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Lettuce yield and nutritive value as affected by a biopolymer microparticles application

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is economically the most important leafy vegetable. Beside the high yield, focus is on production of lettuce with high nutritive value, rich in phytochemicals important for the human health. One of the methods to improve agronomic and qualitative traits is the application of microparticles containing chemical or/and biological agent. Based on the known positive effect of biopolymer microparticles on different vegetable species, a study was conducted to test the application of different microparticle formulations on soil-grown lettuce. Eight types of biopolymer microparticles made of sodium alginate as a carrier with or without chitosan coating, with active ingredients (Ca2+, Cu2+, Ca2+/Trichoderma viride, Cu2+/T. viride), T. viride spores suspended in saline solution (0.85%) and untreated control were tested in one-factorial trial with the batavia lettuce cv. ‘Melina’. Microparticles (4 g per plant) were incorporated into soil together with seedlings planting. Lettuce biomass, marketable rosette mass and rendement were not affected by microparticles application. The highest yield (6.82 kg m-2) was obtained by application of T. viride spores and it was significantly higher than yield with application of Ca2+ chitosan alginate (5.48 kg m-2) microparticles. The application of T. viride resulted with significantly higher dry matter content (7.07%) compared to other treatments (5.68-6.27%) and control (6.20%). In comparison to the untreated control and treatment with T. viride spores, significant increase of total chlorophyll (1986 µg g-1 dw), polyphenols (4.58 mg EGK g-1 dw) and flavonoids content (9.65 mg EK g-1 dw), and antioxidant activity (21.92 µmol ET g-1 dw) was recorded for the application of biopolymer microparticles containing the Ca2+. Based on the obtained results, the application of biopolymer microparticles could be recommended in lettuce open field growing with the aim of increasing the phytochemicals content.

biological and chemical agent, controlled release, encapsulation, Lactuca sativa

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