Effects of LED treatment and plasma-activated water on the growth and quality of Panax ginseng sprouts during hydroponic cultivation

Abstract

Panax ginseng sprouts have important medicinal properties and thus the optimization of growth conditions is an important research goal. The effects of LED treatment and plasma-activated water on the growth and quality of Panax ginseng sprouts (PGS) in hydroponic cultivation were evaluated. Using 1-year-old ginseng plants, light was applied 9-18 h for the CGS, TGS1, TGS2, and TGS3 groups and 24 h for TGS4. Plasma-activated water was used in all groups except CGS and TGS1, and fermentation nutrient solutions (NO) were added to TGS1, TGS3, and TGS4. The TGS4 group had a high total length and initial length on days 7 and 14. At 21 days, the growth of TGS1, TGS3, and TGS4 with NO nutrient solutions increased. The total decay rate (%) was low (4.24-4.65%) for TGS1, TGS2, and TGS3. Although the chlorophyll a, b, and total chlorophyll contents were significantly higher in TGS4 than in other groups (p<0.05), TGS3 tended to show higher carotenoid levels. Therefore, for the hydroponic cultivation of PGS, nutrient solutions and plasma-activated water influence growth, and the LED treatment duration influences growth and functional substances. During hydroponic cultivation, TGS4 conditions resulted in high growth, saponin contents, and radical scavenging activity, with excellent functionality. However, considering the high rate of root decay, further studies of the effects of different wavelengths and treatment durations (light and dark cycles) on growth are needed.