Blue LED light enhances the growth of Cinchona officinalis L. cultured in vitro

Abstract

Cinchona officinalis L. is one of the most important and historically medicinal plants from which the antimalarial drug known as quinine is extracted. It is currently an endangered species. Thus, in vitro culture techniques are applied to propagate the species and to evaluate the effect of artificial light on the physiological development of C. Officinalis L. under controlled conditions. In that sense, the current study has determined the impact of blue led light on the enhancement of growth and number of shoots of Cinchona officinalis L. In vitro explants of C. Officinalis L were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium and cultured under the white (control) and blue light-emitting diodes (LED) light. After eight weeks, growth and bud numbers were determined in C. officinalis L. Interestingly, blue light treatment increased the shoot length and bud numbers in comparison with the control. Incorporating blue light during in vitro propagation of C. Officinalis L can be a beneficial way to increase plant quality. Future perspectives could include the impact of blue light on the production of secondary metabolites, activities of antioxidant enzymes, and protein expression of in vitro-grown C. Officinalis L.