Light Intensity and Growth Media Influence Growth, Nutrition, and Phytochemical Content in Trachyandra divaricata Kunth

Trachyandra divaricata (Sandkool) is one of the most abundant wild edible inflorescence vegetables in South Africa. The dearth literature on its edibility, nutrient composition, and conservation has contributed to underutilisation. This study investigated mineral proximate content, phytochemical compositions, growth response T. light intensity soilless media. Treatments comprised four media (LECA clay, silica sand, peat, vermiculite) which were subjected different shade levels (no shade, 20, 40, 60, 80%) created from a factory-made 20% density net by doubling (40%), tripling (60%), quadrupling (80%). All treatments irrigated with standard solution. results showed that impacted yield significantly terms biomass flower buds, especially plants cultivated peat under normal greenhouse lighting shade). Conversely, developed more specific leaf size total chlorophyll content (20, media, even though values comparable among treatments. highest Ca, Mg, Cu, Fe, Mn consistently recorded flowers grown LECA clay 80% level, while other minerals varied tested medium optimised neutral detergent fibre (NDF) acid (ADF) flowers, whereas both fat protein contents greatly enhanced vermiculite, respectively, shade. Consistently, lowest polyphenols DPPH antioxidants produced sand treated Both TEAC FRAP improved no 60% level. However, flavonol significantly. On basis these findings, promising inflorescent vegetable may be considered for domestication further research due potential pharmacological nutraceutical values.