Abstract

Brassica sprouts are rich in bioactive compounds and have significant nutritional value. In this study, the effects of sole and combined sucrose and melatonin treatment on the growth, nutritional quality, and antioxidant capacity of Chinese kale sprouts were evaluated. Melatonin effectively alleviated the growth retardation of Chinese kale sprouts caused by sucrose and mannitol and the decrease in the chlorophyll and carotenoid content, thereby increasing the biomass of sprouts. Transcriptome analysis showed that sucrose promoted the accumulation of soluble sugars and anthocyanins by enhancing starch and sucrose metabolism and anthocyanin biosynthesis. The combined treatment of sucrose and melatonin promoted the accumulation of antioxidants and glucosinolates by enhancing phenylpropanoid metabolism and glucosinolate biosynthesis. Metabolomics analysis showed that sucrose significantly up-regulated most sugars and amino acids in sprouts. When biomass was taken into account, the accumulation of antioxidant substances and glucosinolates was highest in the combined sucrose and melatonin treatment. © 2025 The Authors