ASHS 2024 Conference

Phytonutrients in fruits and vegetables are crucial in promoting human health and preventing various diseases. Among these are carotenoids that are found abundantly in green leafy vegetables like kale, which have garnered significant attention due to their numerous health benefits, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Despite kale’s reputation as a nutritional powerhouse, little research has focused on the effect of magnesium fertilization on carotenoid production and accumulation in this vegetable. This study aims to address this gap by investigating the impact of different rates of magnesium fertilization on the carotenoid contents and elemental nutrient levels of three hydroponically grown kale cultivars. The Darkibor, Mamba, and Red Russian kales would be grown hydroponically using Hoagland solution in a greenhouse. Different magnesium rates at 0 mgL-1, 12.3 mgL-1, 24.6 mgL-1 and 59.2 mgL-1 would be used. Carotenoid contents and levels in the three kale varieties will be analyzed using High-performance Liquid Chromatography. Additionally, an Agilent 7500ce inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) system will be used to measure their elementary nutrient levels. Data would be analyzed using the PROC GLM analysis of variance (ANOVA) and regression analysis procedure of the SAS v9.1 software package. At the end of the experiment, it is expected that increased rates of magnesium fertilization will lead to a significant increase in the accumulation of carotenoid and elemental nutrient levels in each kale cultivar. Understanding how magnesium fertilization influences carotenoid accumulation and other nutrient levels in kale could improve nutritional quality, thereby reducing reliance on dietary supplements to address nutrient deficiencies. Keywords: Phytonutrients, Magnesium, Carotenoids, Kale, Antioxidants