Nutrients and light are critical factors for sustained Centella asiatica L. Urban production under a controlled environment. The growth, triterpene glycosides, and antioxidant activities of C. asiatica grown under a controlled environment with different nutrient solution formulations (NFFs) and LED light intensities were investigated. Four different NSFs were tested on plant growth, bioactive compounds, and their activities in a conventional greenhouse. The results showed that the plants grown with Houghland and Arnon solution exhibited better growth performance, whereas the use of Resh’s Tropical Dry Summer solution led to increased bioactive compounds and their activities. Subsequently, Resh’s Tropical Dry Summer solution was selected to evaluate the effect of light intensity in a controlled environment. Plants were grown under three LED light intensities (110, 220, and 330 µmol/m²/s PPFD) compared with fluorescent and natural lights (45 and 326 µmol/m²/s PPFD, respectively). We found that light intensity had the strongest influence on growth, triterpene glycosides, and antioxidant activities. Significantly higher values of the most studied parameters were observed in plants grown under high light intensity compared to those grown under low light intensity. The optimal light intensity was 330 µmol/m²/s PPFD, representing an efficient approach for commercially producing this medicinal plant with a higher yield and medicinal properties in a controlled environment.

Synergistic sweet corn equipped with multiple-recessive genes encoding sugar synthesis is proposed through hybrid breeding to improve the balance eating quality including flavor, texture, and aroma. However, the drawback on seed quality occurs such as low germination and poor seedling vigor. This study aimed to investigate the changes of carbohydrate contents on seed quality of five sweet corn genotypes differing in the number of equipped recessive genes during seed development. Seeds were sampled at 4-day intervals from 18 to 46 days after pollination (DAP) and analyzed for seed germination, sugar, water-soluble polysaccharide, and starch. Then, their relationships were analyzed by using time series regression analysis. Although there were significant differences among 5 corn genotypes in their seed germination and carbohydrate contents, some genotypes showed responses in similar patterns. The optimal time to harvest seeds was genotype-dependent, which were 38 DAP for triple-recessive gene (btbtsh₂sh₂wxwx) and single-recessive genes (BtBtsh₂sh₂WxWx and Sh₂Sh₂susuWxWx) and 42 DAP for double-recessive genes (BtBtsh₂sh₂wxwx). The regression analysis revealed that seed germinability could be predicted by total starch content in synergistic sweet corn lines during seed development stages; however, this prediction seemed to be negligible in sweet corn genotypes equipped with a single-recessive gene. Implications and further suggestions for establishing an effective seed production technique and seed quality of synergistic sweet corn are discussed.

Understanding the impact of gene action and combining ability on targeted traits in a hybrid breeding program is imperative. The objective of this study was to estimate the genetic effect and combining ability of S₂ super sweet corn lines on carotenoid content. Twenty S₂ lines were crossed with two hybrid testers by using the line × tester mating design. Regarding parents, forty hybrids and two commercial checks were evaluated for carotenoid content across two different growing seasons between 2019 and 2020. The result indicated that the non-additive gene action governed the inheritance of carotenoid content. Several promising S₂ lines for individual carotenoids were identified; only L₂₀ possessed different and positive GCA values for all observed carotenoids. Moreover, genotype T₂ was a promising tester to identify superior lines for creating biofortified sweet corn hybrids. Testcross hybrids with satisfactory performance, desirable SCA estimates, and involving at least one of the pairwise parents with positive and high GCA were successfully defined. Hybrid T₂ × L₂₀ had high lutein, zeaxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin, and total carotenoids contents (ranging from 12.58 to 74.01 µg/g of dry weight), whereas hybrid T₂ × L₉ showed the highest content of β-carotene (4.19 µg/g of dry weight). We propose that high GCA and line at least one of the pairwise parents be included in indirect selections for the hybrid breeding of high-carotenoid sweet corn.

Selecting suitable crop species is crucial for optimizing the productivity and nutritional content of microgreens. In this study, twenty-three diverse microgreen species, grown under controlled conditions, were analyzed for yield, bioactive compounds, and antioxidant activities. The microgreens were cultivated on a peat substrate in a controlled environment, with a growth period of 6 to 20 days from planting to harvest. Conditions were maintained at 25 ± 2 °C, a 16 h photoperiod, CO₂ concentration of 1000 ppm, relative humidity of 60 ± 2%, and the LED light was set at 330 μmol/m²/s PPFD. Results from the analysis revealed that the yield, bioactive compounds, and antioxidant potential differed significantly among the twenty-three microgreen species. Unfortunately, the superior microgreens exhibiting greater values for all studied traits could not be identified. However, the principal component analysis (PCA) clustered red radish, rat-tailed radish, and Chinese kale microgreens, which were high in both yield and bioactive compounds. In contrast, red holy basil and lemon basil microgreens had high levels of these compounds but low yields. Additionally, a high level of anti-tyrosinase activity was observed in garland chrysanthemum, Chinese mustard, and Chinese cabbage microgreens. Therefore, these microgreen species can be utilized individually or in varying ratios to produce bioactive compounds in different concentrations that are suitable for various applications. The information presented in this study provides valuable insights for health-conscious consumers and growers for selecting superior species with functional implications.

To identify a rice genotype with a wider or specific adaptability, the magnitude and patterns of genotype interaction with the environment are valuable clues. However, such information on the nutraceutical lipid compound in rice is limited. In this study, concentrations of five pigmented rice genotypes with different lipid compound levels were evaluated for α-tocopherol, γ-oryzanol, phytosterols, octacosanol, and squalene contents. The research was conducted in eight environments (four locations and two years). Combined analysis of variance showed that levels of α-tocopherol, γ-oryzanol, octacosanol, and squalene were mainly affected by genotype, accounting for more than 42.57 of the total variance. This suggests that improvement of these traits may be achieved by using conventional rice breeding methods. A large proportion of the variation in campesterol and β-sitosterol contents was contributed by the environment. The effect of genotype by environment was significant for all observed traits, especially for γ-oryzanol, β-sitosterol, and squalene. This complicates identification of superior genotypes for these compounds across all environments. Stability parameters showed rice genotypes with high levels of nutraceutical lipid compounds to be sensitive to changes in environmental conditions; thus, specific adaptation is suitable. Our findings suggest that rice breeders and producers should be testing and selecting rice genotypes possessing high added-value lipid concentrations in specific growing conditions or regions.

Improving sweet–waxy corn hybrids enriched in carotenoids via a hybrid breeding approach may provide an alternative cash crop for growers and provide health benefits for consumers. This study estimates the combining ability and heterosis of sweet–waxy corn hybrids for yield-related traits and carotenoids. Eight super sweet corn and three waxy corn lines were crossed to generate 24 F₁ hybrids according to the North Carolina Design II scheme, and these hybrids were evaluated across two seasons of 2021/22. The results showed that both additive and non-additive genetic effects were involved in expressing the traits, but the additive genetic effect was more predominant. Most observed traits exhibited moderate to high narrow-sense heritability. Three parental lines, namely the ILS₂ and ILS₇ females and the ILW₁ male, showed the highest positive GCA effects on yield-related traits, making them desirable for developing high-yielding hybrids. Meanwhile, five parental lines, namely the ILS₃, ILS₅, and ILS₇ females and the ILW₁ and ILW₂ males, were favorable general combiners for high carotenoids. A tested hybrid, ILS₂ × ILW₁, was a candidate biofortified sweet–waxy corn hybrid possessing high yields and carotenoids. Heterosis and per se performance were more positively correlated with GCA_sum than SCA, indicating that GCA_sum can predict heterosis for improving biofortified sweet–waxy corn hybrid enriched in carotenoids. The breeding strategies of biofortified sweet–waxy corn hybrids with high yield and carotenoid content are discussed.