The Impact of LED Spectrum and Supplementary Lighting Duration on Some Physiological Traits and Hypericin content of Hypericum perforatum

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

E. Ghafourian Hozouri Esfahan

M. Azizi

1- Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran 2- Research Institute of Medicinal Plants, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22067/jhs.2021.61538.0

Abstract

Introduction
Medicinal plants are very important in modern healthcare, and the demand for them continues to grow. However, greenhouse production of medicinal plant transplants faces several challenges, including limited light availability. LED lighting has been introduced as a solution to this problem. An LED lamp, or LED light bulb, is an electric light used in fixtures that produces illumination through one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs). LED lamps have a lifespan many times longer than equivalent incandescent lamps, and are significantly more efficient than most fluorescent lamps. Experiments revealed surprising performance and production of vegetables and ornamental plants under LED light sources. Many plant species have been assessed in greenhouse trials to make sure that the quality of biomass and biochemical ingredients of such plants is at least comparable with those grown in field conditions. Plant performance of mint, basil, lentil, lettuce, cabbage, parsley, and carrot was evaluated by assessing overall plant health, vigor, and the effectiveness of LED lighting in promoting growth. Profuse flowering was also observed in selected ornamental species, including primula, marigold, and stock.
 
Materials and Methods
In order to investigate the effect of supplementary LED light on the growth parameters and the amount of active ingredient in Hypericum perforatum L. “Topaz” cultivar, a research was conducted as two independent experiments. The research was set up in a completely randomized design with three replications. The first experiment experienced the extended of day length with 4 hours at the end of the day (started from sunrise to sunset). LED treatments were started at 10 cm height of the transplants. The second experiment examined the light types. In this order the considered treatments consisted of four levels of red light (L₁), blue light (L₂), combination of 67% red light and 33% blue light (L₃), white (L₄), 100% natural light(L₅), with an intensity equal to (200 fc). Measurement of traits in the first experiment was carried out at flowering stage. Shoots fresh and dry weights, number of black nodes, days to flowering, leaf area, total chlorophyll, antioxidant activity, total phenol, plant height and hypericine percentage were determined within both experiments.
 
Results and Discussion
The results showed that the simple effect of supplementary combination red and blue light (started from sunrise to sunset) on growth, morphological, physiological and biochemical traits was significant at 1% probability level. The highest plant dry weight was detected in L₃ in the first and second harvests respectively (8.63 g, 66.29 g). Also, the highest percentage of Hypericine in the first harvest was obtained for L₃ (0.17%). Measurement of the traits in the second experiment was carried out at the seedling stage. Results showed that the simple effect of supplementary combination light (sun exposure and day length increased for 4 hours) had a significant effect (p≤0.01) on growth rate, physiological, morphological and biochemical properties. So that the lowest number of days to flowering (early flowering) was obtained from L₃ treatment (101 day), and the highest percentage of Hypericin was related to L₃ treatment (0.156%). Black node numbers and total phenol content were increased by 27 and 53 % with supplementary light treatments respectively. Antioxidant activity was also raised and enhanced from 33 % to 75 % with LED light application. Plant height and total chlorophyll content were enhanced from 13 to 23 cm and 12 to 22 mg/g FW as well. Regarding studied traits and the obtained results of the both experiments, the positive effect of applying LED light, red and blue on the growth and biochemical properties, especially the Hypericine percentage and yield of St. John’s wort is quite evident. Different reactions were observed in response to supplementary light treatments for St. John’s wort. Most of the enhancements observed were mainly due to optimized photosynthesis activities and more metabolic production processes.
 
Conclusion
Regarding studied traits and the obtained results of the both experiments, the positive effect of applying LED light, red and blue on the growth and biochemical properties, especially the Hypericine percentage and yield of St. John’s wort is quite evident. It seems that a combination of red and blue light could be suggested for solving the light limitations and increasing the medicinal plant production for future.

Keywords

Supplementry light

light quality

Hypericum perforatum

Hypericine

Subjects

• Medicinal Plants

---

Authors retain the copyright. This is an open access article distributed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).

References

1.  

   1. Aalipoor, N., Mahdavi, N., Mahmoodi, M., & Ghelichnia, H. (2015). Environmental conditions effect on essential oil quality and quantity of Stachys laxa. Plant Research, 28(3), 213–219.
   2. Al-Chalabi, M. (2015). Vertical farming: Skyscraper sustainability. Sustainable Cities and Society, 18, 74–77 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2015.06.003
   3. Arrieta, J., Reyes, B., Calzada, F., Cedillo-Riverra, R., & Navarrete, A. (2001). Amoebicidal and giardicidal compounds from the leaves of Zanthoxylum liebmannianum. Fitoterapia, 72(3), 295-297. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0367-326X(00)00297-5
   4. Azizi, M., & Omid Beigi, R. (2000a). Study of some environmental and physiological factors on yield and amount of active ingredients of Hypericum in field and in vitro PhD Thesis. pp. 180. Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran. (In Persian)
   5. Baba-Kasai, A., Hara, N., & Takano., M. (2014). Tissue-specific and light-dependent regulation of phytochrome gene expression in rice. Plant, Cell and Environment, 37, 2654–2666. https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.12354
   6. Bantis, F., Ouzounis, T., & Radoglou, K. (2016). Artificial LED lighting enhances growth characteristics and total phenolic content of Ocimum basilicum, but variably affects transplant success. Scientia Horticulturae, 198, 277-283. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2015.11.014
   7. Bernath, J. (2000). Medicinal and aromatic plants. Budapest: Mezo Publishing. pp. 667
   8. Bruneton, J. (1995). Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry, Medicinal Plants. Lavoisier Publ. Londres, New York, pp. 405-466.
   9. Burits, M., & Bucar, F. (2000). Antioxidant activity of Nigella sativa essential oil. Phytotherapy Research, 14(5), 323-328.‏ https://doi.org/10.1002/1099-1573(200008)14:5<323::AID-PTR621>3.0.CO;2-Q
   10. Choi, H.G., Moon, B.Y., & Kang, N.J. (2015). Effects of LED light on the production of strawberry during cultivation in a plastic greenhouse and in a growth chamber. Scientia Horticulturae, 189, 22-31 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2015.03.022
   11. Currey, J., & Lopez, R.G. (2013). Cutting of impatient, Pelargunium and Petunia propagated under light-emitting diodes and high-pressure sodium lamp have vomparable growth morphology, gas exchange and post transplant performance. HortScience, 48(4), 428-434. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.48.4.428
   12. Dere, S., Gunes, T., & Sivaci, R. (1998). Spectrophotometric determination of chlorophyll - a, b and total carotenoid contents of some algae species using different solvents. Journal of Botany, 22, 13-17.
   13. Dias, A.C. (2003). The potential of in vitro cultures of Hypericum perforatum and of Hypericum androsaemum to produce interesting pharmaceutical compounds. In Hypericum: The genus Hypericum. 137. Amsterdam: Harwood Academic Publishers.
   14. Donald, P.B., & Gawienowski, M.C. (2001). Differential effects of light and nitrogen on production of hypericins and leaf glands in Hypericum perforatum. Plant physiology and Biochemistry, 39(12), 1075-1081. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0981-9428(01)01326-2
   15. Fan, X.X., Xu, Z.G., Liu, X.Y., Tang, C.M., Wang, L.W., & Han, X. L. (2013). Effects of light intensity on the growth and leaf development of young tomato plants grown under a combination of red and blue light. Scientia Horticulturae, 153, 50–55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2013.01.017
   16. Fausey, B.A., Heins, R.D., & Cameron, A.C. (2005). Daily light integral affects flowering and quality of greenhouse-grown Achillea, Gaura, and Lavandula. HortScience, 40(1), 114-118. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.40.1.114
   17. Folta, K.M., & Childers, K.S. (2008). Light as a growth regulator: Controlling plant biology with narrow band width solid-state lighting systems. HortScience, 43, 1957–1964. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.43.7.1957
   18. Fukuda, N., & Olsen, J.E. (2011). Effects of light quality under red and blue light emitting diodes on growth and expression of FBP28 in Petunia. Acta Horticulturae, 907, 361–366. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2011.907.59
   19. Gao, , Bjork, L., Trajkovski, V., & Uggla, M. (2000). Evaluation of antioxidant activities of rosehip ethanol extracts in different test systems. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 80, 2021–2027. https://doi.org/10.1002/1097-0010(200011)80:14%3C2021::AID-JSFA745%3E3.0.CO;2-2
   20. Gautam, P., Terfa, M.T., Olsen, J.E., & Torre, S. (2015). Red and blue light effects on morphology and flowering of Petunia× hybrida. Scientia Horticulturae, 184, 171-178. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2015.01.004
   21. Goins, G.D., Yorio, C., Sanwo-Lewandowski, M.M., & Brown, C.S. (1998). Life cycle experiments with Arabidopsis grown under red light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Life Support and Biosphere Science: International Journal of Space Science and Engineering, 5, 143–149.
   22. Heo, J., Lee, C., Chakrabarty, D., & Paek, K. (2002). Growth responses of marigold and salvia bedding plants as affected by monochromic or mixture radiation provided by a light-emitting diode (LED). Plant Growth Regulation, 38(3), 225-230. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021523832488
   23. Heydarizade, P., Zahedi, M., & Sabzalian, M. (2013). LED light effects on yield, essential oil percentage and antioxidant enzymes activity in peppermint (Mentha piperita). Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 25(4), 13–24. (In Persian)
   24. Hirai, T., Amaki, W., & Watanabe, H. (2006). Action of blue or red monochromatic light on stem internodal growth depends on plant species. V International Symposium on Artificial Lighting in Horticulture, 711. pp. 345-350. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2006.711
   25. Hoenecke, M.E., Bula, R.J., & Tibbitts, T.W. (1992). Importance of blue photon levels for lettuce seedling grown under red-light-emitting diodes. HortScience, 27(5), 427-430. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.27.5.427
   26. Iran Flora. (2000). Hypericaceae Family (Guttiferae), No. 27, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands. (In Persian)
   27. Jeong, W., Hogewoning, S.H., & Ieperen, W.V. (2014). Responses of supplemental blue light on flowering and stem extension growth of cut Chrysanthemum. Scientia Hirticulture, 165, 69-74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2013.11.006
   28. Johkan, M., Shoji, K., Goto, F., Hashida, S., & Yoshihara, T. (2010). Blue light-emitting diode light irradiation of seedlings improves seedling quality and growth after transplanting in red leaf lettuce. HortScience, 45, 1809–1814. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.45.12.1809
   29. Katsuda, T., Shimahara, K., Shiraishi, H., Yamagami, K., Ranjbar, R., & Katoh, S. (2006). Effect of flashing light from blue light emitting diodes on cell growth and a staxanthin production of Haematococcus pluvialis. Journal of Bioscience and Bioengineering, 102, 442–446. https://doi.org/10.1263/jbb.102.442
   30. Kenneth, E. (1992). Light‐quality effects on Arabidopsis Red, blue and far‐red regulation of flowering and morphology. Physiologia Plantarum, 86(3), 439-444. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1399-3054.1992.tb01341.x
   31. Kim, H.H., Goins, G.D., Wheeler, R.M., & Sager, J.C. (2004). Green-light supplementation for enhanced lettuce growth under red-and blue-light-emitting diodes. HortScience, 39(7), 1617-1622. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.39.7.1617
   32. Lefsrud, M.G., Kopsell, D.A., & Sams, C. (2008). Irradiance from distinct wave-length light emitting diodes affect secondary metabolites in kale. HortScience, 43, 2243–2244. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.43.7.2243
   33. Li, H., Tang, C., & Xu, Z., (2013). The effects of different light qualities on rapeseed (Brassica napus) plantlet growth and morphogenesis in vitro. Scientia Horticulturae, 150, 117–124. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2012.10.009
   34. Lopez, R.G., & Runkle, R. (2008). Photosynthetic daily light integral during propagation influences rooting and growth of cuttings and subsequent development of New Guinea impatiens and petunia. HortScience, 43, 2052-2059. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.43.7.2052
   35. Oh, , Runkel, E.S., & Warner, R.M. (2010). Timing and duration of supplemental lighting during the seedling stage influence quality and flowering in petunia and pansy. Hort Science, 45(9), 1332–1337. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.45.9.1332
   36. Omid Beigi, R. (1999). Production and Processing of Medicinal Plants. 4^th Astan Qods Razavi Press, Mashhad, Iran. In Persian.
   37. Ouzounis, T., Fretté, X., Ottosen, C.O., & Rosenqvist, E. (2015). Spectral effects of LEDs on chlorophyll fluorescence and pigmentation in Phalaenopsis ‘Vivien’and ‘Purple Star’. Physiologia plantarum, 154(2), 314-327. https://doi.org/10.1111/ppl.12300
   38. Park, S.Y., Lee, J.G., Cho, H.S., Seong, E.S., Kim, H.Y., Yu, C.Y., & Kim, J.K. (2013). Metabolite profiling approach for assessing the effects of colored light-emitting diode lighting on the adventitious roots of ginseng ('Panax ginseng'CA Mayer). Plant Omics, 6(3), 224.‏
   39. Randall, W.C., & Lopez, G. (2014). Comparison of supplemental lighting from high-pressure sodium lamps and light-emitting diodes during. Bedding plant seedling production. HortScience, 49(5), 589–595. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.49.5.589
   40. Riikonen, J., Kettunen, N., Gritsevich, M., Hakala, T., Sarkka, L., & Tahvonen, R. (2016). Growth and development of Norway spruce and Scots pine seedlings under different light Environmental and Experimental, 121, 112-120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envexpbot.2015.06.006
   41. Salehi Sourmaghi, M.H. (2007). Medicinal herbs and plants therapy. Tehran: Donyayeh Taghzyeh.
   42. Samuoliene, , Sirtautas, R., Brazaityte, A., Sakalauskaite, J., Sakalauskiene, S., & Duchovskis, P. (2011). The impact of red and blue light emitting diode illumination on radish physiological indices. Central European Journal of Biology, 6(5), 821-828. https://doi.org/10.2478/s11535-011-0059-z
   43. Shakeri, M., & Farzane, A. (2010). The effects of light quality and quantity (light management) on growth and yield of greenhouse plants. The Preoceeding of the First National Hydroponic and Greenhouse Productions. Isfahan Industrial University, Isfahan, Iran.
   44. Singh, , & Pal, A. (2006). Hypericin-A naphthodianthrone from Hypericum perforatum. European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 62, 225-33.
   45. Stutte, G.W., Edney, S., & Skerritt, T. (2009). Photoregulation of bioprotectant content of red leaf lettuce with light-emitting diodes. HortScience, 44(1), 79-82. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.44.1.79
   46. Takemiya, A., Inoue, S.I., Doi, M., Kinoshita, T., & Shimazaki, K.I. (2005). Phototropins promote plant growth in response to blue light in low light environments. The Plant Cell, 17(4), 1120-1127. https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.104.030049
   47. Terfa, M.T., Solhaug, K.A., Gislerod, H.R., Olsen, E., & Torre, S. (2013). A high proportion of blue light increases the photosynthesis capacity and leaf formation rate of Rose × hybrida but does not affect time to flower opening. Physiologia Plantarum, 148, 146-159. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1399-3054.2012.01698.x
   48. Urbonaviciute, A., Samuoliene, G., Brazaityte, A., Ulinskaite, R., Jankauskiene, J., Duchovskis, P., & Zukauskas, A. (2008). The possibility to control the metabolism of green vegetables and sprouts using light emitting diode illumination. Sodininkyste ir Darzininkyste, 27, 83-92.
   49. Whitelam, G., & Halliday, K. (2007). Light and Plant Development. Blackwell Publishing, Oxford, p. 313.
   50. World Health Organization. (1998). Regulatory situation of herbal medicines. Geneva: World Health Organization.
   51. Wu, M.C., Hou, C.Y., Jiang, C.M., Wang, Y.T., Wang, C.Y., Chen, H.H., & Chang, H.M. (2007). A novel approach of LED light radiation improves the antioxidant activity of pea seedlings. Food Chemistry, 101(4), 1753-1758. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2006.02.010
   52. Yorio, N.C., Goins, G.D., Kagie, H.R., Wheeler, R.M., & Sager, J.C. (2001). Improving spinach, radish, and lettuce growth under red light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with blue light supplementation. HortScience, 36(2), 380-383. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.36.2.380
   53. Zargari (1993). Medical Plants. 6th ed. Tehran: Tehran University of Medical Sciences. 440 p.