Lemna as a Sustainable, Highly Nutritious Crop: Nutrient Production in Different Light Environments

Polutchko, Stephanie K.; Stewart, Jared J.; McNamara, Maureen; Garcia, Naiara Doherty; López‐Pozo, Marina; Adams, William W.; Demmig-Adams, Barbara

doi:10.3390/nutraceuticals2040027

Cited by 6 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 103 publications

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“…Overall frond protein content was also lower under elevated CO 2 in the presence of continuous high light (Figure 4j), albeit to a lesser extent than chlorophyll or carotenoid levels. This finding is likely unique to duckweed and is consistent with the role of Ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate Carboxylase/Oxygenase (RuBisCO), the predominant protein in fronds, not only in photosynthesis but also as a vegetative storage protein in duckweed [53] that is maintained at high levels across a wide range of growth light environments [54,55]. This welcome finding thus illustrates the unique ability of duckweed to maintain high protein content under elevated CO 2 .…”

Section: Response Of Inoculated Lemna Plants Under High Light and Amp...supporting

confidence: 74%

“…As stated above, plant carotenoid content-with respect to the important human micronutrients lutein and provitamin A (β-carotene)-is highest under low growth light intensity in duckweed [38,56] as well as other plants. However, unlike terrestrial plants, duckweed can be grown under low light without a decline in RGR and with a maximally high protein content per dry mass [55]. In contrast to land plants, Lemna thus grew similarly fast, with the same light-and CO 2 -saturated photosynthetic capacity and as much protein per frond area (and more per dry biomass), under low versus high growth light intensity [56,57].…”

Section: Multiple Advantages Of Growing Duckweed Under Low Light Inte...mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Lemnaceae as Novel Crop Candidates for CO2 Sequestration and Additional Applications

López-Pozo,

Adams,

Demmig-Adams

2023

Plants

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Atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) is projected to be twice as high as the pre-industrial level by 2050. This review briefly highlights key responses of terrestrial plants to elevated CO2 and compares these with the responses of aquatic floating plants of the family Lemnaceae (duckweeds). Duckweeds are efficient at removing CO2 from the atmosphere, which we discuss in the context of their exceptionally high growth rates and capacity for starch storage in green tissue. In contrast to cultivation of terrestrial crops, duckweeds do not contribute to CO2 release from soils. We briefly review how this potential for contributions to stabilizing atmospheric CO2 levels is paired with multiple additional applications and services of duckweeds. These additional roles include wastewater phytoremediation, feedstock for biofuel production, and superior nutritional quality (for humans and livestock), while requiring minimal space and input of light and fertilizer. We, furthermore, elaborate on other environmental factors, such as nutrient availability, light supply, and the presence of a microbiome, that impact the response of duckweed to elevated CO2. Under a combination of elevated CO2 with low nutrient availability and moderate light supply, duckweeds’ microbiome helps maintain CO2 sequestration and relative growth rate. When incident light intensity increases (in the presence of elevated CO2), the microbiome minimizes negative feedback on photosynthesis from increased sugar accumulation. In addition, duckweed shows a clear propensity for absorption of ammonium over nitrate, accepting ammonium from their endogenous N2-fixing Rhizobium symbionts, and production of large amounts of vegetative storage protein. Finally, cultivation of duckweed could be further optimized using hydroponic vertical farms where nutrients and water are recirculated, saving both resources, space, and energy to produce high-value products.

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Section: Response Of Inoculated Lemna Plants Under High Light and Amp...supporting

confidence: 74%

Section: Multiple Advantages Of Growing Duckweed Under Low Light Inte...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Lemnaceae as Novel Crop Candidates for CO2 Sequestration and Additional Applications

López-Pozo,

Adams,

Demmig-Adams

2023

Plants

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“…Investigations conducted by Appenroth et al [32,54] and our previous study [11] demonstrated similar levels of the analyzed carotenoids. According to Polutchko et al [55] and Stewart et al [56], duckweed production can provide a significant amount of green mass rich in nutrients, containing an attractive mixture of carotenoids and polyphenols, which supports its viability as a feed supplement for animals.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantitative and Qualitative Traits of Duckweed (Lemna minor) Produced on Growth Media with Pig Slurry

et al. 2023

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Duckweed is a plant with high phytoremediation abilities, which is why it is used in the process of cleaning the aquatic environment. The present study aimed to determine the effect of various concentrations of pig slurry added to the growth media used to produce duckweed (Lemna minor) (laboratory Warsaw University of Life Sciences—SGGW) (experimental groups 1–9, pig slurry concentration (%): 1—2.00, 2—1.50, 3—1.00, 4—0.75, 5—0.50, 6—0.25, 7—0.12, 8—0.06, 9—0.03, control group 0—0.00). The contents of nutrients in the growth media could be classified as high (gr. 1–3), optimal (gr. 4–6), and deficient (gr. 7–9). Analyses were conducted for duckweed yield and growth medium parameters (pig slurry concentration, pH, salinity, temperature, TDS, and EC) on days 0, 10, 20, and 30 of the experiment. No growth or poor growth of duckweed were noted in groups 1, 6–9, and 0. In turn, satisfactory yields of duckweed green mass were recorded in groups 3–5, which allowed choosing them for further observations and analyses, including proximate composition (including protein content); contents of Ca, Mg, K, Na, Zn, Cu, Cd, Pb, Al, Cr, and α-tocopherol; and carotenoids—β-carotene, α-carotene, violaxanthin, zeaxanthin, lutein, amino acids, fatty acids as well as N-NH4 and N-NO3. The plant material had an acceptable proximate composition and nutritionally safe analyzed component contents. Appropriate, stable growth medium conditions allowed the production of satisfactory duckweed yields. The study results allowed us to conclude that it is feasible to obtain feed material meeting basic quality standards by maintaining a closed circuit of duckweed culture, and use in the agricultural environment is possible through harnessing pig slurry for its production and ensuring its optimal growth conditions.

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“…This increase in photosynthetic capacity on a frond area basis was associated with a concomitant matching increase in dry biomass per frond area, such that photosynthetic capacity on a dry biomass basis remained the same ( Table 1 ). This response is similar in its time course and features to that of land plants for a comparison of low- versus high-light-grown plants, where photosynthetic capacity and dry biomass per leaf area are greater in high versus low light in proportion with each other, resulting in an unchanged photosynthetic capacity on a dry biomass basis [ 79 ]. It can be concluded that L. minor did undergo acclimatory changes in photosynthetic capacity in response to a sudden increase in nutrient supply in the medium.…”

Section: Acclimation To Other Environmental Factors In Land Plants An...mentioning

confidence: 97%

Terrestrial and Floating Aquatic Plants Differ in Acclimation to Light Environment

López‐Pozo

Adams

Polutchko

et al. 2023

Plants

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The ability of plants to respond to environmental fluctuations is supported by acclimatory adjustments in plant form and function that may require several days and development of a new leaf. We review adjustments in photosynthetic, photoprotective, and foliar vascular capacity in response to variation in light and temperature in terrestrial plants. The requirement for extensive acclimation to these environmental conditions in terrestrial plants is contrasted with an apparent lesser need for acclimation to different light environments, including rapid light fluctuations, in floating aquatic plants for the duckweed Lemna minor. Relevant features of L. minor include unusually high growth rates and photosynthetic capacities coupled with the ability to produce high levels of photoprotective xanthophylls across a wide range of growth light environments without compromising photosynthetic efficiency. These features also allow L. minor to maximize productivity and avoid problems during an abrupt experimental transfer of low-light-grown plants to high light. The contrasting responses of land plants and floating aquatic plants to the light environment further emphasize the need of land plants to, e.g., experience light fluctuations in their growth environment before they induce acclimatory adjustments that allow them to take full advantage of natural settings with such fluctuations.

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Lemna as a Sustainable, Highly Nutritious Crop: Nutrient Production in Different Light Environments

Cited by 6 publications

References 103 publications

Lemnaceae as Novel Crop Candidates for CO2 Sequestration and Additional Applications

Lemnaceae as Novel Crop Candidates for CO2 Sequestration and Additional Applications

Quantitative and Qualitative Traits of Duckweed (Lemna minor) Produced on Growth Media with Pig Slurry

Terrestrial and Floating Aquatic Plants Differ in Acclimation to Light Environment

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