Response of Broccoli Transplants to LED Light during Short and Long-Term Storage

Abstract

In broccoli production a big challenge is preparation of seedlings, which must be delivered during a strictly defined period to vegetable producers that are often in distant places. The goal of the present study was to investigate the response of 5-week old broccoli transplants cv. Parthenon F1 to 2 and 6 weeks of storage at 4 °C under two LED light spectra (L1: 29% red 660 nm + 14% red 630 nm + 42% blue 250 nm + 15% green 520 nm and L2: 38% red 660 nm + 18% red 630 nm +26% blue 450 nm + 15% green 520 nm + 3% UV-A 330 nm; photoperiod 16/8 h day/night and PPFD 30 ± 10 µmol m−2 s−1) and darkness. Control 5-week-old seedlings were not stored. Light treatment improved the morphology and physiological parameters of seedlings. The yield of broccoli from control seedlings was similar to that obtained after L2 treatment, regardless of seedling storage duration. The most promising effects were obtained by adding 3% UV-A radiation to the lighting spectrum. The results are applicable to the transport of broccoli transplants to remote locations or storage for several weeks, in cases where it is necessary to delay planting.