β-Carotene Production under Greenhouse Conditions

Abstract

β-carotene is a secondary metabolite that is a hydrocarbon carotene predominantly located in lower concentrations in PS II functioning as a helper to harvest light pigment during photosynthesis and to dissipate excess energy before damage occurs. As other carotenes, β-carotene is uniquely synthesized in plants, algae, fungi and bacteria. βcarotene is the main diet precursor of pro-vitamin A. Additionally, β-carotene serves as an essential nutrient and is in high demand in the market as a natural food colouring agent, as an additive to cosmetics and also as a health food. Several approaches have been carried out in order to increase β-carotene production in algae, bacteria, fungi and plants using biotechnological and engineering focuses. In the case of plants, such species as the tomato have important β-carotene contents, which are theoretically amenable to management using approaches such as fertilization, growth conditions and mild stress. On the other hand, greenhouse structures can protect crops from wind and rain, and can also protect from insects when fitted with insect exclusion screens. β-carotene production could potentially be improved and enhanced in greenhouse conditions in plants as well as in algae, based on the exclusion of the structure, and the possibility of controlling aspects such as climate, fertilization and stress management, among others. Production of βcarotene (and other secondary metabolites) from several organisms in greenhouse conditions should be an interesting future approach, visualizing the greenhouse as a “factory” in frontier technologies such as biotechnology and mechatronics in order to optimize this production.