Abstract

Growing organic microgreens indoors requires a unified technological procedure with various external elicitors. The quality of seedlings depends on their ability to accumulate essential microelements. This research assessed the nutrient profile of mustard microgreens using the method of fractal calculation with repeating numerical series.
The experiment involved mustard (Brássica júncea L.) of the Nika variety grown in a closed box for 15 days under aggregation with an intensive 16-h photocycle (440 µmoL m²/s). The plants were inoculated with the endomycorrhizal fungus Glomus mosseae. A solution of fulvic acids (100 mg/L) served as a stabilizing organic additive and was introduced into the coconut substrate. The physical treatment included weak static electromagnetic field with magnetic induction (20 mT). The elemental analysis was performed by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry on an ICPE-9000 device (Shimadzu, Japan).
According to the calculated indices of the microelement biocomposition, the best result belonged to the sample treated with fulvic acids and weak electromagnetic field (IndBcom_L = 0.27). The resulting biomass of dry powder for elemental analysis was 10.2 g, which was twice as high as the values obtained in the control sample, not subjected to any external influences (5.2 g). All the variants with mycorrhization produced no positive effect on the total pool of microelements during vegetation. The increase in biomass averaged as low as 20%. Zinc increased by 33.3% while aluminum and iron decreased by 59.5 and 18.0%, respectively.
The neural network analysis of the microelements in mustard microgreens proved effective as a mathematical model for biochemical diagnostics of biomass quality. The method could be used to optimize the biotechnological process for other indoor crops as it makes it possible to partially substitute mineral fertilizers with organic and bacterial complex.

Keywords

Microgreen, mustard, Brássica júncea L., microelements, biotic factors, abiotic factors, light culture, fulvic acids, magnetic irradiation, mycorrhiza

FUNDING

The research was part of state assignment from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation (Minobrnauki) , research topics FGUS 2022-0017 and FGUS 2022-0018.

REFERENCES

1. Treadwell D, Hochmuth R, Landrum L, Laughlin W. Microgreens: A new specialty crop. EDIS. 2020;5.
2. Turner ER, Luo Y, Buchanan RL. Microgreen nutrition, food safety, and shelf life: A review. Journal of Food Science. 2020;85(4):870–882. https://doi.org/10.1111/1750-3841.15049
3. Verlinden S. Microgreens: Definitions, product types, and production practices. In: Warrington I, editor. Horticultural reviews. John Wiley & Sons; 2019. pp. 85–124. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119625407.ch3
4. Kyriacou MC, Rouphael Y, Di Gioia F, Kyratzis A, Serio F, Renna M, et al. Micro-scale vegetable production and the rise of microgreens. Trends in Food Science and Technology. 2016;57:103–115. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tifs.2016.09.005
5. Dhakshayani GM, Priya SJA. A comparative study of phytochemical, antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, and antidiabetic potential of coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.): Microgreen and mature plant. Foods and Raw Materials. 2022;10(2):283–294. https://doi.org/10.21603/2308-4057-2022-2-539
6. Mir SA, Shah MA, Mir MM. Microgreens: Production, shelf life, and bioactive components. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. 2017;57(12):2730–2736. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2016.1144557
7. Abdallah MMF. Seed sprouts, a pharaoh’s heritage to improve food quality. Arab Universities Journal of Agricultural Sciences. 2008;16(2):469–478.
8. Singh A, Banerjee P, Anas M, Singh N, Qamar I. Traditional nutritional and health practices targeting lifestyle behavioral changes in humans. Journal of Lifestyle Medicine. 2020;10:67–73. https://doi.org/10.15280/jlm.2020.10.2.67
9. VanWormer JJ, Boucher JL, Sidebottom AC, Sillah A, Knickelbine T. Lifestyle changes and prevention of metabolic syndrome in the Heart of New Ulm Project. Preventive Medicine Reports. 2017;6:242–245. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2017.03.018
10. Buscemi S, Sprini D, Grosso G, Galvano F, Nicolucci A, Lucisano G, et al. Impact of lifestyle on metabolic syndrome in apparently healthy people. Eating and Weight Disorders – Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity. 2014;19:225–232. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-014-0117-4
11. Xiao Z, Lester GE, Luo Y, Wang Q. Assessment of vitamin and carotenoid concentrations of emerging food products: Edible microgreens. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 2012;60(31):7644–7651. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf300459b
12. Norman K, Haß U, Pirlich M. Malnutrition in older adults – Recent advances and remaining challenges. Nutrients. 2021;13(8). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13082764
13. Ozawa H, Miyazawa T, Miyazawa T. Effects of dietary food components on cognitive functions in older adults. Nutrients. 2021;13(8). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13082804
14. Hoang GM, Vu TT. Selection of suitable growing substrates and quality assessment of Brassica microgreens cultivated in greenhouse. Academia Journal of Biology. 2022;44(2):133–142. https://doi.org/10.15625/2615-9023/16833
15. Moraru PI, Rusu T, Mintas OS. Trial protocol for evaluating platforms for growing microgreens in hydroponic conditions. Foods. 2022;11(9). https://doi.org/10.3390/foods11091327
16. Mohanty A, Mahahlik G, Parida S. Nutritional analysis of few edible microgreens in variable growth medium using XRF technique. Asian Journal of Biological and Life Sciences. 2021;9(3):360–364. https://doi.org/10.5530/ajbls.2020.9.54
17. McGehee CS, Raudales RE, Elmer WH, McAvoy RJ. Efficacy of biofungicides against root rot and damping-off of microgreens caused by Pythium spp. Crop Protection. 2019;121:96–102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2018.12.007
18. Xiao Z, Bauchan G, Nichols-Russell L, Luo Y, Wang Q, Nou X. Proliferation of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in soil-substitute and hydroponic microgreen production systems. Journal of Food Protection. 2015;78(10):1785–1790. https://doi.org/10.4315/0362-028X.JFP-15-063
19. Ding H, Fu T-J, Smith MA. Microbial contamination in sprouts: How effective is seed disinfection treatment? Journal of Food Science. 2013;78(4):R495–R501. https://doi.org/10.1111/1750-3841.12064
20. Calvo P, Nelson L, Kloepper JW. Agricultural uses of plant biostimulants. Plant and Soil. 2014;383:3–41. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-014-2131-8
21. Yang R, Li Z, Huang M, Luo N, Wen J, Zeng G. Characteristics of fulvic acid during coprecipitation and adsorption to iron oxides‑copper aqueous system. Journal of Molecular Liquids. 2019;274:664–672. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2018.11.030
22. Zanin L, Tomasi N, Cesco S, Varanini Z, Pinton R. Humic substances contribute to plant iron nutrition acting as chelators and biostimulants. Frontiers in Plant Science. 2019;10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2019.00675
23. Kamel SM, Afifi MMI, El-Shoraky FS, El-Sawy MM. Fulvic acid: A tool for controlling powdery and downy mildew in cucumber plants. International Journal of Phytopathology. 2014;3(2):101–104. https://doi.org/10.33687/phytopath.003.02.0866
24. Wu M, Song M, Liu M, Jiang C, Li Z. Fungicidal activities of soil humic/fulvic acids as related to their chemical structures in greenhouse vegetable fields with cultivation chronosequence. Scientific Reports. 2016;6. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep32858
25. Rouphael Y, Colla G. Synergistic biostimulatory action: Designing the next generation of plant biostimulants for sustainable agriculture. Frontiers in Plant Science. 2018;9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2018.01655
26. Bulgari R, Franzoni G, Ferrante A. Biostimulants application in horticultural crops under abiotic stress conditions. Agronomy. 2019;9(6). https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy9060306
27. Andini S, Dekker P, Gruppen H, Araya-Cloutier C, Vincken J-P. Modulation of glucosinolate composition in brassicaceae seeds by germination and fungal elicitation. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 2019;67(46):12770–12779. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.9b05771
28. Shalaby S, Horwitz BA. Plant phenolic compounds and oxidative stress: Integrated signals in fungal – plant interactions. Current Genetics. 2015;61:347–357. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00294-014-0458-6
29. Sangeetha N. Assessment of the effect of pulsating electromagnetic fields on biochemical and morphological parameters changes of Brassica juncea (mustard seeds). CIBTech Journal of Biotechnology. 2016;5(3):28–35.
30. Singh NN, Rai KK, Rai S. A short note on seed-borne magnetic effect on mustard, Brasszcajuncea L. crop. Electro- and Magnetobiology. 1998;17(1):99–102. https://doi.org/10.3109/15368379809012891
31. Feizi H, Salari A, Kaveh H, Firuzi Y. Investigation of static magnetic field durabilitytreatment on seed and seedling features of mustard (Sinapis alba L.). Journal of Medicinal and Spice Plants. 2020;24(2):75–79.
32. Setiyono S, Dwiharjo D, Arum AP. Application of magnetic field in NFT hydroponic systems to growth and production of mustard. Agrosains: Jurnal Penelitian Agronomi. 2022;24(1):6–11. https://doi.org/10.20961/agsjpa.v24i1.58217
33. Alrifai O, Hao X, Marcone MF, Tsao R. Current review of the modulatory effects of LED lights on photosynthesis of secondary metabolites and future perspectives of microgreen vegetables. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 2019;67(22):6075–6090. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.9b00819
34. Sharma S, Shree B, Sharma D, Kumar S, Kumar V, Sharma R, et al. Vegetable microgreens: The gleam of next generation super foods, their genetic enhancement, health benefits and processing approaches. Food Research International. 2022;155.
35. Sanlier N, Guler SM. The benefits of Brassica vegetables on human health. Journal of Human Health Research. 2018;1(1).
36. Abellán Á, Domínguez-Perles R, Moreno DA, García-Viguera C. Sorting out the value of cruciferous sprouts as sources of bioactive compounds for nutrition and health. Nutrients. 2019;11(2). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11020429
37. Marchioni I, Martinelli M, Ascrizzi R, Gabbrielli C, Flamini G, Pistelli L, et al. Small functional foods: Comparative phytochemical and nutritional analyses of five microgreens of the Brassicaceae family. Foods. 2021;10(2). https://doi.org/10.3390/foods10020427
38. de la Fuente B, López-García G, Mañez V, Alegría A, Barberá R, Cilla A. Evaluation of the bioaccessibility of antioxidant bioactive compounds and minerals of four genotypes of Brassicaceae microgreens. Foods. 2019;8(7). https://doi.org/10.3390/foods8070250
39. Brazaitytė A, Miliauskienė J, Vaštakaitė-Kairienė V, Sutulienė R, Laužikė K, Duchovskis P, et al. Effect of different ratios of blue and red LED light on Brassicaceae microgreens under a controlled environment. Plants. 2021;10(4). https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10040801
40. Brazaitytė A, Sakalauskienė S, Samuolienė G, Jankauskienė J, Viršilė A, Novičkovas A, et al. The effects of LED illumination spectra and intensity on carotenoid content in Brassicaceae microgreens. Food Chemistry. 2015;173:600–606. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2014.10.077
41. Craver JK, Gerovac JR, Lopez RG, Kopsell DA. Light intensity and light quality from sole-source light-emitting diodes impact phytochemical concentrations within Brassica microgreens. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science. 2017;142(1):3–12. https://doi.org/10.21273/JASHS03830-16
42. Gerovac JR, Craver JK, Boldt JK, Lopez RG. Light intensity and quality from sole-source light-emitting diodes impact growth, morphology, and nutrient content of Brassica microgreens. HortScience. 2016;51(5):497–503. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.51.5.497
43. Kopsell DA, Pantanizopoulos NI, Sams CE, Kopsell DE. Shoot tissue pigment levels increase in “Florida Broadleaf” mustard (Brassica juncea L.) microgreens following high light treatment. Scientia Horticulturae. 2012;140:96–99. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2012.04.004
44. Samuolienė G, Brazaityte A, Jankauskiene J, Viršile A, Sirtautas R, Novičkovas A, et al. LED irradiance level affects growth and nutritional quality of Brassica microgreens. Central European Journal of Biology. 2013;8(12):1241–1249. https://doi.org/10.2478/s11535-013-0246-1
45. Samuolienė G, Brazaitytė A, Viršilė A, Miliauskienė J, Vaštakaitė-Kairienė V, Duchovskis P. Nutrient levels in Brassicaceae microgreens increase under tailored light-emitting diode spectra. Frontiers in Plant Science. 2019;10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2019.01475
46. Kamal KY, Khodaeiaminjan M, El-Tantawy AA, Moneim DA, Salam AA, Ash-shormillesy SMA, et al. Evaluation of growth and nutritional value of Brassica microgreens grown under red, blue and green LEDs combinations. Physiologia Plantarum. 2020;169(4):625–638. https://doi.org/10.1111/ppl.13083
47. Jones-Baumgardt C, Llewellyn D, Ying Q, Zheng Y. Intensity of sole-source light-emitting diodes affects growth, yield, and quality of Brassicaceae microgreens. HortScience. 2019;54(7):1168–1174. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI13788-18
48. Ying Q, Kong Y, Jones-Baumgardt C, Zheng Y. Responses of yield and appearance quality of four Brassicaceae microgreens to varied blue light proportion in red and blue light-emitting diodes lighting. Scientia Horticulturae. 2020;259. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2019.108857
49. Paradiso R, Proietti S. Light-quality manipulation to control plant growth and photomorphogenesis in greenhouse horticulture: the state of the art and the opportunities of modern LED systems. Journal of Plant Growth Regulation. 2021;41:742–780. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-021-10337-y
50. Vierheilig H, Bennett R, Kiddle G, Kaldorf M, Ludwig-Müller J. Differences in glucosinolate patterns and arbuscular mycorrhizal status of glucosinolate-containing species. New Phytologist. 2020;146(2):343–352. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1469-8137.2000.00642.x
51. Puttaradder J, Lakshman HC. Screening of efficient AM fungus for Brassica juncea (L.) Czern & Coss to improve biomass yield and seeds number. International Journal of Pure and Applied Bioscience. 2015;3(3):147–152.
52. Novitsky YuI, Novitskaya GV. Effect of static magnetic field on plants. Moscow: Nauka; 2016. 350 p. (In Russ.).
53. Peer WA, Mahmoudian M, Freeman JL, Lahner B, Richards EL, Reeves RD, et al. Assessment of plants from the Brassicaceae family as genetic models for the study of nickel and zinc hyperaccumulation. New Phytologist. 2006;172(2):248–260. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2006.01820.x
54. Tsonev T, Lidon FJC. Zinc in plants – An overview. Emirates Journal of Food and Agriculture. 2012;24(4):322–333.
55. Broadley MR, White PJ, Hammond JP, Zelko I, Lux A. Zinc in plants. New Phytologist. 2007;173(4):677–702. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2007.01996.x
56. Sinha P, Jain R, Chatterjee C. Interactive effect of boron and zinc on growth and metabolism of mustard. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis. 2000;31(1–2):41–49. https://doi.org/10.1080/00103620009370419