Effect of the application of phycocyanin from Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina platensis) as fertiliser on bioactive compounds in microgreens

Abstract

Bio-fertilisation has gained popularity due to its sustainability in agricultural practice. One of the cyanobacterial-based bio-fertilisers is Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina platensis), which contains phycocyanin, a blue protein pigment that is abundant in Spirulina sp., that boosts the growth yield and bioactive content of plants. The aim of the current study is to determine the alteration in antioxidant and phenolic content in red cabbage microgreens (Brassica oleracea var. capitata f. rubra) by treating different organs of the plant with phycocyanin from Arthrospira platensis. The phycocyanin application did not significantly affect the phenolic content of the cotyledon leaves. However, soaking with phycocyanin solution significantly affected the phenolic content of seeds. Regarding the antioxidant capacity of the microgreens, no significant effect was detected on the antioxidant activity of the seeds among the phycocyanin concentrations. The phycocyanin application significantly increased antioxidant activity compared to control soaked in deionised water. The results clearly demonstrate that phycocyanin application to seed and cotyledon leaves affected the antioxidant capacity and phenolic content of the microgreens. Although there are several studies about the effects of phycocyanin on growth parameters, this study has different perspectives in terms of the method of phycocyanin application and evaluation of the bioactive compounds in microgreens.