In vitro culture of Achillea millefolium L.: quality and intensity of light on growth and production of volatiles

• Published in: Plant cell, tissue and organ culture tissue and organ culture, 2015-08, Vol.122 (2), p.299-308
• Main Authors: Alvarenga, Ivan Caldeira Almeida, Pacheco, Fernanda Ventorim, Silva, Sâmia Torres, Bertolucci, Suzan Kelly Vilela, Pinto, José Eduardo Brasil Pereira
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Achillea millefolium; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Borneol; Caryophyllene; Chemical composition; Cineole; Constituents; Cubebene; Dry matter; Fluorescent lamps; Life Sciences; Light emitting diodes; Light intensity; Luminous intensity; Original Paper; Pigments; Plant Genetics and Genomics; Plant Pathology; Plant Physiology; Plant Sciences; Rooting; Roots; Sabinene; Shoots; Survival; Volatile compounds; Volatiles; Wavelengths
• ISSN: 0167-6857; 1573-5044
• DOI: 10.1007/s11240-015-0766-7

The influence of different light spectra and intensities was evaluated in an in vitro culture of Achillea millefolium L. (yarrow). The treatments were: use of light emitting diode (LED) lamps in the blue, red, green and white wavelengths, and the intensities of 13; 27; 35; 47 and 69 µmol m −2  s −1 , obtained with a cool fluorescent lamp. At 45 days of culture in hormone-free MS medium, the production of dry matter, survival, rooting, length of shoots and roots, numbers of roots, pigments, as well as volatile constituents, were evaluated. The quality and intensity of light significantly influenced the in vitro growth of yarrow. In the experiment with LEDs, the blue spectrum provided the highest dry matter accumulation, number of roots, percentage of rooting and survival. In different light intensities, 27 µmol m −2  s −1 showed the highest values for the variables analyzed. Thus, blue LED spectrum or cool fluorescent lamp with 27 µmol m −2  s −1 benefits the in vitro growth of yarrow. A variation in number, content and profile of volatile constituents under the influence of quality and light intensity was also observed. The major constituents identified were sabinene, 1,8 cineole, borneol, β-caryophyllene and β-cubebene, independent of the light treatments. The amount and composition of the volatile compounds ranged with the intensity and quality of light. Thus, it is possible to adjust the ambient light in order to yield the compounds of interest.