Radish Microgreen Metabolomic Profile in Response to Zinc Biofortification and Light Intensity
Pradip Poudel, Kristen A. Jeffries, Jinhe Bai, Christina Dorado, Erin N. Rosskopf, Francesco Di Gioia
Abstract
Zinc deficiency is a global health issue, and agronomic biofortification is a promising strategy to enhance the bioaccessibility of Zn in edible crops. Microgreens, with their short growth cycle, high nutrient-density, and low antinutrient content, are ideal candidates for Zn-enrichment via fertigation. While controlled environments allow light modulation to optimize yield and quality, limited information exists on how Zn-enrichment and light together influence metabolite biosynthesis. This study evaluated metabolic responses in radish microgreens grown under varying Zn (0–15 mg/L) and light intensity (100–400 μmol/m 2 /s) levels using targeted metabolomics. High light intensity increased flavonoid and phenolic-acid levels, suggesting enhanced antioxidant responses, while reducing amino acids and glucosinolates, indicating a resource shift toward stress mitigation. Zn enrichment modulated phenylpropanoid, nitrogen, and energy metabolism, increasing specific flavonoids, phenolic acids, essential amino acids, and ATP. These findings provide insights into optimizing Zn- and light inputs to produce biofortified, nutrient-rich microgreens with improved functional-food potential.