Antioxidative Response and Phenolic Content of Young Industrial Hemp Leaves at Different Light and Mycorrhiza

Plants (Basel). 2024 Mar 14;13(6):840. doi: 10.3390/plants13060840.

Abstract

Due to the increasing presence of industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) and its multiple possibilities of use, the influence of different light and several biopreparations based on beneficial fungi and bacteria on hemp's morphological and physiological properties were examined. Different biopreparations and their combinations were inoculated on hemp seed and/or substrate and grown under blue and white light. A completely randomized block design was conducted in four replications within 30 days. For biopreparation treatment, vesicular arbuscular mycorrhiza (VAM) in combination with Azotobacter chroococum and Trichoderma spp. were inoculated only on seed or both on seed and in the substrate. Generally, the highest morphological parameters (stem, root and plant length) were recorded on plants in white light and on treatment with applied Trichoderma spp., both on seed and substrate. Blue light negatively affected biopreparation treatments, resulting in lower values of all morphological parameters compared to control. Leaves pigments were higher under blue light, as compared to the white light. At the same time, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), flavonoids, total flavanol content and phenolic acids were not influenced by light type. Biopreparation treatments did not significantly influence the leaves' pigments content (Chl a, Chl b and Car), nor the phenolic and flavanol content.

Keywords: Azotobacter chroococum; Cannabis sativa L.; LED; Trichoderma spp.; antioxidant activity; photosynthetic pigments; wavelength.

Grants and funding

This study was part of a Scientific project founded by the Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossamayer University of Osijek—Growth and development of field crops in stress conditions (Manda Antunović) and project: Application of innovative biological preparations in sustainable plant production technologies (InoBioTeh) KK.01.1.1.07.0053 supported by European Fund for Regional Development.