The effect of variety and lighting qualityon wheatgrass antioxidant properties

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of light emitting diode providing lighting spectra on the antioxidant properties of the seedlings of different Lithuanian winter wheat varieties ('Širvinta 1', 'Ada', 'Tauras', 'Milda', and 'Alma'), used as the source of bioactive compounds in natural medicine. The originally designed light emitting diode unit was used for the wheatgrass illumination. The effect of the sole red 638 nm light, the combination of the four main components (red 638 nm, 669 nm, blue 445 nm and far red 731 nm), and the four main component supplementation with UV (385 nm), green (510 nm) and amber (595 nm) light emitting diodes on the wheatgrass antioxidant properties was investigated. The analysis of free radical scavenging activity, phenolic compounds, vitamin C contents and the composition of selected carotenoids was performed when plants had reached a height of 9-11 cm. 'Širvinta 1' and 'Ada' wheats are the most suitable for antioxidant rich green food production, due to significantly higher than the average of the trial the higher free radical scavenging activity, phenolic compound, vitamin C and carotenoid contents. 'Milda', 'Alma' and 'Tauras' demonstrated only moderate antioxidant properties. Lighting spectra also had the pronounced effect: the supplemental yellow and green wavelengths promoted the antioxidant properties of 'Širvinta 1' and 'Ada' wheats.