Marina De Bonis

Introduction: The productive and morphological effects of monocramatic light applied during Pleurotus cultivation are not well known; a deep understanding of the light’s effect could be suitable for a production protocol of this crop in a protected environment. Methods: This study investigates the effects of different light wavelengths and substrates on the production and nutritional values of Pleurotus ostreatus . Using two substrates—wheat straw (WS) and a mixture of wheat straw and cottonseed hulls (WS+CH)—the experiment evaluated productive traits, morphological characteristics, and biofortification potential under five lighting conditions: red, blue, red-blue, white, and dark. Results and Discussion: The results demonstrated significant influences of both light and substrate treatments on yield and quality. Higher production was observed under blue, red-blue and white light treatments (> 0.300 kg kg ^-1 ) compared to red and dark lights. Blue light also enhanced cap size and yield. In contrast, red light was less effective in improving production but increased vitamin D2 biosynthesis. The WS+CH substrate under red light achieved the highest vitamin D ₂ content (123 µg kg ^-1 dry weight). Nutritional analysis revealed that protein content ranged from 19.8% to 27.3%, with WS+CH outperforming WS (25.4% vs 19.8%). Glutamic and aspartic acids were the prevalent amino acids, which may contribute to the umami flavor, whereas histidine and valine levels were significantly increased by blue light treatments. In conclusion, controlled application of specific light wavelengths during cultivation significantly enhances both the morphological development and nutritional quality of Pleurotus ostreatus , demonstrating benefits beyond post-harvest treatment. Blue and red light play complementary roles in promoting fruiting body growth and biofortification. Additionally, the choice of substrate substantially influences yield and nutritional composition, underscoring its critical role in optimizing mushroom production systems.

Edible mushrooms are often regarded as a sustainable source of proteins, and several studies have sought to further improve the sustainability of this production. The vertical farming (VF) system could help to reduce the environmental impact during the cultivation of this crop. This study aimed to evaluate whether a VF cultivation system could increase the production and sustainability of Pleurotus species. In this study, P. cornucopiae (PC) and P. ostreatus (PO) were cultivated in a VF system using four-layer iron shelves arranged both individually and in combined configurations in the mushrooms greenhouse; a randomized block design with three replicates for each treatment was used. The impact of shelf layers on the productive traits of these crops was also evaluated, comparing upper layers to the ground layer (Control). In addition, a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) analysis was carried out to compare the environmental impact of VF and a conventional cultivation system for PO. The results demonstrated that the shelf layer influenced primordia formation, yield, and morphological characteristics. PC exhibited optimal growth in the upper layers, whereas PO performed better in the lower layers, reflecting their respective temperature preferences. The shelf configuration affected light exposure and primordia induction but did not significantly influence overall yield or morphology. The VF system had a lower overall environmental burden, in particular, considering the climate change impact (−27%) and fossil fuel consumption (−37%) compared to conventional cultivation. Among the phases, substrate production had the highest impact due to the higher substrate needed. In conclusion, VF for Pleurotus production enhanced both the productivity and the sustainability of this crop, but further study regarding the economic analysis of this system is needed to assess the industrial application of this system.

BACKGROUND: Spent mushrooms substrate is the most important waste generated by edible mushrooms industry and can be re‐used as organic fertilizer, following sustainable production principles. In the present study, Spent Pleurotus substrate (SPS) was used for organic fertilization of baby leaf production during two consecutive cycles (1st: October to December; 2nd: December to March) using two variety of lettuce (Doge and Imperiale). Different amounts of SPS in a mix with chemical fertilizers were applied: 100% SPS to fulfil the N needs of the crop and 50% of mineral N (T100 + 50), 200% SPS to fulfil the double N needs (T200) and 200% SPS to fulfil the N needs of the crop and 50% of mineral N (T200 + 50). SPS treatments were compared with an unfertilized control (T0) and chemical fertilization treatments. The crops coverage, Soil Plant Analysis Development index (i.e. SPAD) and yield were monitored during each cycle and soil samples were analysed to observe the effect of SPS on soil fertility.RESULTS: Among SPS treatments, T100 + 50, which combined 50% mineral fertilization with SPS, yielded the best productive results among SPS treatments. This combination improved nutrient availability, whereas higher SPS concentrations (T200, T200 + 50) reduced yields due to nitrogen immobilization. The high initial soil nitrogen content limited significant changes in soil nitrogen, but SPS improved soil organic matter, active carbon and enzyme activity, enhancing microbial activity. Among the two lettuce varieties a difference in nitrogen uptake and utilization was observed.CONCLUSION: Overall, the study highlights the potential of raw SPS as a sustainable organic fertilizer for baby leaf cultivation. Incorporating SPS alongside half of the crop's mineral nitrogen requirement offers a promising alternative to conventional mineral fertilization. After just two crop cycles, this approach maintains a good yield at the same time as enhancing soil organic matter and enzymatic activity, ultimately improving soil fertility. © 2025 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Non-thermal plasma technology (NTP) has found widespread applications across several fields, including agriculture. Researchers have explored the use of NTP to improve plant growth and increase agricultural product quality using plasma-activated water (PAW). This technology has shown potential benefits in boosting seed germination, promoting plant growth, as an effective defense against plant pathogens, and increasing systemic plant resistance. An experiment was set up over three different cultivation cycles to investigate the benefits of PAW administration on nursery production. Plasma-activated water was generated using two NTP intensities (PAW-HI = 600 mV; PAW-LI = 450 mV; CTR = tap water control) and manually applied to plants under greenhouse conditions. The species considered in the current study were tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris L.), cabbage (Brassica oleracea L.), basil (Ocimum basilicum L.), and lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. Longifolia). The following morphological traits were measured at the end of each cycle and for each species: plant height (PH, cm), collar diameter (CD, mm), biomass (g), nutritional status (SPAD index), dry matter (DM, %), and chemical composition. The sturdiness index (SI) was determined by the PH-to-CD ratio. Results indicated a species-specific response to both PAW treatments compared to CTR. The plant height significantly increased in tomato (+11.9%) and cabbage (+5%) under PAW-HI treatment. In contrast, PAW-HI treatment negatively affected the PH in lettuce and basil (−18% and −9%, respectively). Swiss chard showed no significant response to either PAW-LI or PAW-HI treatments. Regarding DM, no significant differences were observed between the PAW treatments and CTR. However, an increase in total N content was detected in plant tissues across all species, except for basil, where no change was observed. The results suggest that PAW treatment has the potential to enhance vegetable nursery production, with species-specific responses observed in crops.

Artificial lighting, primarily employed in crop production, can also be applied to the cultivation of edible mushrooms to enhance productivity and quality. While UV radiation has predominantly been investigated in post-harvest treatments for edible mushrooms, the utilization of different light wavelengths during the cultivation phase remains largely unexplored for many mushroom species. This study aimed to assess the impact of three different light wavelengths 450 nm (B), 610 nm (R), and a combination of these two wavelengths (R + B) on the productive characteristics and quality of Pleurotus ostreatus, cultivated using three straw-based commercial substrates. It was observed that, except for yield, artificial light influenced mushroom growth. Specifically, the application of R light appeared to promote mycelium growth, whereas B light contributed to increase the diameter of fruiting bodies. Additionally, the concentration of vitamin D₂ was higher under both B and R+B light treatments. Interestingly, the light treatments did not affect yield but impacted diameter and various chemical attributes such as EC, total soluble solids, and titratable acidity. In conclusion, exposure to different lighting affected Pleurotus ostreatus physiology and nutritional content.