Light quality on the in vitro growth and production of pigments in the genus Alternanthera

Abstract

In tissue culture, several chemical and physiological factors can influence the production of secondary metabolites. The growth response and increased secondary metabolite production generated by a high irradiance environment, can be used to determine a favorable habitat for the growth and conservation of medicinal plants. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the influence of light quality on growth and production of secondary metabolites in Alternanthera sessilis (L.) R. Br. ex DC. (sessile joyweed), Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Grisebach (alligatorweed), Alternanthera tenella Colla (joyweed), and Alternanthera brasiliana (L.) Kuntze (Brazilian joyweed) plants cultured in vitro. The species were grown in MS medium, for 45 days in different light qualities (blue, white, and red). Growth parameters and biochemical analysis were performed at the end of the study. The results show that the red light allowed a higher accumulation of biomass in most species; red and white light were great inductors for the production of betacyanin and the blue light favored the enhancement of flavonoids. In this manner, the quality of light can affect the betacyanin, betaxanthin, and flavonoid biosynthesis as well as growth patterns in the related Alternanthera species. Based on the data presented, we suggest that specific genes can encode the pigment production according to the light quality which exhibit distinct activation patterns in different plant species.