Trace Amounts of Gaseous Nitric Oxide Improve Yield and Quality of Four Common Crops.

This study extensively investigated the effects of trace amounts of gaseous nitric oxide (NO) on the growth and quality of four common crops: pak choi (Brassica chinensis L.), radish (Raphanus sativus L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and ryegrass (Secale cereal L.), which represent leafy vegetable crops, root vegetable crops, cereal crops, and herbage crops, respectively. Treatment with 200 nL/L gaseous NO increased the edible part of the yield by 67, 63, 33, and 18% for pak choi, radish, wheat and ryegrass, respectively. Furthermore, both nutritional qualities (indicated by the amount of nitrates, soluble sugars, and soluble protein) and antioxidant qualities (indicated by total phenolic content, flavonoids, and DPPH scavenging activity) in those crops were improved by access to gaseous NO. These results may provide a valuable scientific reference for agricultural production and suggest ways in which increased atmospheric NO will affect natural ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]