Articles
Exploring the effects of UV-A and UV-C light on Catharanthus roseus cultivars: insights into plant growth and physiology
Article number
1423_22
Pages
163 – 170
Language
English
Abstract
Catharanthus roseus is a medicinal and ornamental plant that has a short cultivation cycle and high commercial value, making it an ideal candidate for vertical farming production.
This study explored the influence of UV-A (365 nm) and UV-C (250 nm) radiation on plant growth and physiology, and their impact in the synthesis of anticancer alkaloid in three C. roseus cultivars (‘Sunstorm Apricot’ (S-APR), ‘Cora-Red’ (C-Red), and ‘Cora-XDR Polka Dot’ (C-XDR Polka)). To this end, plants were exposed in the last five days of a 35 days trial to 10.8 kJ m-2 day‑1 of UV-A and UV-C radiation, following a 12-h red:blue (2:1) photoperiod with 150 μmol m‑2 s‑1. UV-C markedly decreased total dry matter (TDM) by 59%, significantly reduced leaf area and photosynthetic rates by 75 and 80% respectively, indicating a pronounced stress impact.
Conversely, UV-A maintained growth parameters near control levels, suggesting a milder influence.
Importantly, UV-C exposure significantly enhanced the production of anticancer alkaloids by up to 125%, achieving a yield of approximately 0.07 mg plant‑1. However, the increase in alkaloid production came at the cost of significant biomass reduction.
These results underscore the potential of UV-C to enhance alkaloid yields but highlight the need for fine-tuning exposure to optimize alkaloid production without detrimental effects on biomass.
Further research on optimizing UV-C exposure could lead to more effective cultivation strategies in vertical farming.
This study explored the influence of UV-A (365 nm) and UV-C (250 nm) radiation on plant growth and physiology, and their impact in the synthesis of anticancer alkaloid in three C. roseus cultivars (‘Sunstorm Apricot’ (S-APR), ‘Cora-Red’ (C-Red), and ‘Cora-XDR Polka Dot’ (C-XDR Polka)). To this end, plants were exposed in the last five days of a 35 days trial to 10.8 kJ m-2 day‑1 of UV-A and UV-C radiation, following a 12-h red:blue (2:1) photoperiod with 150 μmol m‑2 s‑1. UV-C markedly decreased total dry matter (TDM) by 59%, significantly reduced leaf area and photosynthetic rates by 75 and 80% respectively, indicating a pronounced stress impact.
Conversely, UV-A maintained growth parameters near control levels, suggesting a milder influence.
Importantly, UV-C exposure significantly enhanced the production of anticancer alkaloids by up to 125%, achieving a yield of approximately 0.07 mg plant‑1. However, the increase in alkaloid production came at the cost of significant biomass reduction.
These results underscore the potential of UV-C to enhance alkaloid yields but highlight the need for fine-tuning exposure to optimize alkaloid production without detrimental effects on biomass.
Further research on optimizing UV-C exposure could lead to more effective cultivation strategies in vertical farming.
Authors
M.S.C. Lourenço, B. Neto, E. Heuvelink, V. Freitas, S.M.P. Carvalho
Keywords
medicinal plants, periwinkle, plant stress response, UV radiation, vertical farming, vinblastine, vincristine
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