A Comprehensive Review of Micronutrients and Their Implications on Vegetable Quality
Swagat Ranjan Behera
*
Department of Vegetable Science, College of Agriculture, Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand-263145, India.
Madhuri Bhatt
Department of Vegetable Science, College of Agriculture, Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand-263145, India.
Arti Gairola
Department of Vegetable Science, College of Agriculture, Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand-263145, India.
Sheetal Rana
Department of Agriculture and Soil Conservation, New Tehri, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Uttarakhand, India.
Ankita Mohapatra
Department of Vegetable Science, College of Agriculture, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha-751003, India.
Diksha Joshi
Department of Soil Science, College of Agriculture, Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand-263145, India.
Aparna Tripathy
Department of Horticulture (Vegetable Science), College of Agriculture, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, Assam-785013, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This review provides a thorough understanding of the role of micronutrients in vegetable quality. Vegetable quality is crucial because it has a direct impact on consumer preferences, market value, and sustainability in general. Since micronutrients influence crop growth, development and quality, they are of paramount importance for plant nutrition. The properties of micronutrients, their functions in plant/crop growth and development, and the most common micronutrient deficiencies in vegetable crops were examined by this study. The effects of micronutrients on the quality of vegetables are also highlighted, including enhanced nutritional content and bioactive compounds; increased quality parameters like shape, size, colour and flavour; decreased postharvest losses and prolonged shelf-life. Concerns about sustainable and effective micronutrient utilisation, as well as future research objectives, are examined, along with practical implications and suggestions for micronutrient management systems. This review highlights the role of micronutrients in improving the quality of vegetables, as well as the possible impact of further research on this topic.
Keywords: Micronutrients, vegetable quality, nutritional value, hidden hunger, application methods