LED lighting makes tomatoes even healthier

LED lighting makes tomatoes even healthier

TOMATOES & LED LIGHTING

We have known for a long time that tomatoes are healthy. The fruit contains a lot of vitamin C, carotenes, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B6 and the minerals potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium. Tomato also contains a coloring agent, namely lycopene. This can protect human cells against the negative influences of nitrogen dioxide. There are also strong indications that the lycopene in the tomato could play a role in cancer protection. Research now shows how fresh vegetables become even healthier; by exposing them to  LED lighting.

VITAMIN C

If the tomato is still growing on the plant and receives extra light thanks to LED lighting, the tomato appears to contain more vitamin C when harvested. Researchers from Wageningen University discovered this by doing research into different tomato varieties and different light intensities. LED lighting was suspended between the tomato plants and around the clusters. Normally the tomatoes hang between and under the leaves, so they hang in the shade. The tomatoes receive extra light with the LED lighting that is placed between the plants.

TOMATO VARIETIES

But which type of tomato is the healthiest of LED lighting? The beef tomato, the vine tomato or the cherry tomato? The researchers investigated different tomato varieties with seeds from different seed companies. The vitamin C value of the tomato that benefits most from LED lighting increased by 100%. The other tomato varieties also showed that the vitamin C value was almost doubled compared to normally grown tomatoes. All types of tomatoes, therefore, benefit almost as much from the exposure to LED lighting. The amount of light required to double the vitamin C value is comparable to about a quarter of the natural light intensity on a sunny day. Even without natural sunlight, healthy tomatoes can be grown!

Whether LED lighting also influences the other nutritional values ​​or the taste of the tomatoes is not yet known and needs further investigation. Whether and when these super tomatoes will be available in the store is unknown.

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