The Electrical Conductivity of Nutrient Solution Influenced the Growth, Centellosides Content and Gene Expression of Centella asiatica in a Hydroponic System

Md Rayhan Ahmed Shawon, Md Obyedul Kalam Azad, Byeong Ryeol Ryu, Jong Kuk Na and Ki Young Choi ()
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Md Rayhan Ahmed Shawon: Department of Smart Farm and Agricultural Industry, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea
Md Obyedul Kalam Azad: Food and Dairy Innovation Center, Boise State University, Boise, ID 83725, USA
Byeong Ryeol Ryu: Department of Bio-Health Convergence, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea
Jong Kuk Na: Department of Smart Farm and Agricultural Industry, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea
Ki Young Choi: Department of Smart Farm and Agricultural Industry, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea

Agriculture, 2023, vol. 13, issue 12, 1-14

Abstract: Centella asiatica is a herbaceous plant containing medicinal and cosmetic properties: anti-bacterial, anti-aging, memory enhancing and wound healing. The lack of information impedes the development of suitable growth conditions for C. asiatica in the hydroponic system. Maintaining proper electrical conductivity (EC) of a nutrient solution is considered crucial for plant growth and the accumulation of bioactive compounds in a plant grown in hydroponics. This study aimed to investigate an optimal EC that enhances the growth of C. asiatica and its centellosides content. Seedlings were grown in commercial nutrient solution and treated with four different strengths of EC (0.6, 1.2, 1.8 and 2.4 indicated T 1 , T 2 , T 3 and T 4 , respectively) under controlled environment conditions. Our results demonstrate that the number of leaves, leaf area, number of runners, shoot fresh weight and shoot dry weight were significantly increased in T 2 among the treatments. However, these growth parameters were lowest in T 4 . Furthermore, the content of asiaticoside, madecassoside, asiatic acid and madecassic acid was the highest in plants that were treated with T 2 . The expression of centelloside biosynthesis-related genes is also affected by the strength of the nutrient solution. A positive correlation was observed between the number of leaves, leaf area and centellosides content. This study provides valuable background on optimal EC content in the nutrient solution in a hydroponic system with enhanced centellosides content to leverage the C. asiatica production.

Keywords: bioactive compounds; controlled environment; growth characteristics; nutrient film technique; real-time qPCR (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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