fresh mass basis, of chlorophyll a and b and lutein occurred at the wavelength of 640 nm, whereas β-carotene accumulation peaked under the 440-nm treatment. However, when lutein was measured on a dry mass basis, maximum accumulation was shifted to 440 nm. Sinigrin was the only glucosinolate to respond to wavelength treatments. Wavelength control using LED technology can affect the production of secondary metabolites such as carotenoids and glucosinolates with irradiance levels also a factor in kale. Management of irradiance and wavelength may hold promise to maximize nutritional potential of vegetable crops grown in controlled environments.

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Biomass Production and Pigment Accumulation in Kale Grown Under Different Radiation Cycles in a Controlled Environment

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.41.6.1412 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 41 (6) ◽

pp. 1412-1415 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Mark G. Lefsrud ◽

Dean A. Kopsell

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Weight Percent ◽

Controlled Environment ◽

Vegetable Crops ◽

Fresh Weight ◽

Earth Day ◽

Pigment Accumulation ◽

Β Carotene ◽

Exact Amount

Controlled plant growing systems have consistently used the standard earth day as the radiation cycle for plant growth. However, the radiation cycle can be controlled using automated systems to regulate the exact amount of time plants are exposed to irradiation (and darkness). This experiment investigated the influence of different radiation cycle periods on plant growth and carotenoid accumulation in kale (Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala DC.). Plants were grown in a controlled environment using nutrient solutions under radiation cycle treatments of 2, 12, 24 and 48 hours, with 50% irradiance and 50% darkness during each cycle. The radiation cycles significantly affected kale fresh weight, dry weight, percent dry matter, and the accumulation of lutein, β-carotene, and chlorophyll a and b. Maximum fresh weight occurred under the 2-hour radiation cycle treatment, whereas maximum dry weight occurred under the 12-hour treatment. Maximum accumulation of lutein, β-carotene, and chlorophyll a occurred with the 12-hour radiation cycle at values of 14.5 mg/100 g, 13.1 mg/100 g, and 263.3 mg/100 g fresh weight respectively. Maximum fresh weight production of the kale was not linked to increases in chlorophyll, lutein, or β-carotene. Consumption of fruit and vegetable crops rich in lutein and β-carotene carotenoids is associated with reduced risk of cancers and aging eye diseases. Increased carotenoid concentrations in vegetable crops would therefore be expected to increase the value of these crops.

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(294) Radiation Cycle Affects Biomass Production and Carotenoid Accumulation in Kale

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.40.4.1009a ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 40 (4) ◽

pp. 1009A-1009

Author(s):

Mark G. Lefsrud ◽

Dean A. Kopsell

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Beta Carotene ◽

Dry Mass ◽

Solution Culture ◽

Fresh Mass ◽

Carotenoid Pigment ◽

Time Period ◽

Nutrient Solution Culture ◽

Earth Day ◽

Pigment Accumulation

Plant growing systems have consistently utilized the standard Earth day as the radiation cycle for plant growth. However, the radiation cycle can easily be controlled by using automated systems to regulate the exact amount of time plants are exposed to irradiation (and darkness). This experiment investigated the influence of different radiation cycles on plant growth, chlorophyll and carotenoid pigment accumulation in kale (Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala D.C). Kale plants were grown in growth chambers in nutrient solution culture under radiation cycle treatments of 2, 12, 24, and 48 h, with 50% irradiance and 50% darkness during each time period. Total irradiation throughout the experiment was the same for each treatment. Radiation cycle treatments significantly affected kale fresh mass, dry mass, chlorophyll a and b, lutein, and beta-carotene. Maximum fresh mass occurred under the 2-h radiation cycle treatment. The maximum dry mass occurred under the 12-h radiation cycle treatment, which coincided with the maximum accumulation of lutein, beta-carotene, and chlorophyll a, expressed on a fresh mass basis. The minimum fresh mass occurred during the 24 h radiation cycle treatment, which coincided with the largest chlorophyll b accumulation. Increased levels of chlorophyll, lutein and beta-carotene were not required to achieve maximum fresh mass production. Environmental manipulation of carotenoid production in kale is possible. Increases in carotenoid concentrations would be expected to increase their nutritional contribution to the diet.

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Evaluation of Zeolite-based Soilless Root Media for Potted Chrysanthemum Production

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.33.3.465e ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 33 (3) ◽

pp. 465e-465

Author(s):

Janet L. Carlino ◽

Kimberly A. Williams ◽

Earl R. Allen

Keyword(s):

Crop Production ◽

Dry Mass ◽

Nutrient Leaching ◽

Fresh Mass ◽

Production Cycle ◽

Control Medium ◽

Fertilizer Rate ◽

Innovative Technologies ◽

Root Media ◽

Soluble Fertilizer

Chrysanthemum growth and nutrient leaching of three clinoptilolite-based root media, which were formulated and provided by Boulder Innovative Technologies, Inc. and ZeoponiX, Inc., were compared to the performance of control plants grown in Sunshine Mix #2 (3 peat: 1 perlite, v/v). The control received 210 mg·L–1 N from an 18N–4P–15K soluble fertilizer at each irrigation. The experimental zeolite-based medium NZ, which contained untreated zeolite and received the same soluble fertilizer as the control, leached lower concentrations of NH4-N, K, and PO4-P for most of the production cycle compared to the control. Medium EZ1 was formulated to provide N, P, and K as fertilizer nutrients and produced plants similar to the control based on ratings, height, width, and dry mass, but not fresh mass, at harvest when the fertilizer rate was half of that applied to the control, 105 mg·L–1 N. Medium EZ2, which did not receive P or K from soluble fertilizer, produced plants similar to the control based on rating, height, and dry mass, but not width or fresh mass, with soluble fertilizer input reduced to only N. Tissue N, P, and K concentrations of plants grown in media EZ1 and EZ2 were lower than those of control plants. With further refinements, these zeolite-based products show promise for decreasing nutrient leaching during crop production and allowing for application of lower rates of soluble fertilizers.

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Intersexual Partial Diploids of Phycomyces

Genetics ◽

10.1093/genetics/158.2.635 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 158 (2) ◽

pp. 635-641

Author(s):

Bina J Mehta ◽

Enrique Cerdá-Olmedo

Keyword(s):

Dry Mass ◽

Sexual Cycle ◽

Genetic Constitution ◽

Phycomyces Blakesleeanus ◽

Carotene Content ◽

Sexual Interaction ◽

Sexual Stimulation ◽

Nuclear Composition ◽

Opposite Sex ◽

Β Carotene

Abstract Sexual interaction between strains of opposite sex in many fungi of the order Mucorales modifies hyphal morphology and increases the carotene content. The progeny of crosses of Phycomyces blakesleeanus usually include a small proportion of anomalous segregants that show these signs of sexual stimulation without a partner. We have analyzed the genetic constitution of such segregants from crosses that involved a carF mutation for overaccumulation of β-carotene and other markers. The new strains were diploids or partial diploids heterozygous for the sex markers. Diploidy was unknown in this fungus and in the Zygomycetes. Random chromosome losses during the vegetative growth of the diploid led to heterokaryosis in the coenocytic mycelia and eventually to sectors of various tints and mating behavior. The changes in the nuclear composition of the mycelia could be followed by selecting for individual nuclei. The results impose a reinterpretation of the sexual cycle of Phycomyces. Some of the intersexual strains that carried the carF mutation contained 25 mg β-carotene per gram of dry mass and were sufficiently stable for practical use in carotene production.

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Screening of carotenoid-producing Rhodotorula strains isolated from natural sources

Acta Chimica Slovaca ◽

10.1515/acs-2015-0007 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 34-38 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Jana Tkáčová ◽

Katarína Furdíková ◽

Tatiana Klempová ◽

Katarína Ďurčanská ◽

Milan Čertík

Keyword(s):

Positive Impact ◽

Human Life ◽

Carotenoid Pigments ◽

High Demand ◽

Natural Pigments ◽

Feed Industry ◽

Food And Feed ◽

Petri Dishes ◽

Pigment Accumulation ◽

Β Carotene

Abstract Carotenoids represent large group of various natural pigments ensuring typical coloration of plants, microorganisms and several animals. It was confirmed by many studies, that consuming these biological active compounds has positive impact for human life. Therefore, they are applied in different industrial fields, such as pharmacy, cosmetic, food, and feed industry. Due to high demand for carotenoids we would like to discover new microorganisms overproducing carotenoids. We focused on yeasts of genus Rhodotorula sp. (forty isolates), that we screened according to growth and carotenoid production on Petri dishes and production media. After cultivation on Petri dishes we selected five strains (denoted as KF-4, KF-6, KF-24, KF-31, KF-104) with interesting pigment production and quick growth. The secondary screening on production media identified KF-104 as the best producer of carotenoid pigments with massive pigment accumulation (1.15 mg/g DCW) and yield (9.69 mg/L). The main carotenoid of KF-104 isolate was β-carotene (35.4 %) with the accumulation of 408.7 μg/g DCW and the yield of 3.4 mg/L. The rest were torularhodin, torulene and γ-carotene (62.7–79.0 %). Production of torularhodin in the cells was low (0.4 to 1.4 mg/L) as was its accumulation in cells (31.2–121.0 μg/g DCW). We continue the experimental analyses of these isolates in order understand differences in the content of individual pigments.

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Individual and Interactive Temporal Implications of UV-B Radiation and Elevated CO2 on the Morphology of Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.)

Horticulturae ◽

10.3390/horticulturae7110474 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (11) ◽

pp. 474

Author(s):

T. Casey Barickman ◽

Skyler Brazel ◽

Akanksha Sehgal ◽

C. Hunt Walne ◽

Wei Gao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Elevated Co2 ◽

Plant Morphology ◽

Dry Mass ◽

Root Surface ◽

Morphological Features ◽

Fresh Mass ◽

Interactive Effects ◽

Root Surface Area ◽

Surface Wax ◽

Radiation Treatments

Temporal and spatial variations in ozone levels and temporal changes in solar radiation greatly influence ultraviolet radiation incidence to crops throughout their growth, yet the interactive effects of CO2 and UV-B radiation on Basil production under sunlight environmental conditions has not been studied. Basil ‘Genovese’ plants grown under sunlit plant growth chambers were subjected to a combination of supplemental UV-B (0 and 10 kJ m−2d−1) and ambient (420 ppm) and elevated (720 ppm) CO2 treatments for 38 days after 14 days of germination. UV-B radiation treatments caused a decrease in basil stem branching, fresh mass, and stem dry mass under both CO2 treatments when harvested after 17 and 38 days of treatment. There was also an increase in basil leaf surface wax under UV-B (10 kJ m−2d−1) treatment compared to controls (0 kJ m−2d−1). Elevated CO2 treatments caused a decrease in morphological features, including specific leaf area and fresh mass. Interactive effects between UV-B and CO2 treatments existed for some morphological features, including plant height, root surface area, and average root diameter. Understanding the impacts that CO2 and UV-B radiation treatments have on basilcan improve existing varieties for increased tolerance while simultaneously improving yield, plant morphology, and physiology.

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Edaphic Aptness of Subarid Soils to Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) Production in Social Dynamics Context of Diffa, Niger

Journal of Experimental Agriculture International ◽

10.9734/jeai/2021/v43i1130753 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 14-21

Author(s):

Boubacar M. Moussa ◽

Laouali Abdou ◽

Salamatou Abdourahamane Illiassou ◽

Ali Mahamane

Keyword(s):

Social Dynamics ◽

Exchange Capacity ◽

Fresh Mass ◽

Soil Parameters ◽

Vegetable Crops ◽

Lake Chad ◽

Randomized Experimental Design ◽

Terrorist Groups ◽

Favorable Conditions ◽

Nitrogen Contents

In the eastern Niger, vegetable crops such as lettuce are cultivated along the Komadougou Yobé river and near Lake Chad. Insecurity linked to terrorist groups prevents the exploitation of these areas and leads population to explore other lands. This study aims to find out whether sub-arid soils have in some places potentialities that can allow lettuce cultivation. A pedological survey was first carried out in the study area and some physicochemical soil parameters were analyzed. Then, a randomized experimental design with three cultivars (“Blonde de Paris”, “Iceberg Tahoma”, and “Iceberg edem”) and three replicates was carried out on soils which present favorable conditions for vegetable crops. The lettuce fresh mass was determined at harvest. The results show a significant influence of the geomorphological gradient on texture classes, nitrogen contents, pH values, cation exchange capacity and level of exchangeable bases. The lowland soils are more apt for vegetable crops like lettuce. The mean of lettuce fresh mass obtained for the three cultivars is 4.8±0.5 kg.m-². Iceberg Eden records the highest values and seems well adapted to eastern Niger.

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Evaluation of Cherry Tomato Genotypes for Qualitative Traits under Open Field and Protected Condition

International Research Journal of Pure and Applied Chemistry ◽

10.9734/irjpac/2020/v21i930194 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 9-16

Author(s):

. Chandni ◽

Deepti Singh ◽

Shirin Akhtar ◽

Shiv Shankar Mahesh

Keyword(s):

Ascorbic Acid ◽

Open Field ◽

Ascorbic Acid Content ◽

Quality Parameters ◽

Soluble Solids ◽

Vegetable Crops ◽

Cherry Tomato ◽

Total Soluble Solids ◽

Maximum Value ◽

Β Carotene

Vegetable, due to higher neutraceutical component, are termed as protective food against various major and minor diseases. Scientific agro-techniques under optimum growing condition like temperature, relative humidity and light intensity, positively influence the qualitative and quantitative attributes of most of the vegetable crops including cherry tomato. It is one of potential vegetable crop, which is extensively utilized for table purpose and for preparing recipies in five star restaurants. Cherry tomato fetches higher prices in market due to good taste and higher nutrients, thus making qualitative attributes as an important factor to give higher returns to the farmers. Thus, this experiment was conducted to estimate the qualitative attributes in eighteen genotypes of cherry tomato grown under both open field and polyhouse conditions. The result of the study revealed that under open field condition, BRCT-30 was the best genotype with maximum value for lycopene content (6.62 mg 100-1 g FW) and β-carotene (2.30 mg 100-1 g FW), second maximum value for total soluble solids (7.85°Brix), third maximum value for reducing sugar and fourth highest position for ascorbic acid content (43.65 mg/100 g FW). Under polyhouse condition, the best genotype for quality parameters was BRCT-36 with maximum total soluble solids (10.81°Brix), lycopene (7.48 mg 100-1 g FW) and β-carotene (2.49 mg 100-1g FW) along with average range of values for ascorbic acid (72.36 mg 100-1 g FW) and titrable acidity (0.55 mg 100-1 g FW).

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Differences in Leaf Cuticle Structure and Efficacy among Eastern Redbud and Mexican Redbud Phenotypes

Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science ◽

10.21273/jashs.120.1.59 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 120 (1) ◽

pp. 59-64 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Jimmy L. Tipton ◽

Marcia White

Keyword(s):

Leaf Area ◽

Water Loss ◽

Loss Rate ◽

Dry Mass ◽

Abaxial Surface ◽

Cercis Canadensis ◽

Area Basis ◽

Detached Leaves ◽

Eastern Redbud ◽

Mass Basis

The objective of this study was to compare the structure and efficacy in terms of retarding cuticular transpiration of leaf cuticles from eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis L.) and dull-leaf and glossy-leaf Mexican redbud [Cercis canadensis var. mexicana (Rose) M. Hopk.]. Leaves of Mexican redbud exhibited several xeromorphic characteristics compared to eastern redbud: a smaller, thicker leaf with thicker cuticles, more cuticular wax, a higher specific leaf mass, and greater hydrated water content on a leaf area basis. Mexican redbuds with a glossy leaf differed from those with a dull leaf only in a thicker adaxial cuticle lacking wax crystallite on the surface. Epicuticular wax crystallite were present on the abaxial surface of all leaves examined. Detached leaves of eastern redbud had a higher water loss rate than those of Mexican redbud only on a dry mass basis, not on a leaf area basis. There was no difference in the rate of water loss by detached leaves of glossy-leaf and dull-leaf Mexican redbuds after 4 hours.

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