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Prof. Dr. Stefania De Pascale
Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, Italy

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0 Hydroponics
0 Physiology
0 Plant Nutrition
0 Microgreens
0 Biofortification

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Microgreens
postharvest
Functional quality
Hydroponics
Sprouts
Physiology
Biofortification
Plant Nutrition
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Journal article
Published: 23 July 2021 in Agronomy
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Hydroponics growing systems often contain excessive nutrients (especially nitrates), which could lead to a quality loss in ready-to-eat leafy vegetables and posing a health risk to consumers, if managed inadequately. A floating raft system was adopted to assay the production and quality performance of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. cv ‘Maravilla De Verano Canasta’) deprived of the nutrient solution by replacement with only water, three and six days before harvest. Yield and quality parameters, mineral composition, pigments, organic acids, amino acids profile, soluble proteins, and carbohydrate content were determined. Nutrient solution deprivation six days before harvest resulted in a significant reduction in leaf nitrate (−53.3%) concomitant with 13.8% of yield loss, while plants deprived of nutrient solution three days before harvest increased total phenols content (32.5%) and total ascorbic acid (102.1%), antioxidant activity (82.7%), anthocyanins (7.9%), sucrose (38.9%), starch (19.5%), and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA; 28.2%), with a yield reduction of 4.7%, compared to the control. Our results suggest that nutrient solution deprivation three days before harvest is a successful strategy to reduce nitrate content and increase the nutritional quality of lettuce grown in floating raft systems with negligible impact on yield. These promising results warrant further investigation of the potential effect of nutrient solution deprivation on the quality attributes of other leafy vegetables cultivated in floating raft systems and in a “cascade” growing system.

ACS Style

Michele Ciriello; Luigi Formisano; Antonio Pannico; Christophe El-Nakhel; Giancarlo Fascella; Luigi Duri; Francesco Cristofano; Beniamino Gentile; Maria Giordano; Youssef Rouphael; Giovanna Fusco; Pasqualina Woodrow; Petronia Carillo. Nutrient Solution Deprivation as a Tool to Improve Hydroponics Sustainability: Yield, Physiological, and Qualitative Response of Lettuce. Agronomy 2021, 11, 1469 .

AMA Style

Michele Ciriello, Luigi Formisano, Antonio Pannico, Christophe El-Nakhel, Giancarlo Fascella, Luigi Duri, Francesco Cristofano, Beniamino Gentile, Maria Giordano, Youssef Rouphael, Giovanna Fusco, Pasqualina Woodrow, Petronia Carillo. Nutrient Solution Deprivation as a Tool to Improve Hydroponics Sustainability: Yield, Physiological, and Qualitative Response of Lettuce. Agronomy. 2021; 11 (8):1469.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Michele Ciriello; Luigi Formisano; Antonio Pannico; Christophe El-Nakhel; Giancarlo Fascella; Luigi Duri; Francesco Cristofano; Beniamino Gentile; Maria Giordano; Youssef Rouphael; Giovanna Fusco; Pasqualina Woodrow; Petronia Carillo. 2021. "Nutrient Solution Deprivation as a Tool to Improve Hydroponics Sustainability: Yield, Physiological, and Qualitative Response of Lettuce." Agronomy 11, no. 8: 1469.

Journal article
Published: 23 July 2021 in Horticulturae
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Neglected and underutilized species (NUS) offer largely unexplored opportunities for providing nutritious plant food, while making agro-ecosystems more diverse and resilient to climate change. The aim of this work was to explore the potential of two typical Mediterranean underutilized species, purslane and borage, as novel vegetable product (microgreens). Micro-scale production of edible plants is spreading due to the simplicity of their management, rapid cycle, harvest index, and phytochemical value of the edible product. Microgreens, therefore, represent an opportunity to link NUS, nutrition, and agricultural and dietary diversification. By analyzing yield, antioxidants activities, mineral composition, and main phenolic acids and flavonoids, our work indicated that the two species provide interesting results when compared with those reported for crops and horticultural species. Specifically, purslane should be considered highly nutritional due to the amount of phenolic compounds and ascorbic acid, and to potential good β-carotene bioavailability. Borage microgreens have a very high fresh yield and a more composite and balanced phenolic profile. In conclusion, our work provided evidence for implementing new ways to expand the NUS market-chains and for developing added-value food products.

ACS Style

Giandomenico Corrado; Christophe El-Nakhel; Giulia Graziani; Antonio Pannico; Armando Zarrelli; Paola Giannini; Alberto Ritieni; Stefania De Pascale; Marios Kyriacou; Youssef Rouphael. Productive and Morphometric Traits, Mineral Composition and Secondary Metabolome Components of Borage and Purslane as Underutilized Species for Microgreens Production. Horticulturae 2021, 7, 211 .

AMA Style

Giandomenico Corrado, Christophe El-Nakhel, Giulia Graziani, Antonio Pannico, Armando Zarrelli, Paola Giannini, Alberto Ritieni, Stefania De Pascale, Marios Kyriacou, Youssef Rouphael. Productive and Morphometric Traits, Mineral Composition and Secondary Metabolome Components of Borage and Purslane as Underutilized Species for Microgreens Production. Horticulturae. 2021; 7 (8):211.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Giandomenico Corrado; Christophe El-Nakhel; Giulia Graziani; Antonio Pannico; Armando Zarrelli; Paola Giannini; Alberto Ritieni; Stefania De Pascale; Marios Kyriacou; Youssef Rouphael. 2021. "Productive and Morphometric Traits, Mineral Composition and Secondary Metabolome Components of Borage and Purslane as Underutilized Species for Microgreens Production." Horticulturae 7, no. 8: 211.

Journal article
Published: 12 July 2021 in Agronomy
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Currently, climate change is affecting considerably the availability of freshwater for agriculture, increasing the need for the optimization of crop water use efficiency. Attempts to use VPD (vapor pressure deficit) modulation to reduce water consumption have been made. However, the effects of VPD on leaf stomatal and hydraulic traits, and on possible tradeoffs between photosynthetic carbon gain and transpiration, are rarely reported. We analyzed photosynthesis (gas-exchange, photochemistry) stomatal and hydraulic-related traits of green (G) and red (R) butterhead lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) grown under low and high VPD (LV, HV) in a controlled environment. Our results showed that plants developed a higher number of small stomata under LV, allowing better regulation over opening/closing mechanisms and thus increasing net photosynthesis by 18%. LV plants also achieved better performance of the photosystem II and a more efficient water use (increments in ΦPSII and iWUE by 3% and 49%), resulting in enhanced plant growth and reduced need for irrigation. Significant differences between G and R plants were limited to a few traits, and the physiological response under the two VPDs did not show cultivar-specific response. We discuss the role of VPD management as necessary to maximize crop water use by harmonizing photosynthesis and transpiration.

ACS Style

Chiara Amitrano; Youssef Rouphael; Antonio Pannico; Stefania De Pascale; Veronica De Micco. Reducing the Evaporative Demand Improves Photosynthesis and Water Use Efficiency of Indoor Cultivated Lettuce. Agronomy 2021, 11, 1396 .

AMA Style

Chiara Amitrano, Youssef Rouphael, Antonio Pannico, Stefania De Pascale, Veronica De Micco. Reducing the Evaporative Demand Improves Photosynthesis and Water Use Efficiency of Indoor Cultivated Lettuce. Agronomy. 2021; 11 (7):1396.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Chiara Amitrano; Youssef Rouphael; Antonio Pannico; Stefania De Pascale; Veronica De Micco. 2021. "Reducing the Evaporative Demand Improves Photosynthesis and Water Use Efficiency of Indoor Cultivated Lettuce." Agronomy 11, no. 7: 1396.

Journal article
Published: 23 June 2021 in Pathogens
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Salinity in water and soil is one of the major environmental factors limiting the productivity of agronomic and horticultural crops. In basil (Ocimum basilicum L., Lamiaceae) and other Ocimum species, information on the plant response to mild salinity levels, often induced by the irrigation or fertigation systems, is scarce. In the present work, we tested the effectiveness of a microbial-based biostimulant containing two strains of arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) and Trichoderma koningii in sustaining greenhouse basil yield traits, subjected to two mild salinity stresses (25 mM [low] and 50 mM [high] modulated by augmenting the fertigation osmotic potential with NaCl) compared to a non-stressed control. The impact of salinity stress was further appraised in terms of plant physiology, morphological ontogenesis and composition in polyphenols and volatile organic compounds (VOC). As expected, increasing the salinity of the solution strongly depressed the plant yield, nutrient uptake and concentration, reduced photosynthetic activity and leaf water potential, increased the Na and Cl and induced the accumulation of polyphenols. In addition, it decreased the concentration of Eucalyptol and β-Linalool, two of its main essential oil constituents. Irrespective of the salinity stress level, the multispecies inoculum strongly benefited plant growth, leaf number and area, and the accumulation of Ca, Mg, B, p-coumaric and chicoric acids, while it reduced nitrate and Cl concentrations in the shoots and affected the concentration of some minor VOC constituents. The benefits derived from the inoculum in term of yield and quality harnessed different mechanisms depending on the degree of stress. under low-stress conditions, the inoculum directly stimulated the photosynthetic activity after an increase of the Fe and Mn availability for the plants and induced the accumulation of caffeic and rosmarinic acids. under high stress conditions, the inoculum mostly acted directly on the sequestration of Na and the increase of P availability for the plant, moreover it stimulated the accumulation of polyphenols, especially of ferulic and chicoric acids and quercetin-rutinoside in the shoots. Notably, the inoculum did not affect the VOC composition, thus suggesting that its activity did not interact with the essential oil biosynthesis. These results clearly indicate that beneficial inocula constitute a valuable tool for sustaining yield and improving or sustaining quality under suboptimal water quality conditions imposing low salinity stress on horticultural crops.

ACS Style

Sergio Saia; Giandomenico Corrado; Paola Vitaglione; Giuseppe Colla; Paolo Bonini; Maria Giordano; Emilio Stasio; Giampaolo Raimondi; Raffaele Sacchi; Youssef Rouphael. An Endophytic Fungi-Based Biostimulant Modulates Volatile and Non-Volatile Secondary Metabolites and Yield of Greenhouse Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) through Variable Mechanisms Dependent on Salinity Stress Level. Pathogens 2021, 10, 797 .

AMA Style

Sergio Saia, Giandomenico Corrado, Paola Vitaglione, Giuseppe Colla, Paolo Bonini, Maria Giordano, Emilio Stasio, Giampaolo Raimondi, Raffaele Sacchi, Youssef Rouphael. An Endophytic Fungi-Based Biostimulant Modulates Volatile and Non-Volatile Secondary Metabolites and Yield of Greenhouse Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) through Variable Mechanisms Dependent on Salinity Stress Level. Pathogens. 2021; 10 (7):797.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Sergio Saia; Giandomenico Corrado; Paola Vitaglione; Giuseppe Colla; Paolo Bonini; Maria Giordano; Emilio Stasio; Giampaolo Raimondi; Raffaele Sacchi; Youssef Rouphael. 2021. "An Endophytic Fungi-Based Biostimulant Modulates Volatile and Non-Volatile Secondary Metabolites and Yield of Greenhouse Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) through Variable Mechanisms Dependent on Salinity Stress Level." Pathogens 10, no. 7: 797.

Journal article
Published: 18 June 2021 in Microorganisms
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Recovery of nutrients from source-separated urine can truncate our dependency on synthetic fertilizers, contributing to more sustainable food production. Urine-derived fertilizers have been successfully applied in soilless cultures. However, little is known about the adaptation of the plant to the nutrient environment. This study investigated the impact of urine-derived fertilizers on plant performance and the root-associated bacterial community of hydroponically grown lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). Shoot biomass, chlorophyll, phenolic, antioxidant, and mineral content were associated with shifts in the root-associated bacterial community structures. K-struvite, a high-performing urine-derived fertilizer, supported root-associated bacterial communities that overlapped most strongly with control NPK fertilizer. Contrarily, lettuce performed poorly with electrodialysis (ED) concentrate and hydrolyzed urine and hosted distinct root-associated bacterial communities. Comparing the identified operational taxonomic units (OTU) across the fertilizer conditions revealed strong correlations between specific bacterial genera and the plant physiological characteristics, salinity, and NO3/NH4+ ratio. The root-associated bacterial community networks of K-struvite and NPK control fertilized plants displayed fewer nodes and node edges, suggesting that good plant growth performance does not require highly complex ecological interactions in hydroponic growth conditions.

ACS Style

Thijs Van Gerrewey; Christophe El-Nakhel; Stefania De Pascale; Jolien De Paepe; Peter Clauwaert; Frederiek-Maarten Kerckhof; Nico Boon; Danny Geelen. Root-Associated Bacterial Community Shifts in Hydroponic Lettuce Cultured with Urine-Derived Fertilizer. Microorganisms 2021, 9, 1326 .

AMA Style

Thijs Van Gerrewey, Christophe El-Nakhel, Stefania De Pascale, Jolien De Paepe, Peter Clauwaert, Frederiek-Maarten Kerckhof, Nico Boon, Danny Geelen. Root-Associated Bacterial Community Shifts in Hydroponic Lettuce Cultured with Urine-Derived Fertilizer. Microorganisms. 2021; 9 (6):1326.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Thijs Van Gerrewey; Christophe El-Nakhel; Stefania De Pascale; Jolien De Paepe; Peter Clauwaert; Frederiek-Maarten Kerckhof; Nico Boon; Danny Geelen. 2021. "Root-Associated Bacterial Community Shifts in Hydroponic Lettuce Cultured with Urine-Derived Fertilizer." Microorganisms 9, no. 6: 1326.

Journal article
Published: 11 June 2021 in Agronomy
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Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is a leafy vegetable cultivated widely for its fast and year-round production and its beneficial phytochemical content, which may be boosted further by plant biostimulants that are considered eco-sustainable means for enhancing horticultural crop production. A greenhouse experiment was carried out to evaluate the yield and qualitative parameters of two differently pigmented lettuce cultivars grown in a floating raft system either untreated or treated (leaf, root or leaf/root application) with vegetal protein hydrolysates (PHs). For foliar application (F), lettuce plants were sprayed at a dose of 3 mL L−1, whereas for root application, 0.15 (T1) or 0.3 (T2) mL L−1 was applied to the nutrient solution alone or in combination with foliar spray (T1 + F and T2 + F) with the same foliar concentration. Bio-morphometric and production data were collected after harvest. Physiological and plant nutrition assays included leaf gas exchange, leaf fluorescence, SPAD index, mineral content, carotenoids, total phenols, total ascorbic acid content and antioxidant activities. Cultivar-specific reactions to biostimulant application were noted: whilst the green pigmented cultivar thrived under nutrient solution applications and recorded higher yield by 82.7% (T1) or (T1 + F) and 71.7% (T2), the red cultivar thrived under combined treatments, yielding 55.4% (T2 + F) higher than control and providing the most concentrated phytochemical content. These latter treatments also engendered the highest SPAD index, Fv/Fm ratio, CO2 assimilation, stomatal conductance and transpiration. In addition, the T2 + F treatment boosted ‘Canasta’ hydrophilic antioxidant activity (21.9%) and total ascorbic acid (5.6-fold). Nutrient solution treatments alone proved advantageous when compared to foliar treatments, while mixed treatments proved genotype-specific. New research on genotype specificity of biostimulant effects is warranted for future use, in order to rationalize biostimulant application modes and dosages.

ACS Style

Francesco Cristofano; Christophe El-Nakhel; Antonio Pannico; Maria Giordano; Giuseppe Colla; Youssef Rouphael. Foliar and Root Applications of Vegetal-Derived Protein Hydrolysates Differentially Enhance the Yield and Qualitative Attributes of Two Lettuce Cultivars Grown in Floating System. Agronomy 2021, 11, 1194 .

AMA Style

Francesco Cristofano, Christophe El-Nakhel, Antonio Pannico, Maria Giordano, Giuseppe Colla, Youssef Rouphael. Foliar and Root Applications of Vegetal-Derived Protein Hydrolysates Differentially Enhance the Yield and Qualitative Attributes of Two Lettuce Cultivars Grown in Floating System. Agronomy. 2021; 11 (6):1194.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Francesco Cristofano; Christophe El-Nakhel; Antonio Pannico; Maria Giordano; Giuseppe Colla; Youssef Rouphael. 2021. "Foliar and Root Applications of Vegetal-Derived Protein Hydrolysates Differentially Enhance the Yield and Qualitative Attributes of Two Lettuce Cultivars Grown in Floating System." Agronomy 11, no. 6: 1194.

Journal article
Published: 09 June 2021 in Foods
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While imparting gastronomic novelty and sensory delight, microgreens also constitute rudimentary leafy greens packed with nutrients and phytochemicals. As such, they comprise an upcoming class of functional foods. However, apart from bioactive secondary metabolites, microgreens also accumulate antinutritive agents such as nitrate, especially under conducive protected cultivation conditions. The current work examined nutrient deprivation before harvest (DBH), applied by replacing nutrient solution with osmotic water for six and twelve days, as a strategy for reducing microgreen nitrate levels in different species (lettuce, mustard, and rocket). The three species were sown on a peat-based substrate, cultivated in a controlled climate chamber, and harvested 18 days after sowing, when the first two true leaves emerged. DBH impact on major constituents of the secondary metabolome, mineral content, colorimetric, and yield traits was appraised. Nitrate and mineral content were determined through ion chromatography, phenolic composition through UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS, and carotenoid composition through HPLC-DAD. Nutrient deprivation was effective in reducing nitrate content; however, effective treatment duration differed between species and decline was more precipitous in nitrate hyperaccumulating species such as rocket. Quercetin and kaempferol glycosides were the flavonol glycosides most abundant in brassicaceous microgreens, whereas lettuce microgreens were steeped in caffeoyl quinic acid. DBH interacted with species as it increased the total phenolic content of lettuce, decreased that of rocket, but did not affect mustard. Further research to link changes in phenolic composition to the sensory and in vivo bioactive profile of microgreens is warranted. Notably, brief (≤6 days) DBH can be applied across species with moderate or no impact on the phenolic, carotenoid, and mineral composition of microgreens. Brief DBH applications also have limited impact on microgreens’ yield and colorimetric traits hence on the commercial value of the product. They can therefore be applied for reducing microgreen nitrate levels without significantly impacting key secondary metabolic constituents and their potential bioactive role.

ACS Style

Marios Kyriacou; Christophe El-Nakhel; Georgios Soteriou; Giulia Graziani; Angelos Kyratzis; Chrystalla Antoniou; Alberto Ritieni; Stefania De Pascale; Youssef Rouphael. Preharvest Nutrient Deprivation Reconfigures Nitrate, Mineral, and Phytochemical Content of Microgreens. Foods 2021, 10, 1333 .

AMA Style

Marios Kyriacou, Christophe El-Nakhel, Georgios Soteriou, Giulia Graziani, Angelos Kyratzis, Chrystalla Antoniou, Alberto Ritieni, Stefania De Pascale, Youssef Rouphael. Preharvest Nutrient Deprivation Reconfigures Nitrate, Mineral, and Phytochemical Content of Microgreens. Foods. 2021; 10 (6):1333.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Marios Kyriacou; Christophe El-Nakhel; Georgios Soteriou; Giulia Graziani; Angelos Kyratzis; Chrystalla Antoniou; Alberto Ritieni; Stefania De Pascale; Youssef Rouphael. 2021. "Preharvest Nutrient Deprivation Reconfigures Nitrate, Mineral, and Phytochemical Content of Microgreens." Foods 10, no. 6: 1333.

Journal article
Published: 09 June 2021 in Plants
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Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is a winter-spring leafy vegetable, but the high demand for fresh products available year-round requires off-season production. However, the warm climate of the Mediterranean areas can impair the summer production of lettuce, thus requiring the adoption of genotypes tolerant to high irradiance as well as useful agronomic strategies like shading net installations. The aim of our research was to assess the leaf morpho-physiological and anatomical changes, in addition to productive responses, of four lettuce cultivars (‘Ballerina’, ‘Maravilla De Verano Canasta’, ‘Opalix’, and ‘Integral’) grown under shading and non-shading conditions to unveil the adaptive mechanisms of this crop in response to sub-optimal microclimate (high irradiance and temperature) in a protected environment. Growth and yield parameters, leaf gas exchanges, chlorophyll fluorescence and morpho-anatomical leaf traits (i.e., leaf mass area, stomatal density and epidermal cell density) were determined. Under shading conditions, the fresh yields of the cultivars ‘Ballerina’, ‘Opalix’ (‘Oak leaf’) and ‘Integral’ (‘Romaine’) increased by 16.0%, 26.9% and 13.2% respectively, compared to non-shading conditions while both abaxial and adaxial stomatal density decreased. In contrast, ‘Canasta’ under non-shading conditions increased fresh yield, dry biomass and instantaneous water use efficiency by 9.6%, 18.0% and 15.7%, respectively, while reduced abaxial stomatal density by 30.4%, compared to shading conditions. Regardless of cultivar, the unshaded treatment increased the leaf mass area by 19.5%. Even though high light intensity and high temperature are critical limiting factors for summer lettuce cultivation in a protected environment, ‘Canasta’ showed the most effective adaptive mechanisms and had the best production performance under sub-optimal microclimatic conditions. However, greenhouse coverage with a white shading net (49% screening) proved to be a suitable agricultural practice that ensured an adequate microclimate for the off-season growth of more sensitive cultivars ‘Ballerina’, ‘Oak leaf’ and ‘Romaine’.

ACS Style

Luigi Formisano; Michele Ciriello; Valerio Cirillo; Antonio Pannico; Christophe El-Nakhel; Francesco Cristofano; Luigi Duri; Maria Giordano; Youssef Rouphael; Stefania De Pascale. Divergent Leaf Morpho-Physiological and Anatomical Adaptations of Four Lettuce Cultivars in Response to Different Greenhouse Irradiance Levels in Early Summer Season. Plants 2021, 10, 1179 .

AMA Style

Luigi Formisano, Michele Ciriello, Valerio Cirillo, Antonio Pannico, Christophe El-Nakhel, Francesco Cristofano, Luigi Duri, Maria Giordano, Youssef Rouphael, Stefania De Pascale. Divergent Leaf Morpho-Physiological and Anatomical Adaptations of Four Lettuce Cultivars in Response to Different Greenhouse Irradiance Levels in Early Summer Season. Plants. 2021; 10 (6):1179.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Luigi Formisano; Michele Ciriello; Valerio Cirillo; Antonio Pannico; Christophe El-Nakhel; Francesco Cristofano; Luigi Duri; Maria Giordano; Youssef Rouphael; Stefania De Pascale. 2021. "Divergent Leaf Morpho-Physiological and Anatomical Adaptations of Four Lettuce Cultivars in Response to Different Greenhouse Irradiance Levels in Early Summer Season." Plants 10, no. 6: 1179.

Journal article
Published: 22 May 2021 in Agronomy
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A mild salinity stress (eustress) may modulate the induction of the plant defense system in horticultural crops and the synthesis of phytochemical components able to enhance plant resilience, post-harvest performance, and the nutraceutical quality of produce. However, the choice of the correct eustress type and dose to induce the synthesis of these protective phytochemicals is pivotal to avoid potential interference with plant growth and productivity. In order to study how green and red lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) plants equilibrate the nutritional and nutraceutical components of quality with yield components, we applied iso-osmotic concentrations of three different salts (20 mM NaCl, 20 mM KCl, and 13.3 mM CaCl2, with a final total ionic concentration of 40 mM) in combination with two successive harvests in a floating raft system. The biometric parameters, mineral composition, bioactive compounds, and antioxidant activity of both cultivars were analyzed. The green cultivar had a superior response concerning biometric traits and productivity compared to the red one during the first cut but lower phytochemical content (e.g., ascorbic acid). The effect of cut order, independently of cultivar and salinity treatments, demonstrated that at the first harvest plants could redirect metabolism by increasing the lipophilic antioxidant content (LAA) at the expense of plant yield, therefore increasing plant resilience and post-harvest nutraceutical quality; whereas, at the second harvest, plants reverted principally to tissue expansion. The treatments with iso-osmotic salt concentrations did not affect K and Mg ion contents but further increased LAA and resulted only in a moderate decrease of fresh yield. The lettuce nitrate content was reduced during the second cut only when lettuce plants were treated with NaCl and especially CaCl2.

ACS Style

Petronia Carillo; Georgios Soteriou; Marios Kyriacou; Maria Giordano; Giampaolo Raimondi; Francesco Napolitano; Emilio Di Stasio; Ida Mola; Mauro Mori; Youssef Rouphael. Regulated Salinity Eustress in a Floating Hydroponic Module of Sequentially Harvested Lettuce Modulates Phytochemical Constitution, Plant Resilience, and Post-Harvest Nutraceutical Quality. Agronomy 2021, 11, 1040 .

AMA Style

Petronia Carillo, Georgios Soteriou, Marios Kyriacou, Maria Giordano, Giampaolo Raimondi, Francesco Napolitano, Emilio Di Stasio, Ida Mola, Mauro Mori, Youssef Rouphael. Regulated Salinity Eustress in a Floating Hydroponic Module of Sequentially Harvested Lettuce Modulates Phytochemical Constitution, Plant Resilience, and Post-Harvest Nutraceutical Quality. Agronomy. 2021; 11 (6):1040.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Petronia Carillo; Georgios Soteriou; Marios Kyriacou; Maria Giordano; Giampaolo Raimondi; Francesco Napolitano; Emilio Di Stasio; Ida Mola; Mauro Mori; Youssef Rouphael. 2021. "Regulated Salinity Eustress in a Floating Hydroponic Module of Sequentially Harvested Lettuce Modulates Phytochemical Constitution, Plant Resilience, and Post-Harvest Nutraceutical Quality." Agronomy 11, no. 6: 1040.

Review
Published: 19 May 2021 in Agriculture
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Environmental pollution, increasing CO2 atmospheric levels and the greenhouse effect are closely associated with the ongoing climate change and the extreme climatic events we are witnessing all over the Earth. Drought, high temperature and salinity are among the main environmental stresses that negatively affect the yield of numerous crops, challenging the world food safety. These effects are more profound in vegetable crops which are generally more susceptible to climate change than field or tree crops. The response to single or combined environmental stressors involves various changes in plant morphology and physiology or in molecular processes. Knowing the mechanisms behind these responses may help towards the creation of more tolerant genotypes in the long-term. However, the imediacy of the problem requires urgently short-term measures such as the use of eco-sustainable agricultural practices which can alleviate the negative effects of environmental pollution and allow vegetable crops to adapt to adverse climatic conditions. In this review, the main abiotic stressors were examined, namely drought, heat and salinity stress, focusing on the mechanisms involved in the most common vegetable crops responses. Moreover, the use of eco-sustainable cultural techniques, such as biostimulants, grafting and genomic sequencing techniques, to increase the quality of tomato crop under adverse environmental conditions are also presented.

ACS Style

Maria Giordano; Spyridon Petropoulos; Youssef Rouphael. Response and Defence Mechanisms of Vegetable Crops against Drought, Heat and Salinity Stress. Agriculture 2021, 11, 463 .

AMA Style

Maria Giordano, Spyridon Petropoulos, Youssef Rouphael. Response and Defence Mechanisms of Vegetable Crops against Drought, Heat and Salinity Stress. Agriculture. 2021; 11 (5):463.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Maria Giordano; Spyridon Petropoulos; Youssef Rouphael. 2021. "Response and Defence Mechanisms of Vegetable Crops against Drought, Heat and Salinity Stress." Agriculture 11, no. 5: 463.

Data descriptor
Published: 13 May 2021 in Data
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The growing interest in healthy foods has driven the agricultural sector towards eco-friendly implementation to manage biotic and abiotic factors in protected environments. In this perspective, anti-insect nets are an effective tool for controlling harmful insect populations concomitantly with reducing chemicals’ interference. However, the low porosity of nets necessary to ensure high exclusion efficiency for a designated insect leads to reduced airflow, impacting the productivity and quality attributes of vegetables. The evidence presented in this dataset pertains to the content of total nitrogen, minerals (i.e., NO3, K, PO4, SO4, Ca, Mg, Cl, and Na), and organic acids (i.e., malate and citrate) of zucchini squash (Cucurbita pepo L. cv. Zufolo F1) in leaves and fruits grown with two anti-insect nets with different porosities (Biorete® 50 mesh and Biorete® 50 mesh AirPlus), is and analyzed by the Kjeldahl method and ion chromatography (ICS3000), respectively. Data of total nitrogen concentration, macronutrients, and organic acids provide in-depth information about plants’ physiological response to microclimate changes induced by anti-insect nets.

ACS Style

Luigi Formisano; Michele Ciriello; Christophe El-Nakhel; Stefania De Pascale; Youssef Rouphael. Dataset on the Effects of Anti-Insect Nets of Different Porosity on Mineral and Organic Acids Profile of Cucurbita pepo L. Fruits and Leaves. Data 2021, 6, 50 .

AMA Style

Luigi Formisano, Michele Ciriello, Christophe El-Nakhel, Stefania De Pascale, Youssef Rouphael. Dataset on the Effects of Anti-Insect Nets of Different Porosity on Mineral and Organic Acids Profile of Cucurbita pepo L. Fruits and Leaves. Data. 2021; 6 (5):50.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Luigi Formisano; Michele Ciriello; Christophe El-Nakhel; Stefania De Pascale; Youssef Rouphael. 2021. "Dataset on the Effects of Anti-Insect Nets of Different Porosity on Mineral and Organic Acids Profile of Cucurbita pepo L. Fruits and Leaves." Data 6, no. 5: 50.

Journal article
Published: 10 May 2021 in Foods
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Microgreens constitute novel gastronomic ingredients that combine visual, kinesthetic and bioactive qualities. The definition of the optimal developmental stage for harvesting microgreens remains fluid. Their superior phytochemical content against mature leaves underpins the current hypothesis of significant changes in compositional profile during the brief interval of ontogeny from the appearance of the first (S1) to the second true leaf (S2). Microgreens of four brassicaceous genotypes (Komatsuna, Mibuna, Mizuna and Pak Choi) grown under controlled conditions and harvested at S1 and S2 were appraised for fresh and dry yield traits. They were further analyzed for macro- and micromineral content using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), carotenoid content using high-performance liquid chromatography with a diode-array detector (HPLC-DAD), volatile organic compounds using solid-phase microextraction followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME-GC/MS), anthocyanins and polyphenols using liquid chromatography-high resolution-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) with Orbitrap technology and for chlorophyll and ascorbate concentrations, well as antioxidant capacity by spectrophotometry. Analysis of compositional profiles revealed genotype as the principal source of variation for all constituents. The response of mineral and phytochemical composition and of antioxidant capacity to the growth stage was limited and largely genotype-dependent. It is, therefore, questionable whether delaying harvest from S1 to S2 would significantly improve the bioactive value of microgreens while the cost-benefit analysis for this decision must be genotype-specific. Finally, the lower-yielding genotypes (Mizuna and Pak Choi) registered higher relative increase in fresh yield between S1 and S2, compared to the faster-growing and higher-yielding genotypes. Although the optimal harvest stage for specific genotypes must be determined considering the increase in yield against reduction in crop turnover, harvesting at S2 seems advisable for the lower-yielding genotypes.

ACS Style

Marios Kyriacou; Christophe El-Nakhel; Antonio Pannico; Giulia Graziani; Armando Zarrelli; Georgios Soteriou; Angelos Kyratzis; Chrystalla Antoniou; Fabiana Pizzolongo; Raffaele Romano; Alberto Ritieni; Stefania De Pascale; Youssef Rouphael. Ontogenetic Variation in the Mineral, Phytochemical and Yield Attributes of Brassicaceous Microgreens. Foods 2021, 10, 1032 .

AMA Style

Marios Kyriacou, Christophe El-Nakhel, Antonio Pannico, Giulia Graziani, Armando Zarrelli, Georgios Soteriou, Angelos Kyratzis, Chrystalla Antoniou, Fabiana Pizzolongo, Raffaele Romano, Alberto Ritieni, Stefania De Pascale, Youssef Rouphael. Ontogenetic Variation in the Mineral, Phytochemical and Yield Attributes of Brassicaceous Microgreens. Foods. 2021; 10 (5):1032.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Marios Kyriacou; Christophe El-Nakhel; Antonio Pannico; Giulia Graziani; Armando Zarrelli; Georgios Soteriou; Angelos Kyratzis; Chrystalla Antoniou; Fabiana Pizzolongo; Raffaele Romano; Alberto Ritieni; Stefania De Pascale; Youssef Rouphael. 2021. "Ontogenetic Variation in the Mineral, Phytochemical and Yield Attributes of Brassicaceous Microgreens." Foods 10, no. 5: 1032.

Review
Published: 10 May 2021 in Horticulturae
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There is increasing concern regarding global warming and its severe impact on the farming sector and food security. Incidences of extreme weather conditions are becoming more and more frequent, posing plants to stressful conditions, such as flooding, drought, heat, or frost etc. Especially for arid lands, there is a tug-of-war between keeping high crop yields and increasing water use efficiency of limited water resources. This difficult task can be achieved through the selection of tolerant water stress species or by increasing the tolerance of sensitive species. In this scenario, it is important to understand the response of plants to water stress. So far, the response of staple foods and vegetable crops to deficit irrigation is well studied. However, there is lack of literature regarding the responses of ornamental plants to water stress conditions. Considering the importance of this ever-growing sector for the agricultural sector, this review aims to reveal the defense mechanisms and the involved morpho-physiological, biochemical, and molecular changes in ornamental plant’s responses to deficit irrigation.

ACS Style

Maria Giordano; Spyridon Petropoulos; Chiara Cirillo; Youssef Rouphael. Biochemical, Physiological, and Molecular Aspects of Ornamental Plants Adaptation to Deficit Irrigation. Horticulturae 2021, 7, 107 .

AMA Style

Maria Giordano, Spyridon Petropoulos, Chiara Cirillo, Youssef Rouphael. Biochemical, Physiological, and Molecular Aspects of Ornamental Plants Adaptation to Deficit Irrigation. Horticulturae. 2021; 7 (5):107.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Maria Giordano; Spyridon Petropoulos; Chiara Cirillo; Youssef Rouphael. 2021. "Biochemical, Physiological, and Molecular Aspects of Ornamental Plants Adaptation to Deficit Irrigation." Horticulturae 7, no. 5: 107.

Journal article
Published: 28 April 2021 in Agronomy
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Parsley is an aromatic herb native to the Mediterranean region and treasured for its phytochemical profile and bioactive properties. Developmental stage at harvest is a factor that modulates the nutritional quality of vegetables, including young greens. Accordingly, an experiment under strictly controlled conditions was carried out to compare the mineral macronutrient and phytochemical composition as well as the antioxidant activity of plain-leaf parsley (Petroselinum crispum cv. Comune 2) at two different harvest maturity stages, microgreens and baby greens. Macronutrients, carotenoids (lutein and β-carotene) and polyphenols were quantified through ion chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography with a diode-array detector (HPLC-DAD) and UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), respectively. Microgreens accumulated more potassium and phosphorus, whereas baby greens accumulated more calcium and magnesium, and 65.5% less nitrate. In addition, microgreens provided 1.8-fold more lutein and 2.8-fold more β-carotene, whereas baby greens provided 183.6% more total ascorbic acid, 64.2% more total polyphenols and 170.3% higher hydrophilic antioxidant activity. Based on the culinary and phytonutritive scope of the consumers, different harvest maturity stages can be opted for and production schemes designed. Future studies are warranted to appraise the importance of ontogeny as a determinant factor for the composition and bioactive value of additional micro-herb genotypes, including underutilized Mediterranean species.

ACS Style

Christophe El-Nakhel; Antonio Pannico; Giulia Graziani; Maria Giordano; Marios Kyriacou; Alberto Ritieni; Stefania De Pascale; Youssef Rouphael. Mineral and Antioxidant Attributes of Petroselinum crispum at Different Stages of Ontogeny: Microgreens vs. Baby Greens. Agronomy 2021, 11, 857 .

AMA Style

Christophe El-Nakhel, Antonio Pannico, Giulia Graziani, Maria Giordano, Marios Kyriacou, Alberto Ritieni, Stefania De Pascale, Youssef Rouphael. Mineral and Antioxidant Attributes of Petroselinum crispum at Different Stages of Ontogeny: Microgreens vs. Baby Greens. Agronomy. 2021; 11 (5):857.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Christophe El-Nakhel; Antonio Pannico; Giulia Graziani; Maria Giordano; Marios Kyriacou; Alberto Ritieni; Stefania De Pascale; Youssef Rouphael. 2021. "Mineral and Antioxidant Attributes of Petroselinum crispum at Different Stages of Ontogeny: Microgreens vs. Baby Greens." Agronomy 11, no. 5: 857.

Journal article
Published: 23 April 2021 in Foods
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The effect of plant biostimulation on fruits of traditional tomato germplasm is largely unknown. We examined how a tropical plant-derived biostimulant impacts the nutritional, functional, and compositional characteristics of tomato fruits from four landraces, collected in the San Marzano (SM) tomato Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) region, by profiling primary and secondary metabolites. Biostimulation was not able to completely reshuffle the morpho-physiological and nutritional profile of the four landraces. Their distinct phytochemical profile indicated a genotype-specific tuning of the analyzed traits, which also included an improved yield and fruit quality. Biostimulation of SM1 and SM3 increased photosynthetic accumulation of carbohydrate reserves, improved mineral nutrient use efficiency and consequently, yield (+21% and 34%, respectively). Moreover, biostimulation augmented the nutraceutical properties of the SM2 landrace. Interestingly, the plant-derived product increased in all genotypes lycopene, but not polyphenol accumulation in fruits. Our results show the potential of biostimulatory applications towards optimizing the fruit quality of the acclaimed SM landraces, which is suitable to satisfy both the rising consumer demand for premium traditional tomatoes and the technological needs of the food industry.

ACS Style

Youssef Rouphael; Giandomenico Corrado; Giuseppe Colla; Stefania De Pascale; Emilia Dell’Aversana; Luisa D’Amelia; Giovanna Fusco; Petronia Carillo. Biostimulation as a Means for Optimizing Fruit Phytochemical Content and Functional Quality of Tomato Landraces of the San Marzano Area. Foods 2021, 10, 926 .

AMA Style

Youssef Rouphael, Giandomenico Corrado, Giuseppe Colla, Stefania De Pascale, Emilia Dell’Aversana, Luisa D’Amelia, Giovanna Fusco, Petronia Carillo. Biostimulation as a Means for Optimizing Fruit Phytochemical Content and Functional Quality of Tomato Landraces of the San Marzano Area. Foods. 2021; 10 (5):926.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Youssef Rouphael; Giandomenico Corrado; Giuseppe Colla; Stefania De Pascale; Emilia Dell’Aversana; Luisa D’Amelia; Giovanna Fusco; Petronia Carillo. 2021. "Biostimulation as a Means for Optimizing Fruit Phytochemical Content and Functional Quality of Tomato Landraces of the San Marzano Area." Foods 10, no. 5: 926.

Journal article
Published: 10 April 2021 in Sustainability
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Reinforcing and optimizing sustainable food production is an urgent contemporary issue. The depletion of natural mineral resources is a key problem that is addressed by recycling mined potassium and phosphorus, and nitrogen, whose production depends on very high energy input. A closed-loop approach of fertilizer use asserts the necessity for efficient management and practices of organic waste rich in minerals. Human-derived urine is an underutilized yet excellent source for nitrogen fertilizer, and, in this study, processed urine fertilizer was applied to greenhouse soilless cultivation of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) cv. Grand Rapids. Biomass increase, biometric parameters, soil plant analysis development (SPAD) index, minerals, and organic acids content of lettuce were analyzed. From eight different urine fertilizer products generated, K-struvite, urine precipitate-CaO, and the liquid electrodialysis (ED) concentrate supported the growth of lettuce similar to that of commercial mineral fertilizer. ED concentrate application led to the accumulation of potassium (+17.2%), calcium (+82.9%), malate (+185.3%), citrate (+114.4%), and isocitrate (+185.7%); K-struvite augmented the accumulation of magnesium (+44.9%); and urine precipitate-CaO induced the highest accumulation of calcium (+100.5%) when compared to the control, which is an added value when supplemented in daily diet. The results underlined the potential of nitrogen- and phosphate-rich human urine as a sustainable source for the fertilization of lettuce in soilless systems.

ACS Style

Christophe El-Nakhel; Danny Geelen; Jolien De Paepe; Peter Clauwaert; Stefania De Pascale; Youssef Rouphael. An Appraisal of Urine Derivatives Integrated in the Nitrogen and Phosphorus Inputs of a Lettuce Soilless Cultivation System. Sustainability 2021, 13, 4218 .

AMA Style

Christophe El-Nakhel, Danny Geelen, Jolien De Paepe, Peter Clauwaert, Stefania De Pascale, Youssef Rouphael. An Appraisal of Urine Derivatives Integrated in the Nitrogen and Phosphorus Inputs of a Lettuce Soilless Cultivation System. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (8):4218.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Christophe El-Nakhel; Danny Geelen; Jolien De Paepe; Peter Clauwaert; Stefania De Pascale; Youssef Rouphael. 2021. "An Appraisal of Urine Derivatives Integrated in the Nitrogen and Phosphorus Inputs of a Lettuce Soilless Cultivation System." Sustainability 13, no. 8: 4218.

Journal article
Published: 31 March 2021 in Molecules
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Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) waste contains a broad range of bioactive molecules, including polyphenols, which have poor bioaccessibility during gastrointestinal digestion. This work aimed to investigate the bioaccessibility of total phenolic compounds and the antioxidant capacity during simulated gastrointestinal digestion using two nutraceutical formulations based on non-acid-resistant (NAR) and acid-resistant (AR) capsules containing aqueous-based extracts from fennel waste. Moreover, to obtain a comprehensive investigation of the polyphenolic constituents of the fennel waste extract, a high-resolution mass spectrometry (Q-Orbitrap) analysis was performed. Notably, chlorogenic acids, such as 4-caffeoylquinic acid and 3,4-dicaffeoylquinic acid, were the most detected compounds found in assayed samples (1.949 and 0.490 mg/g, respectively). After in vitro gastrointestinal digestion, the extract contained in AR capsules displayed higher bioaccessibility in both the duodenal and colonic stages (1.96 and 5.19 mg GAE/g, respectively) than NAR capsules (1.72 and 3.50 mg GAE/g, respectively), suggesting that the acidic gastric conditions negatively affected the polyphenol compounds released from the NAR capsules. Therefore, the aqueous extract of fennel waste could be proposed as an innovative and easily available source of dietary polyphenols. Furthermore, the use of an AR capsule could improve the polyphenol bioaccessibility and can be proposed as a nutraceutical formulation.

ACS Style

Luigi Castaldo; Luana Izzo; Stefania De Pascale; Alfonso Narváez; Yelko Rodriguez-Carrasco; Alberto Ritieni. Chemical Composition, In Vitro Bioaccessibility and Antioxidant Activity of Polyphenolic Compounds from Nutraceutical Fennel Waste Extract. Molecules 2021, 26, 1968 .

AMA Style

Luigi Castaldo, Luana Izzo, Stefania De Pascale, Alfonso Narváez, Yelko Rodriguez-Carrasco, Alberto Ritieni. Chemical Composition, In Vitro Bioaccessibility and Antioxidant Activity of Polyphenolic Compounds from Nutraceutical Fennel Waste Extract. Molecules. 2021; 26 (7):1968.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Luigi Castaldo; Luana Izzo; Stefania De Pascale; Alfonso Narváez; Yelko Rodriguez-Carrasco; Alberto Ritieni. 2021. "Chemical Composition, In Vitro Bioaccessibility and Antioxidant Activity of Polyphenolic Compounds from Nutraceutical Fennel Waste Extract." Molecules 26, no. 7: 1968.

Journal article
Published: 15 March 2021 in Environmental and Experimental Botany
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Vapor Pressure Deficit (VPD) influences plant photosynthesis and the hydraulic behaviour associated with stomata regulation. However, it is not clear whether and how changes in leaf morpho-anatomical traits drive photosynthetic acclimation to VPD. Here, we examined the role of leaf anatomy in the eco-physiological responses of Vigna radiata L. to VPD changes in controlled environment. Plants were grown under two VPD levels (high-VPD, HV; low-VPD, LV) and then transferred to the opposite conditions (high-to-low, HLV; low-to-high, LHV). We hypothesised that growth under different VPDs may determine anatomical changes that could affect plant physiological plasticity to VPD variations. HV plant growth (height, leaf area, number of leaves) and gas-exchange (net-photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, water use efficiency) were reduced in a range of 16–47 % compared to LV. This was mostly attributed to reduction in stomatal and vein density and lower stomatal conductance. After transferring these plants to a more favourable environment (HLV), they showed unchanged photosynthesis and conductance while LHV plants reduced their gas-exchange rates to control water loss under high evaporative demand. Morpho-anatomical traits (high density and smaller stomata, higher vein density) in LHV plants showed higher physiological plasticity. Therefore, physiological plasticity induced by anatomical traits should be considered when evaluating how plants would cope with environmental changes in a climate change scenario.

ACS Style

Chiara Amitrano; Carmen Arena; Valerio Cirillo; Stefania De Pascale; Veronica De Micco. Leaf morpho-anatomical traits in Vigna radiata L. affect plant photosynthetic acclimation to changing vapor pressure deficit. Environmental and Experimental Botany 2021, 186, 104453 .

AMA Style

Chiara Amitrano, Carmen Arena, Valerio Cirillo, Stefania De Pascale, Veronica De Micco. Leaf morpho-anatomical traits in Vigna radiata L. affect plant photosynthetic acclimation to changing vapor pressure deficit. Environmental and Experimental Botany. 2021; 186 ():104453.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Chiara Amitrano; Carmen Arena; Valerio Cirillo; Stefania De Pascale; Veronica De Micco. 2021. "Leaf morpho-anatomical traits in Vigna radiata L. affect plant photosynthetic acclimation to changing vapor pressure deficit." Environmental and Experimental Botany 186, no. : 104453.

Journal article
Published: 22 February 2021 in Horticulturae
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Growing demand for horticultural products of accentuated sensory, nutritional, and functional quality traits has been driven by the turn observed in affluent societies toward a healthy and sustainable lifestyle relying principally on plant-based food. Growing plants under protected cultivation facilitates more precise and efficient modulation of the plant microenvironment, which is essential for improving vegetable quality. Among the environmental parameters that have been researched for optimization over the past, air relative humidity has always been in the background and it is still unclear if and how it can be modulated to improve plants’ quality. In this respect, two differentially pigmented (green and red) Salanova® cultivars (Lactuca sativa L. var. capitata) were grown under two different Vapor Pressure Deficits (VPDs; 0.69 and 1.76 kPa) in a controlled environment chamber in order to appraise possible changes in mineral and phytochemical composition and in antioxidant capacity. Growth and morpho-physiological parameters were also analyzed to better understand lettuce development and acclimation mechanisms under these two VPD regimes. Results showed that even though Salanova plants grown at low VPD (0.69 kPa) increased their biomass, area, number of leaves and enhanced Fv/Fm ratio, plants at high VPD increased the levels of phytochemicals, especially in the red cultivar. Based on these results, we have discussed the role of high VPD facilitated by controlled environment agriculture as a mild stress aimed to enhance the quality of leafy greens.

ACS Style

Chiara Amitrano; Youssef Rouphael; Stefania De Pascale; Veronica De Micco. Modulating Vapor Pressure Deficit in the Plant Micro-Environment May Enhance the Bioactive Value of Lettuce. Horticulturae 2021, 7, 32 .

AMA Style

Chiara Amitrano, Youssef Rouphael, Stefania De Pascale, Veronica De Micco. Modulating Vapor Pressure Deficit in the Plant Micro-Environment May Enhance the Bioactive Value of Lettuce. Horticulturae. 2021; 7 (2):32.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Chiara Amitrano; Youssef Rouphael; Stefania De Pascale; Veronica De Micco. 2021. "Modulating Vapor Pressure Deficit in the Plant Micro-Environment May Enhance the Bioactive Value of Lettuce." Horticulturae 7, no. 2: 32.

Journal article
Published: 15 February 2021 in Agronomy
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Brassica microgreens are a fresh microscale vegetable crop of high antioxidant value and naturally dense in nutrients without the intervention of biofortification or genetic engineering. A climate chamber experiment on peat-based substrate was set up to test microgreens growth and accumulation of secondary metabolites in response to nutrient supplementation. Microgreens mineral content was analyzed through ion chromatography and total ascorbic acid through UV-Vis spectrophotometry, while carotenoids and phenolic acids were quantified by HPLC-DAD and UHPLC-HRMS, respectively. Brussels sprouts and cabbage yield was only reduced by 10%, while nitrate was reduced by 99% in the absence of nutrient supplementation. Rocket yield was prominently reduced by 47%, with a corresponding nitrate reduction of 118%. Brussels sprouts secondary metabolites were not improved by the absence of nutrient supplementation, whereas cabbage microgreens demonstrated a 30% increase in total ascorbic acid and a 12% increase in total anthocyanins. As for rocket, the absence of nutrient supplementation elicited an extensive increase in secondary metabolites, such as lutein (110%), β-carotene (30%), total ascorbic acid (58%) and total anthocyanins (20%), but caused a decrease in total phenolic acids. It is hereby demonstrated that growing microgreens on a commercial peat-based substrate without nutrient supplementation can be feasible for certain species. Moreover, it might elicit a species-dependent spike in bioactive secondary metabolites.

ACS Style

Christophe El-Nakhel; Antonio Pannico; Giulia Graziani; Marios Kyriacou; Anna Gaspari; Alberto Ritieni; Stefania De Pascale; Youssef Rouphael. Nutrient Supplementation Configures the Bioactive Profile and Production Characteristics of three Brassica Microgreens Species Grown in Peat-Based Media. Agronomy 2021, 11, 346 .

AMA Style

Christophe El-Nakhel, Antonio Pannico, Giulia Graziani, Marios Kyriacou, Anna Gaspari, Alberto Ritieni, Stefania De Pascale, Youssef Rouphael. Nutrient Supplementation Configures the Bioactive Profile and Production Characteristics of three Brassica Microgreens Species Grown in Peat-Based Media. Agronomy. 2021; 11 (2):346.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Christophe El-Nakhel; Antonio Pannico; Giulia Graziani; Marios Kyriacou; Anna Gaspari; Alberto Ritieni; Stefania De Pascale; Youssef Rouphael. 2021. "Nutrient Supplementation Configures the Bioactive Profile and Production Characteristics of three Brassica Microgreens Species Grown in Peat-Based Media." Agronomy 11, no. 2: 346.