Effect of light quality and ionising radiation on morphological and nutraceutical traits of sprouts for astronauts’ diet

• Published in: Acta astronautica Vol. 185; pp. 188 - 197
• Main Authors: De Micco, V., Amitrano, C., Vitaglione, P., Ferracane, R., Pugliese, M., Arena, C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elmsford Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2021; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Antioxidants; Astronaut diet; Astronauts; Flavonoids; Functional anatomical traits; Functional foods & nutraceuticals; Hormesis; Ionizing radiation; Isoflavones; Light quality; Liquid chromatography; Polyphenols; Radiation; Radiation effects; Terrestrial environments; Wavelengths; White light; Antioxidants; Polyphenols; Functional anatomical traits; Astronaut diet; Flavonoids; Isoflavones
• ISSN: 0094-5765; 1879-2030
• DOI: 10.1016/j.actaastro.2021.05.007

Sprouts are nutritious food, easy to produce even in extra-terrestrial platforms, where the exposure to ionising radiation can alter their morpho-anatomical traits and phytochemical content. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether sprout production under specific light wavelengths can mitigate the negative effects of radiation and/or stimulate the induction of hormesis. Germinated seeds, with actively proliferating cells, of mung bean were irradiated with increasing X-ray doses (0–20 Gy) and then incubated in controlled conditions under four different light regimes: dark (D), white light (W), red light (R), red-blue light (RB). Morpho-anatomical development of the sprouts was investigated through light-microscopy and their content of flavonoids and isoflavones was quantified by HPLC. Two significant conclusions emerged: 1) RB wavelength induces hormesis by stimulating the production of antioxidant compounds; 2) R wavelength offsets the harmful effects of radiation on morpho-anatomical traits, even at the highest X-ray dose. •Light quality modulates plants response to ionising radiation.•Light quality and X-rays alter sprout anatomical-traits and antioxidant content.•RB light induces hormesis by improving antioxidants even at high radiation doses.•R light offsets the negative effects of ionising radiation in mung bean sprouts.•Early control of light is critical to obtain nutritious mung bean sprouts in Space.