LED Enhances Plant Performance and Both Carotenoids and Nitrates Profiles in Lettuce

Recent studies show that vegetables at early stage of development contain higher amounts of phytonutrients and minerals, and lower amounts of nitrates than at fully developed stage. Nevertheless, the effects of some spectrum light on the carotenoid content of lettuce microgreens are unknown. Three different LED lamps were checked: (i) artificial white light (T0); (ii) continuous light-emitting diodes with longer blue-wavelength (T1), and (iii) continuous light-emitting diodes with longer red-wavelength (T2). Different lettuce cvs. were grown under the above described lamps. Plants were collected after 10, 15, 35 and 50 days from planting to produce sprouts, microgreens, initial baby leaf, and baby leaf, respectively. Response to different continuous spectrum lights related to productivity and nitrate content was variable for the different plants. Accumulation of nitrates at initial stages in plant tissues was clearly lower than at final stages of crop development, ranging from 50.2 to 73.4 mg 100 g1 fresh weight for T2. Lettuce consumption is preferable at microgreen stage in comparison with baby leaf stage. Nitrate amounts at microgreen stage were lower than in baby leaf stage, and this content was inversely correlated with carotenoid content, which in tissues was higher at microgreens stage influenced by LED.