Abstract:
Objectives The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of blue light and nano-silicon composite treatment on the growth and nutritional quality of Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L. ssp. pekinensis).
Methods The cabbage seedlings (Jingqi-2) were cultivated in the dark until the leaves turned yellow (25 days), and then used as potted experimental materials. The experiment was set up with 6 treatments, namely, under dim light (D), normal light (L), and blue light (B), the seedlings were respectively sprayed with 100 mg/L nano-silicon (SiO2·NPs) and water (W), totaling 6 treatments. After 6 days of treatment, samples were taken to analyze the photosynthetic fluorescence, antioxidant system parameters and nutritional quality of Chinese cabbage.
Results Compared with L+W, the L+NSi and B+W treatment increased carotenoid content of Chinese cabbage by 33.33% and 83.33%, respectively, while the increment by B+NSi treatment was 87.50% and 36.36% higher than L+NSi and B+W treatments, respectively. Compared with L+W, the flavonoid content of L+NSi, B+W, and B+NSi treatments increased by 12.57%, 11.16%, and 16.8%, respectively; the net photosynthetic rate increased by 2.27 times, 2.57 times, and 2.32 times, respectively. The activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD and CAT) in B+NSi treatment were enhanced by 37.91%, 219.87%, and 69.49%, respectively, compared with D+W. The activities of SOD and POD in L+NSi and B+W treatments were significantly higher than L+W treatment, while the activity of POD in B+NSi treatment was significantly higher than that in L+NSi and B+W treatments. Compared with L+W, the contents of Ca, Fe, Zn and Mn in L+NSi treatment increased by 37.13%, 69.09%, 40.61% and 45.11%, the vitamin C, soluble protein, K P, Ca Zn and Mn in B+W treatment increased by 20.46%, 12.68%, 10.53%, 11.01%, 26.29%, 24.08% and 31.90%, respectively. The vitamin C in B+NSi treatment was 25.39% higher than in L+NSi treatment, the soluble protein was 26.76% and 13.30% higher than in L+NSi and B+W treatments, and the K, Mg and Cu contents were 15.58%, 13.84% and 23.76% higher than in L+NSi treatment, and the Mg, Ca, Fe and Cu were 20.72%, 20.68%, 79.78% and 9.27% higher than B+W treatment, respectively. L+NSi and B+W treatment had similar soluble sugar content, with L+W treatment, while that in B+NSi treatment was 29.0% higher. At the same time, B+NSi treatment reduced malondialdehyde content, kept stable superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide, free amino acids and proline contents, thus alleviating radical damage and favorating osmotic pressure balance.
Conclusions The combined application of blue light and nano-silican is more effective in increasing the pigment and nutrient element accumulation, stimulate the photosynthetic efficiency and the stability of cell membrane, realizing the target of improving growth, color appearance, and nutritional quality of inner leaves of Chinese cabbage.