Location: Application Technology Research
Project Number: 5082-21000-001-104-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Sep 1, 2024
End Date: Aug 31, 2026
Objective:
a. To determine the quantitative impact of different blue light intensity levels on beta-carotene in baby watercress.
b. To determine the optimal blue light intensity levels for maximizing beta carotene content in baby watercress.
c. To compare beta-carotene content under different light conditions (blue light and natural light).
Approach:
This project aims to evaluate the effects of blue light intensity in increasing the accumulation of beta-accumulation in baby watercress plant. The seeds will be sown into 1.5-inch rockwool grow cubes (2.5 x 2.5cm spacing) and grown under identical baseline conditions for an initial period of two weeks to establish uniform seedlings. The watercress plants will be divided into four groups, each exposed to different light treatments: A control group will be exposed to the standard white light. Three treatments will include a low blue light intensity group that will be exposed 50 µmol m-2 s-1. The medium blue light intensity group will be exposed to 100 µmol m-2 s-1. Finaly, the high blue light intensity will receive a treatment of 150 µmol m-2 s-1.
Watercress plants will be harvested in two stages:
At four weeks period of light treatment, early harvest will be done to measure beta-carotene accumulation in baby watercress. After six weeks of light treatment, maturity harvest will be done to assess the beta-carotene levels at full maturity. Leaves from harvested plants will be collected, washed, blotted dry, immediately frozen in liquid nitrogen, and lyophilized at -80°C before determining the carotenoid contents. To quantify carotenoids both in fresh and dry tissues, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) will be used.. For plant growth, biomass will be measured in each treatment group. To evaluate the chlorophyll, this will be extracted from leaf samples using 80% acetone and quantified spectrophotometrically or using chlorophyll meter. Furthermore, the antioxidant capacity of leaf extracts will be assessed using the radical scavenging assay.
