Articles
Production of Catharanthus roseus in vertical farming systems: dynamic analyses of plant morphological responses of nine cultivars to N-UV supplementation
Article number
1337_29
Pages
217 – 224
Language
English
Abstract
Catharanthus roseus is an ornamental and medicinal plant that has been used as a source of natural alkaloids with anti-cancer properties, making it an added-value plant species with potential interest for vertical farming (VF) production.
However, the adaptability and variability of this species to VF conditions has not been properly explored nor the impact of N-UV supplementation on C. roseus growth and development.
The present study aimed to screen the growth capacity of different commercial cultivars under VF conditions and test the impact of N-UV light irradiation on their growth and development.
To this end, nine C. roseus cultivars (Cora Burgundy (C-Burg), Cora Deep Lavender (C-DL), Cora Red (C-Red), Cora XDR Polka dot (C-XDR-Polka), Cora XDR Punch (C-XDR-Punch), Cora XDR White (C-XDR-WHT), Titan Polka Dot (T-Polka), Sunstorm Apricot (S-APR) and Sunstorm Deep Lilac (S-DL)) were grown for 35 days in climate chambers using two different light spectra: i) Control (red (660 nm) + blue (450 nm) in a ratio 4:1, with a total photosynthetic photon flux density of 150 µmol m‑2 s‑1 for 12 h); and ii) supplementary N-UV light (same as control treatment with additional 2 h N-UV (365 nm, 10 mW m‑2)). Final plant height (cm) varied between 4.95 (S-APR) and 7.78 (C-XDR-Wht), whereas the shortest plants were Sunstorm cultivars.
N-UV treatment increased in 22% the final number of internodes in T-Polka, however it has decreased in overall 0.12 cm the Average Internode Length comparing with Control.
T-Polka produced a higher number of buds/flowers under N-UV comparing with both Sunstorm cultivars and C-Red disregarding the light condition.
C-DL needed half of the time to bloom comparing with Sunstorm cultivars.
In conclusion cultivar generated a greater variability on plant morpho-physiological responses while N-UV mainly had no significant effects.
However, the adaptability and variability of this species to VF conditions has not been properly explored nor the impact of N-UV supplementation on C. roseus growth and development.
The present study aimed to screen the growth capacity of different commercial cultivars under VF conditions and test the impact of N-UV light irradiation on their growth and development.
To this end, nine C. roseus cultivars (Cora Burgundy (C-Burg), Cora Deep Lavender (C-DL), Cora Red (C-Red), Cora XDR Polka dot (C-XDR-Polka), Cora XDR Punch (C-XDR-Punch), Cora XDR White (C-XDR-WHT), Titan Polka Dot (T-Polka), Sunstorm Apricot (S-APR) and Sunstorm Deep Lilac (S-DL)) were grown for 35 days in climate chambers using two different light spectra: i) Control (red (660 nm) + blue (450 nm) in a ratio 4:1, with a total photosynthetic photon flux density of 150 µmol m‑2 s‑1 for 12 h); and ii) supplementary N-UV light (same as control treatment with additional 2 h N-UV (365 nm, 10 mW m‑2)). Final plant height (cm) varied between 4.95 (S-APR) and 7.78 (C-XDR-Wht), whereas the shortest plants were Sunstorm cultivars.
N-UV treatment increased in 22% the final number of internodes in T-Polka, however it has decreased in overall 0.12 cm the Average Internode Length comparing with Control.
T-Polka produced a higher number of buds/flowers under N-UV comparing with both Sunstorm cultivars and C-Red disregarding the light condition.
C-DL needed half of the time to bloom comparing with Sunstorm cultivars.
In conclusion cultivar generated a greater variability on plant morpho-physiological responses while N-UV mainly had no significant effects.
Authors
M.S.C. Lourenço, J.E.C. Prada, E. Heuvelink, S.M.P. Carvalho
Keywords
cultivar screening, LEDs, medicinal plants, N-UV radiation, periwinkle, plant factories, plant height
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