Effect of Combined Light Quality and Calcium Chloride Treatments on Growth and Quality of Chinese Kale Sprouts

Chinese kale sprouts are widely cultivated and consumed due to their elevated nutritional worth and ease of cultivation in controlled environments. This study focused on the effects of several light types (white, red, and blue) both by themselves and in conjunction with calcium chloride (CaCl<sub...

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Main Authors: Hongxia Li, Wenjuan Cheng, Xuena Yu, Kehao Liang, Yi Tang, Zhi Huang, Huanxiu Li, Fen Zhang, Cunkun Chen, Bo Sun
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Horticulturae
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/11/7/780
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author Hongxia Li
Wenjuan Cheng
Xuena Yu
Kehao Liang
Yi Tang
Zhi Huang
Huanxiu Li
Fen Zhang
Cunkun Chen
Bo Sun
author_facet Hongxia Li
Wenjuan Cheng
Xuena Yu
Kehao Liang
Yi Tang
Zhi Huang
Huanxiu Li
Fen Zhang
Cunkun Chen
Bo Sun
author_sort Hongxia Li
collection DOAJ
description Chinese kale sprouts are widely cultivated and consumed due to their elevated nutritional worth and ease of cultivation in controlled environments. This study focused on the effects of several light types (white, red, and blue) both by themselves and in conjunction with calcium chloride (CaCl<sub>2</sub>) on the physiological development and nutritional value of Chinese kale sprouts. Analysis proved that under differing light treatments, white light resulted in the highest pigment content, and red light markedly increased plant height, fresh mass, and soluble sugar accumulation. Additionally, blue light significantly enhanced the antioxidant capacity. When light quality and calcium chloride were applied together, fresh mass increased by 9.50%, 9.85%, and 12.47% (compared with single light treatments), and significantly elevated the indolic glucosinolate content. Besides, red light combined with calcium chloride also enhanced the antioxidant capacity (ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) content) compared with red light alone, increasing by 14.31%. This research determined that red light in conjunction with calcium chloride obtained the highest yield of sprouts, and it can also offer new strategies for increasing the antioxidant capacity, while the blue light in conjunction with calcium chloride can provide more ways for accumulating glucosinolates. In conclusion, incorporating light quality and calcium chloride treatments in Chinese kale sprout cultivation is an effective approach for increasing yield and quality.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2311-7524
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publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher MDPI AG
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series Horticulturae
spelling doaj-art-09060f4ed8db415da7b6eedfc6d928fa2025-08-20T03:36:14ZengMDPI AGHorticulturae2311-75242025-07-0111778010.3390/horticulturae11070780Effect of Combined Light Quality and Calcium Chloride Treatments on Growth and Quality of Chinese Kale SproutsHongxia Li0Wenjuan Cheng1Xuena Yu2Kehao Liang3Yi Tang4Zhi Huang5Huanxiu Li6Fen Zhang7Cunkun Chen8Bo Sun9College of Horticulture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, ChinaCollege of Horticulture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, ChinaCollege of Horticulture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, ChinaCollege of Horticulture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, ChinaCollege of Horticulture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, ChinaCollege of Horticulture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, ChinaCollege of Horticulture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, ChinaCollege of Horticulture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, ChinaInstitute of Agricultural Products Preservation and Processing Technology, Tianjin 300384, ChinaCollege of Horticulture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, ChinaChinese kale sprouts are widely cultivated and consumed due to their elevated nutritional worth and ease of cultivation in controlled environments. This study focused on the effects of several light types (white, red, and blue) both by themselves and in conjunction with calcium chloride (CaCl<sub>2</sub>) on the physiological development and nutritional value of Chinese kale sprouts. Analysis proved that under differing light treatments, white light resulted in the highest pigment content, and red light markedly increased plant height, fresh mass, and soluble sugar accumulation. Additionally, blue light significantly enhanced the antioxidant capacity. When light quality and calcium chloride were applied together, fresh mass increased by 9.50%, 9.85%, and 12.47% (compared with single light treatments), and significantly elevated the indolic glucosinolate content. Besides, red light combined with calcium chloride also enhanced the antioxidant capacity (ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) content) compared with red light alone, increasing by 14.31%. This research determined that red light in conjunction with calcium chloride obtained the highest yield of sprouts, and it can also offer new strategies for increasing the antioxidant capacity, while the blue light in conjunction with calcium chloride can provide more ways for accumulating glucosinolates. In conclusion, incorporating light quality and calcium chloride treatments in Chinese kale sprout cultivation is an effective approach for increasing yield and quality.https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/11/7/780Chinese kale sproutslight qualitycalcium chloridegrowthnutritional quality
spellingShingle Hongxia Li
Wenjuan Cheng
Xuena Yu
Kehao Liang
Yi Tang
Zhi Huang
Huanxiu Li
Fen Zhang
Cunkun Chen
Bo Sun
Effect of Combined Light Quality and Calcium Chloride Treatments on Growth and Quality of Chinese Kale Sprouts
Horticulturae
Chinese kale sprouts
light quality
calcium chloride
growth
nutritional quality
title Effect of Combined Light Quality and Calcium Chloride Treatments on Growth and Quality of Chinese Kale Sprouts
title_full Effect of Combined Light Quality and Calcium Chloride Treatments on Growth and Quality of Chinese Kale Sprouts
title_fullStr Effect of Combined Light Quality and Calcium Chloride Treatments on Growth and Quality of Chinese Kale Sprouts
title_full_unstemmed Effect of Combined Light Quality and Calcium Chloride Treatments on Growth and Quality of Chinese Kale Sprouts
title_short Effect of Combined Light Quality and Calcium Chloride Treatments on Growth and Quality of Chinese Kale Sprouts
title_sort effect of combined light quality and calcium chloride treatments on growth and quality of chinese kale sprouts
topic Chinese kale sprouts
light quality
calcium chloride
growth
nutritional quality
url https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/11/7/780
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