SPECTRAL COMPOSITION OF LIGHT AS A FACTOR IN THE REGULATION OF PLANT METABOLISM

Abstract

Plants have many evolutionary developed adaptation mechanisms to ensure functional flexibility under the influence of environmental factors, including the synthesis of secondary metabolites that perform various functions in response to environmental changes, growth, and development. Further, these changes can be caused by various environmental factors, which include local geo-climatic, seasonal changes, temperature conditions, lighting, and humidity. All of them affect the accumulation of biomass and the biosynthesis of primary and secondary plant metabolites. The formation of secondary metabolites by plants is considered their adaptive ability to cope with the stressful conditions of a changing environment. Within the framework of this study, the biochemical status of Brassica oleracea var. Sabellica, Lactuca sativa, Petroselinum crispum plants were determined when grown indoors under various light spectral composition. To determine the biochemical status, the plants were analyzed for the content of ascorbic acid, provitamin A, carotenoids and proteins, and their antioxidant activity was also determined. Results of the study revealed that the blue part of the light spectrum induces the accumulation of ascorbic acid, provitamin A, carotenoids and protein in all studied species. Further, it was also reported that Kale cabbage has the highest accumulation of ascorbic acid, proteins, carotenoids, and also has the highest antioxidant activity as compared to the other studied species.