Environmentally friendly fertilizers can enhance yield and bioactive compounds in Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa ssp. pekinensis)

The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of 3 environmentally friendly fertilizers and their effect on the growth of Chinese cabbage and its contents of bioactive compounds. The following fertilizers were applied: purslane extract, 5% sulfur, and 15% phosphoric acid with 5% calcium. A total of 9, 9, and 11 components were detected for fatty acids, carotenoids, and glucosinolates, respectively. The contents of cis-7 hexadecenoic acid, linoleic acid (C18:2n6c+t), and linolenic acid (C183n3) were generally increased, and also carotenoid amounts of violaxanthin, antheraxanthin, lutein, 13-cis-s-carotene, α-carotene, s-carotene, and 9-cis-s-carotene were significantly increased by fertilizer treatments. All fertilization treatments decreased the amounts of progoitrin, a strong goitrogenic, by 20.9% (H fertilization) to 53.8% (HJ fertilization). Expression analysis of fatty acid, carotenoid, and glucosinolate biosynthesis genes showed that fertilizer treatments affected the accumulation of bioactive components by changing gene expression levels. These environmentally friendly fertilizers can add value to Chinese cabbage by increasing its yield and nutritional value.