2026/03/02 by Kaoruko Koshida, Koji Kawagishi, Yoshikazu Ito · 1 voice
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · #Botanical Research and Applications #Plant Gene Expression Analysis #Postharvest Quality and Shelf Life Management
paper · pdf · doi:10.1080/14620316.2026.2636285
openalex publication_date 2026/03/02 · openalex created_date 2026/03/06 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/15
Salicornia europaea, a green, salty and crunchy succulent vegetable, turns red during senescence because of betacyanin accumulation. However, eating the reddish S. europaea is challenging because of its stiff texture and excessive saltiness. In this study, we aimed to create a fresh, reddish edible S. europaea strain by promoting a rapid synthesis of betacyanin with light irradiation treatments and inhibiting lignification through early harvesting. The colour changed ten days after light irradiation, and the highest a* value and betacyanin contents were observed at the photosynthetic photon flux densities (PPFDs) of 600 and 800 µmol･m−2･s−1, without any change in Na content. However, stem firmness increased significantly, with accumulation of lignin at the PPFD of 800 µmol･m−2･s−1. Thus, exposure to continuous light at the PPFD of 600 µmol･m−2･s−1 for ten days in S. europaea can lead to the development of reddish Salicornia shoots, a novel aesthetically pleasant crop with nutritional benefits.