Masters Thesis

Controlled Environment Vertical Farm Design and the Role of Supplemental Light Quality and Quantity on Chlorophyll and Anthocyanin Content in Selected Microgreens

The objective of this project was to examine the role of currently available supplemental light sources in producing selected hydroponically-grown microgreens- Wheatgrass (Triticum aestivum), Mustard (Brassica juncea), Shiso (Perilla frutescens), and Beet (Beta vulgaris) with a specific focus on biosynthesis of the nutritionally valuable pigments chlorophyll and anthocyanin. The study was specifically designed to determine if use of lower cost value light sources would result in similar chlorophyll and anthocyanin concentrations in selected microgreens as higher cost value light sources would. Additionally, a goal of the project was to build and maintain an economically feasible controlled hydroponic environment system. The results of this study indicated that use of the higher cost light source resulted in greater concentrations of chlorophyll a and b and the use of a lower cost light source resulted in higher anthocyanin concentration in the selected microgreens.

Items in ScholarWorks are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.