Modelling of Carotenoids Content in Red Clover Sprouts Using Light of Different Wavelength and Pulsed Electric Field

The paper presents the results of influence the light of different wavelengths and pulsed electric fields on the content of carotenoids. Seeds germination was carried out in a climatic chamber with phytotron system. The experiment was carried out under seven growing conditions differing in light-emitting diode (LED) wavelengths and using pulsed electric fields (PEFs) with different strength applied before sowing. Cultivation of the sprouts was carried out for seven days at relative humidity 80% and 20 ± 1 °C. Different light wavelengths were used during cultivation: white light (380–780 nm), UVA (340 nm), blue (440 nm), and red (630 nm). In addition, the pulsed electric field (PEF) with three values of strength equal to 1, 2.5 and 5 kV/cm, respectively, was applied to three series of sprouts before sowing. Sprouts treated with the PEF were grown under white light (380–780 nm). The light exposure time for all experimental series of sprouts was 12/12 h (12 h light, 12 h dark for seven days). Lutein is the dominant carotenoid in germinating red clover seeds, the content of which varies from 743 mg/kg in sprouts grown in red light, 862 mg/kg in sprouts grown in UVA, to 888 mg/kg in sprouts grown in blue light. Blue light in the cultivation of red clover sprouts had the most beneficial effect on the increase of carotenoids content and amounted to 42% in β-carotene, 19% in lutein, and 14% in zeaxanthin. It confirms that modelling the content of carotenoids is possible using UVA and blue light (440 nm) during seed cultivation. An increase in the content of β-carotene and lutein in red clover sprouts was obtained in comparison to the test with white light without PEF pre-treatment, respectively by 8.5% and 6%. At the same time a 3.3% decrease in the content of zeaxanthin was observed. Therefore, it can be concluded that PEF pre-treatment may increase mainly the content of β-carotene.