Effect of light emitting diodes (LEDs) irradiation on the functional quality and shelf life of basil microgreens.

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are the promising technology with low heat production and feasible spectra optimization, which improve plants' function. In current study, basil microgreens as novel-leafy vegetables grown under LEDs (blue, red, 30%blue +70%red, and white) and sunlight to investigate phytochemical properties by comparing to sunlight-treated mature basil. Results showed that narrow wavelength including blue, red and blue/red LEDs had significant effect on increasing total phenol content (TPC) and antiradical activity (AA) of microgreens. Blue LED-treated microgreens exhibited significant increase in Potassium and the best visual appearance in comparison with mature and other microgreens. In the case of essential oils, methyl chavicol was the major compound in all samples with the main effect of broad light spectra; red LED- and blue LED-treated microgreens represented the maximum and minimum of methyl eugenol and β-caryophyllene, respectively, which could be related to the significant effect of red light on essential oil biosynthesis. No significant difference was observed in the market-acceptability of mature basil and microgreens which demonstrated that LEDs had no negative impact on organoleptic properties. Throughout the storage, darkness-stored microgreens showed the best result with the least weight loss and decrease in TPC; however, brightness-yellowness variation observed due to the plants' aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]