External green light as a new tool to change colors and nutritional components of inner leaves of head cabbages

Abstract The color and nutritional quality of vegetables directly affect the choices consumers thus commercial value vegetable products. Green light can penetrate outer leaves reach inner to promote photochemical reaction overlapping head vegetables. However, whether this promotion increase components change cabbages, which is one major largely produced worldwide, remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated changes in colors concentrations chlorophyll (Chl) carotenoid two types cabbages by externally irradiating cabbage with green light. results showed that a short-term (48 h) irradiation low intensity (50 μmol m −2 s −1 ) enhanced Chl concentration positive these indicators increased as leaf layers approached center cabbage. Simultaneously, also establish method effectively estimate using luminosity ( L* greenness − a* when so it difficult or not possible be measured SPAD meter. Our findings demonstrated light, new tool, used control cabbages. discoveries will help produce preferred phenotype desired plant factory artificial lighting.