Effect of the Number of Dark Days and Planting Density on the Health-Promoting Phytochemicals and Antioxidant Capacity of Mustard (<i>Brassica juncea</i>) Sprouts
Zhiqing Li,
Hongmei Di,
Wenjuan Cheng,
Guanru Ren,
Yi Zhang,
Jie Ma,
Wei Ma,
Jiao Yang,
Huashan Lian,
Xiaomei Li,
Zhi Huang,
Yi Tang,
Yangxia Zheng,
Huanxiu Li,
Fen Zhang,
Bo Sun
Affiliations
Zhiqing Li
College of Horticulture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Hongmei Di
College of Horticulture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Wenjuan Cheng
Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Tianjin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Tianjin 300384, China
Guanru Ren
College of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Yi Zhang
College of Horticulture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Jie Ma
Bijie Institute of Agricultural Science, Bijie 551700, China
Wei Ma
Bijie Institute of Agricultural Science, Bijie 551700, China
Jiao Yang
Bijie Institute of Agricultural Science, Bijie 551700, China
Huashan Lian
School of Agriculture and Horticulture, Chengdu Agricultural College, Chengdu 611130, China
Xiaomei Li
Rice and Sorghum Research Institue, Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Deyang 618000, China
Zhi Huang
College of Horticulture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Yi Tang
College of Horticulture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Yangxia Zheng
College of Horticulture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Huanxiu Li
College of Horticulture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Fen Zhang
College of Horticulture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Bo Sun
College of Horticulture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Mustard is an edible vegetable in the genus Brassica with tender and clean sprouts and short growth cycles that has become a rich source of nutrients required by humans. Here, the effects of dark exposure duration and planting density on the health-promoting phytochemicals and the antioxidant capacity of mustard sprouts were evaluated. The content of soluble sugar, soluble protein, chlorophyll, and carotenoids and the antioxidant capacity of mustard were higher in the two-day dark treatment; the content of indolic glucosinolates was also more affected in the dark day experiment than in the planting density experiment. The soluble sugar, soluble protein, and aliphatic and total glucosinolate levels were higher when sprouts were grown at high densities (6–7 g per tray); however, no significant variation was observed in the content of chlorophyll and carotenoids and the antioxidant capacity. The results of this study show that the optimum cultivation regime for maximizing the concentrations of nutrients of mustard plants is a planting density of 6 g of seeds per tray and a two-day dark treatment.
