Project Number: 1235-11520-001-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Jul 21, 2001
End Date: Mar 31, 2005

Objective:
Identify effects of atmospheric C02, solar radiation, temperature, air quality, and soil moisture or nutrition on putative phytonutrients in crops; assess implication of environmental stress and global change on crop nutritional value. Identify and evaluate cultural practices for controlled environment agriculture that affect the types or amounts of phytochemicals. Develop improved methods to measure the content and bioactivity of phytonutrients and their breakdown or metabolic products.

Approach:
Interactions between atmospheric C02 levels and multiple environmental stresses (both chronic and acute) will be investigated in controlled environments, adjusting or monitoring atmospheric C02, soil moisture and pH, mineral nutrition, actual or simulated solar radiation, temperature, and tropospheric ozone. A range of crops will be studied, including soybeans, green leafy vegetables, root crops, small fruits and herbs. Important phytochemical constitutents,including ascorbic acid, carotenoids, flavonoids, sterols, and fatty acids will be extracted from seeds, fruits, leaves, roots, tubers or other plant parts, analyzed enzymatically or by HPLC and inventoried for a range of environments. Antioxidant properties of specific compounds will be assayed to assess qualitative and quantitative changes in composition. Effects of environment on biosynthetic pathways will be evaluated.

Project Team

Britz, Steven Caldwell, Charles

Project Annual Reports

FY 2003   FY 2002   FY 2001