LED lighting and seasonality effects antioxidant properties of baby leaf lettuce

We report on the application of supplementary light-emitting diode (LED) lighting within a greenhouse for cultivation of red, green and light green leaf baby lettuces (Lactuca sativa L) grown under natural illumination and high-pressure sodium (HPS) lamps (16-h; PPFD-170 mu mol m(-2) s(-1)) during different growing season. Supplementary lighting from blue 455/470 nm and green 505/530 nm LEDs was applied (16-h; PPFD-30 mu mol m(-2) s(-1)). Our results showed that to achieve solely a positive effect is complicated, because metabolism of antioxidant properties in lettuce depended on multicomponent exposure of variety, light quality or seasonality. The general trend of a greater positive effect of supplemental LED components on the vitamin C and tocopherol contents was in order: 535 > 505 > 455 > 470 nm; on the total phenol content: 505 > 535 = 470 > 455 nm; on the DPPH free-radical scavenging capacity: 535 = 470 > 505 > 455 nm; on the total anthocyanins: 505 > 455 > 470 > 535 nm. Further investigations are needed for understanding the mechanism and interaction between antioxidants and light signal transduction pathways. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.