Effect of magnesium sulphate biofortification in soilless production of microgreens

Adam Fuchsbauer; Aleš Jezdinský; Robert Pokluda

doi:10.2478/fhort-2026-0006

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Effect of magnesium sulphate biofortification in soilless production of microgreens

Folia Horticulturae

Volume 38 (2026): Issue 1 (August 2026)

By: Adam Fuchsbauer, Aleš Jezdinský and Robert Pokluda

Open Access

|Jul 2026

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of five concentrations of magnesium sulphate on selected microgreen species. Six plant species – broccoli, mustard, cress, basil, sunflower and cucumber – were treated with MgSO₄ solutions containing magnesium at concentrations of 0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 mg · L⁻¹. The content of water-soluble magnesium and calcium, fresh yield, dry matter content, vitamin C, total phenols, flavonoids and antioxidant activity were evaluated in all species. Biofortification significantly increased (p < 0.05) the Mg content in all tested species without negatively affecting yield. The highest water-soluble magnesium content (after the application of 50 mg · L⁻¹) was observed in cucumber (1076 mg · kg⁻¹ FW), while the lowest was found in sunflower (369 mg · kg⁻¹ FW). Compared with the control, the application of 50 mg · L⁻¹ increased the magnesium content in plants by 67% in mustard, 81% in sunflower, 137% in broccoli, 172% in cress, 186% in cucumber and 262% in basil. Furthermore, 50 mg Mg · L⁻¹ significantly enhanced (p < 0.05) total phenol content, flavonoids, vitamin C and antioxidant activity in broccoli.

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Articles in this issue

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/fhort-2026-0006 | Journal eISSN: 2083-5965 | Journal ISSN: 0867-1761

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Language: English

Page range: 71 - 89

Submitted on: Oct 27, 2025

Published on: Jul 22, 2026

Published by: Polish Society for Horticultural Sciences (PSHS)

In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services

Publication frequency: 2 issues per year

Keywords:

functional food,

magnesium,

nutritional quality,

phytochemical analysis

Related subjects:

Life sciences,

Plant science

© 2026 Adam Fuchsbauer, Aleš Jezdinský, Robert Pokluda, published by Polish Society for Horticultural Sciences (PSHS)
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Volume 38 (2026): Issue 1 (August 2026)