REDUCING NITRATE CONTENT IN LETTUCE BY PRE-HARVEST CONTINUOUS LIGHT DELIVERED BY RED AND BLUE LIGHT-EMITTING DIODES

Abstract

Effect of pre-harvest continuous light with different red/blue ratio on photon flux density (R/B ratio) on reducing nitrate accumulation was studied by growing lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) under continuous illumination delivered by light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Results show that nitrate concentration decreased by 1648.0–2061.1 mg kg⁻¹ in leaf blade and 962.9–2090.3 mg kg⁻¹ in petiole, accompanied by a dramatic increase in soluble sugar content. Compared with monochromatic red light treatment, the decrease in nitrate concentration and increase in soluble sugar content in lettuce under mixed red and blue light were more pronounced. The lowest nitrate concentration was observed in the treatment with R/B ratio of 4. It's concluded that pre-harvest exposure to 48 h continuous LED light could effectively reduce nitrate accumulation in lettuce and this process is strongly affected by R/B ratio of light. This study may provide new perspective for pre-harvest quality management of vegetable, especially in commercial leaf vegetable production under artificial lighting.

Keywords:

• continuous light
• R/B ratio
• nitrate
• soluble sugar

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We want to thank the financial support of the Basic Scientific Research Fund of National Nonprofit Institutes (BSRF201004), Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, CAAS.