Abstract
The spectral quality and intensity of light, photoperiodism, and other environmental factors have profound impacts on the metabolic composition of light-dependent higher plants. Hence, we investigate the effects of fluorescent light (96 μmol m−2s−1) and white (100 μmol m−2s−1), blue (100 μmol m−2s−1), and red (93 μmol m−2s−1) light-emitting diode (LED) light irradiation on the C-glycosylflavone and policosanol contents in young seedlings of wheat and barley. Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) analyses of C-glycosylflavone contents in barley reveal that the saponarin content is significantly enhanced under blue LED light irradiation. Under similar conditions, isoorientin and isoschaftoside contents are improved in wheat seedlings. The contents of these C-glycosylflavones differed along with the light quality and growth period. The highest accumulation was observed in sprouts after three days under blue LED light irradiation. GC/MS analyses of policosanol contents showed that 1-hexacosanol (C26:o–OH) in barley and 1-octacosanol (C28:o–OH) in wheat seedlings were reduced under LED light irradiation, compared to seedlings under fluorescent light conditions. Nonetheless, the policosanol contents gradually improved with the extension of growth times and treatments, irrespective of the light quality. Additionally, a positive correlation was observed between the expression pattern of biosynthesis-related genes and the respective metabolite content in barley. This study demonstrates that blue LED light irradiation is useful in maximizing the C-glycosylflavone content in barley and wheat sprouts.
Highlights
Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the staple food grains for approximately 40% of the global population [1]
The changes in saponarin, isoorientin, and isoschaftoside content in sprouts treated with different light qualities (FL and white, blue, or red light-emitting diode (LED) irradiation) were measured using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) in plant materials harvested after
Phytochromes and cryptochromes are the specialized photoreceptors of plants that sense the spectral quality and quantity, transducing the light signal to regulate genes responsible for secondary metabolite production [30]
Summary
Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the staple food grains for approximately 40% of the global population [1]. It ranks third in terms of global production and its nutritional importance in the human diet has long been investigated [2]. Barley is rich in biologically active molecules/metabolites, which are essential for plants. These metabolites have the potential to exhibit health benefits in the human diet. Or its extracts have shown powerful antioxidant effects as dietary supplements for humans These antioxidant effects are mainly attributable to the presence of saponarin, lutonarin, and hexacosanol molecules [3]. Wheat (or its derived products) possesses several beneficial bioactive molecules, including pelargonidin and cyanidin derivatives [15], essential amino acids, fatty acids, flavonoids (e.g., rutin, quercetin, and catechin), vitamin C [16], and policosanols [17]
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