Lighting Patterns Regulate Flowering and Improve the Energy Use Efficiency of Calendula Cultivated in Plant Factories with Artificial Lighting

Calendula is an edible flower with highly beneficial bioactive compounds for human health. Environmental factors such as light influence flower yield and quality. Calendula is cultivated under controlled environments in plant factories with artificial lighting (PFALs), which enhance its productivity...

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Main Authors: Maitree Munyanont, Na Lu, Dannisa Fathiya Rachma, Thanit Ruangsangaram, Michiko Takagaki
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Agriculture
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/14/12/2208
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author Maitree Munyanont
Na Lu
Dannisa Fathiya Rachma
Thanit Ruangsangaram
Michiko Takagaki
author_facet Maitree Munyanont
Na Lu
Dannisa Fathiya Rachma
Thanit Ruangsangaram
Michiko Takagaki
author_sort Maitree Munyanont
collection DOAJ
description Calendula is an edible flower with highly beneficial bioactive compounds for human health. Environmental factors such as light influence flower yield and quality. Calendula is cultivated under controlled environments in plant factories with artificial lighting (PFALs), which enhance its productivity. However, electricity is the main operating cost, with fees based on the time of use in some countries. This study aimed to investigate the effects of lighting patterns on calendula growth and yield. Two varieties of calendula seedlings were cultivated in a PFAL and subjected to six different lighting patterns, i.e., 6 h/6 h, 12 h/12 h, 6 h/2 h, and 18 h/6 h (light/dark) and two continuous lighting patterns with varying light intensities (24 h-200 and 24 h-400). The results indicated that plants cultivated under the 6 h/2 h, 18 h/6 h, 24 h-200, and 24 h-400 conditions showed a more rapid appearance of the first flower bud than those cultivated under the 6 h/6 h and 12 h/12 h conditions. The number of flowers and the fresh and dried weights tended to increase with a longer photoperiod. Interestingly, the total carotenoid content (TCC) of “Citrus Orange” increased under 6 h/6 h and 12 h/12 h conditions compared with the others. For “Orange Gem”, continuous lighting (24 h) increased the total phenolic content (TPC) and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity in flowers compared with the 6 h/6 h 12 h/12 h, and 6 h/2 h treatments. The energy use efficiency (EUE) under the 24 h-200 condition was the highest in terms of flower yield and secondary metabolite production. These results suggest that lighting patterns can be used to modulate the growth and flowering of calendula and to maximize EUE.
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publishDate 2024-12-01
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spelling doaj-art-be6dd943c7f244c98d3e1fa7d2095e212024-12-27T14:03:01ZengMDPI AGAgriculture2077-04722024-12-011412220810.3390/agriculture14122208Lighting Patterns Regulate Flowering and Improve the Energy Use Efficiency of Calendula Cultivated in Plant Factories with Artificial LightingMaitree Munyanont0Na Lu1Dannisa Fathiya Rachma2Thanit Ruangsangaram3Michiko Takagaki4Graduate School of Horticulture, Chiba University, 648 Matsudo, Matsudo 271-8510, Chiba, JapanCenter for Environment, Health and Field Sciences, Chiba University, 6-2-1 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa 277-0882, Chiba, JapanGraduate School of Horticulture, Chiba University, 648 Matsudo, Matsudo 271-8510, Chiba, JapanGraduate School of Horticulture, Chiba University, 648 Matsudo, Matsudo 271-8510, Chiba, JapanGraduate School of Horticulture, Chiba University, 648 Matsudo, Matsudo 271-8510, Chiba, JapanCalendula is an edible flower with highly beneficial bioactive compounds for human health. Environmental factors such as light influence flower yield and quality. Calendula is cultivated under controlled environments in plant factories with artificial lighting (PFALs), which enhance its productivity. However, electricity is the main operating cost, with fees based on the time of use in some countries. This study aimed to investigate the effects of lighting patterns on calendula growth and yield. Two varieties of calendula seedlings were cultivated in a PFAL and subjected to six different lighting patterns, i.e., 6 h/6 h, 12 h/12 h, 6 h/2 h, and 18 h/6 h (light/dark) and two continuous lighting patterns with varying light intensities (24 h-200 and 24 h-400). The results indicated that plants cultivated under the 6 h/2 h, 18 h/6 h, 24 h-200, and 24 h-400 conditions showed a more rapid appearance of the first flower bud than those cultivated under the 6 h/6 h and 12 h/12 h conditions. The number of flowers and the fresh and dried weights tended to increase with a longer photoperiod. Interestingly, the total carotenoid content (TCC) of “Citrus Orange” increased under 6 h/6 h and 12 h/12 h conditions compared with the others. For “Orange Gem”, continuous lighting (24 h) increased the total phenolic content (TPC) and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity in flowers compared with the 6 h/6 h 12 h/12 h, and 6 h/2 h treatments. The energy use efficiency (EUE) under the 24 h-200 condition was the highest in terms of flower yield and secondary metabolite production. These results suggest that lighting patterns can be used to modulate the growth and flowering of calendula and to maximize EUE.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/14/12/2208pot marigoldedible flowerLEDslight cycleartificial lighting
spellingShingle Maitree Munyanont
Na Lu
Dannisa Fathiya Rachma
Thanit Ruangsangaram
Michiko Takagaki
Lighting Patterns Regulate Flowering and Improve the Energy Use Efficiency of Calendula Cultivated in Plant Factories with Artificial Lighting
Agriculture
pot marigold
edible flower
LEDs
light cycle
artificial lighting
title Lighting Patterns Regulate Flowering and Improve the Energy Use Efficiency of Calendula Cultivated in Plant Factories with Artificial Lighting
title_full Lighting Patterns Regulate Flowering and Improve the Energy Use Efficiency of Calendula Cultivated in Plant Factories with Artificial Lighting
title_fullStr Lighting Patterns Regulate Flowering and Improve the Energy Use Efficiency of Calendula Cultivated in Plant Factories with Artificial Lighting
title_full_unstemmed Lighting Patterns Regulate Flowering and Improve the Energy Use Efficiency of Calendula Cultivated in Plant Factories with Artificial Lighting
title_short Lighting Patterns Regulate Flowering and Improve the Energy Use Efficiency of Calendula Cultivated in Plant Factories with Artificial Lighting
title_sort lighting patterns regulate flowering and improve the energy use efficiency of calendula cultivated in plant factories with artificial lighting
topic pot marigold
edible flower
LEDs
light cycle
artificial lighting
url https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/14/12/2208
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AT dannisafathiyarachma lightingpatternsregulatefloweringandimprovetheenergyuseefficiencyofcalendulacultivatedinplantfactorieswithartificiallighting
AT thanitruangsangaram lightingpatternsregulatefloweringandimprovetheenergyuseefficiencyofcalendulacultivatedinplantfactorieswithartificiallighting
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