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Cited by 128Plant Growth and Agriculture TechniquesPlant Micronutrient Interactions and EffectsPlant Stress Responses and Tolerance

Enhancing quality of fresh vegetables through salinity eustress and biofortification applications facilitated by soilless cultivation

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Rouphael, Youssef, Kyriacou, Marios C.·2018·Frontiers in Plant Science
DOI 10.3389/fpls.2018.01254PMC PMC6113394
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Abstract

Closed soilless cultivation systems (SCS) support high productivity and optimized year-round production of standardized quality. Efficiency and precision in modulating nutrient solution composition, in addition to controlling temperature, light, and atmospheric composition, renders protected SCS instrumental for augmenting organoleptic and bioactive components of quality. Effective application of eustress (positive stress), such as moderate salinity or nutritional stress, can elicit tailored plant responses involving the activation of physiological and molecular mechanisms and the strategic accumulation of bioactive compounds necessary for adaptation to suboptimal environments. For instance, it has been demonstrated that the application of salinity eustress increases non-structural carbohydrates and health-promoting phytochemicals such as lycopene, β-carotene, vitamin C, and the overall phenolic content of tomato fruits. Salinity eustress can also reduce the concentration of anti-nutrient compounds such as nitrate due to antagonism between nitrate and chloride for the same anion channel. Furthermore, SCS can be instrumental for the biofortification of vegetables with micronutrients essential or beneficial to human health, such as iodine, iron, selenium, silicon, and zinc. Accurate control of microelement concentrations and constant exposure of roots to the fortified nutrient solution without soil interaction can maximize their uptake, translocation, and accumulation in the edible plant parts; however, biofortification remains highly dependent on microelement forms and concentrations present in the nutrient solution, the time of application and the accumulation capacity of the selected species. The present article provides an updated overview and future perspective on scientific advances in SCS aimed at enhancing the sensory and bioactive value of vegetables.

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Authors
Rouphael, Y., & Kyriacou, M. C.
Affiliations
  • University of Naples Federico II (IT)
  • Agruicultural Research Institute (CY)
Corresponding author
  • Rouphael, Youssef
  • Kyriacou, Marios C.
ORCID
Venue
Frontiers in Plant Science
Publisher
Frontiers Media SA
Published
2018-08-22
Volume
9
Pages
1254-1254
ISSN
1664-462X (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.3389/fpls.2018.01254
PMC
PMC6113394
OpenAlex
W2888707056
Cited by
128
References
1
Citations by year
2026: 14 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 22 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 19 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 14 · 2015: 1
FWCI
10.98
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Frontiers in Plant Science (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Soil Science › Plant Growth and Agriculture Techniques
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Plant Micronutrient Interactions and Effects
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Plant Stress Responses and Tolerance
Keywords
biofortification, soilless cultivation, nutrient solution, fresh vegetables, tomato, lycopene, beta-carotene, phenolic compounds, nitrate reduction, micronutrient accumulation, iodine, iron, selenium, silicon, zinc, trace elements, plant stress response, vegetable quality

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