LED-mediated modulation of growth and phytochemicals in vegetable microgreens: from molecular insights to sustainable production

Vegetable microgreens, the seedlings of edible vegetables, are recognized as functional foods with significant potential to contribute to sustainable food systems. Microgreens are well-suited to sustainable intensification strategies due to their rapid growth cycle, high phytonutrient concentration, and adaptability to controlled environment agriculture. In indoor farming, light-emitting diode technology has gained significant attention due to its high energy efficiency, spectral tunability, and precise regulation of plant growth, physiology and metabolism. This review highlights recent advances in understanding the effects of light parameters such as spectrum, intensity, and photoperiod on growth, yield, and the accumulation of bioactive compounds in microgreens. Novel insights from transcriptomic studies suggest that light‑induced regulation of coding and non-coding ribonucleic acids regulates plant physiological and metabolic processes, thereby facilitating the development of species-specific ‘light recipes.’ The review further evaluates the light interactions with abiotic factors, mineral biofortification, and biostimulants as well as their integration into sustainable and circular farming systems.