Research progress on the regulatory effect of light emitting diode on quality of microgreens

GUO Shuihuan; YUAN Sijie; GUO Nannan; CHEN Xian; FAN Yamin; GAO Han; ZHAN Lijuan

doi:10.12187/2025.01.006

Abstract：Microgreens are emerging as a novel category of healthy plant-derived food sources with vast development prospects and enormous market potential.Light emitting diode(LED),as an efficient,energy-saving,and environmentally friendly solid-state illuminant,has been extensively applied in regulating the growth and quality of microgreens.Based on the nutritional characteristics of microgreens and LED lighting technology,the regulatory effects of LED lighting on color(chlorophyll,β-carotene),nutrients(soluble sugars,soluble proteins),antioxidants(phenolic substances,vitamin C)and antioxidant activities of sprouts were reviewed,and the possible regulatory mechanisms were analyzed.Compared with the same mature vegetables,microgreens contained more bioactive substances such as β-carotene,chlorophyll,phenolic substances and vitamin C,and had higher nutritional value and stronger antioxidant activity.LED light source provided the optimal wavelength matching the absorption spectrum of photoreceptors and photosynthetic pigments(such as chlorophyll and carotenoids)in the plant body,which played a crucial role in optimizing plant growth and development,photosynthesis,and secondary metabolites synthesis,thereby maximizing plant production efficiency.Red-light,blue-light,red-blue combined light,and green-light promoted the synthesis of nutrients and antioxidants,and increased antioxidant activity in microgreens.Future research will focus on the light-quality ratio,LED light coordination with other factors,and the regulatory effect and mechanisms of LED light on the storage and preservation of microgreens,so as to provide theoretical foundation and technical reference for the production,processing,storage,and preservation of microgreens entire industrial chain.