Abstract
Adenophora triphylla (Thunb.) A.DC., three-leaf lady bell, is an important medicinal plant used against cancers and obesity. It has been well-established that the temperature regime affects plant growth and development in many ways. However, there is no study available correlating the growth of A. triphylla seedlings with different day and night temperature regimes. In order to find an optimal temperature regime, growth and physiology were investigated in A. triphylla plug seedlings grown in environment-controlled chambers at different day and night temperatures: 20/20 °C (day/night) (TA), 25/15 °C (TB), and 20/15 °C (TC). The seedlings in plug trays were grown under a light intensity of 150 μmol·m−2·s−1 PPFD (photosynthetic photon flux density) provided by white LEDs, a 70% relative humidity, and a 16 h (day)/8 h (night) photoperiod for six weeks. The results showed that the stem diameter, number of roots, and biomass were significantly larger for seedlings in TB than those in TA or TC. Moreover, the contents of total flavonoid, total phenol, and soluble sugar in seedlings grown in TB were markedly higher than those in seedlings in the other two treatments. Soluble protein content was the lowest in seedlings in TC, while starch content was the lowest in seedlings grown in TA. Furthermore, seedlings grown in TB showed significantly lower activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, and guaiacol peroxidase. Native PAGE (polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) analysis further proved low activities of antioxidant isozymes in TB treatment. Meanwhile, the lowest content of hydrogen peroxide was observed in seedlings grown in TB. In conclusion, the results suggested that the 25/15 °C (day/night) temperature regime is the most suitable for the growth and physiological development of A. triphylla seedlings.
Highlights
Adenophora triphylla (Thunb.) A.DC. (Campanulaceae), known as the three-leaf lady bell or the Japanese lady bell, is a species mainly found in Korea, China, Japan, and Russia (Far East and Eastern Siberia)
Our results strongly suggest that seedlings grown in TB treatment are stronger and more compact, implying that TB is the most suitable temperature regime for the growth of A. triphylla seedlings
Our results demonstrated that A. triphylla seedlings grown under 25/15 ◦ C (TB)
Summary
Adenophora triphylla (Thunb.) A.DC. (Campanulaceae), known as the three-leaf lady bell or the Japanese lady bell, is a species mainly found in Korea, China (from northeast to south), Japan, and Russia (Far East and Eastern Siberia). In addition to having ornamental values, A. triphylla is a very important medicinal plant in oriental medicine. It is known as “Sha-shen” in Chinese and “Jan-dae”. The Chinese crude drug “shajin”, extracted from the roots of A. triphylla, is an effective expectorant for the treatment of whooping cough and chronic bronchitis, and its pharmaceutical. Many more medicinal effects of A. triphylla have been reported, such as anti-cancerous, anti-diabetic, and antioxidant [4]. Previous research focused on separation, extract, and characterization of those phytochemicals and on the disease-fighting medicinal mechanisms of A. triphylla [3,8,9,10]. There are no studies available reporting on the growth and physiology of plug seedlings of this species
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