Colored cultivation benches increase the production and bioactive compounds in arugula

Eruca sativa makes a significant contribution to human nutrition, as it contains various bioactive components that can help prevent heart disease. The use of colored laminates can interfere with the production of bioactive compounds. This study aimed to evaluate the growth and production of bioactive compounds in arugulas on colored reflective cultivation benches. The experiment was conducted in two protected environments: a greenhouse (covered with low-density polyethylene film and Aluminet®) and a screenhouse (covered and closed at 45 degrees with black monofilament screen). The experiment was conducted with five treatments: T1: control; T2: bench covered with bright white laminate; T3: bench with bright red laminate; T4: bench with bright blue laminate, and T5: bench with bright yellow laminate. Reflective bright Formica® promoted the colors of the benches. The cultivation bench covered with bright white reflective material had the highest reflectance. The cultivation benches covered with white, red, yellow, and blue laminates increased the number of leaves, leaf area, fresh and dry matter of the plant. The benches, covered with blue laminate, increased the production of bioactive compounds, including chlorophylls and carotenoids. Considering the results observed in this study, it can be affirmed that the use of colored cultivation benches yields promising results, as evidenced by the fact that the laminates have a positive influence on the growth and production of bioactive compounds in arugula in both cycles. Regarding the growing environment, although the greenhouse produced better plants, the difference was not significantly different from that of the screenhouse.