Development of UV-B multi-directional irradiation technology to increase the concentration of functional components in plants

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K15627
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 41040:Agricultural environmental engineering and agricultural information engineering-related
• Research Institution: Chiba University
• Principal Investigator: Yoshida Hideo 千葉大学, 大学院園芸学研究院, 助教 (40729852)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 植物工場 / 環境ストレス / 紫外線 / 機能性物質 / ファイトケミカル

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Some of the functional components of plants are increased by UV-B irradiation. This mechanism could be used to produce high-value-added plants in plant factories and greenhouses. In order to increase the concentration of functional components in the whole plant, it was necessary to develop an irradiation technique that could irradiate the lower leaves, which are difficult for UV-B to reach. In this study, we investigated the appropriate intensity of UV-B irradiation that improves functional components so that UV-B irradiation can be applied not only from above the plant canopy but also from below. The results of this study showed that UV-B irradiation to the underside of leaves also increased functional components, and it was estimated that a combination of UV-B irradiation from above and below would enable functional components in the whole plant.

Free Research Field

植物環境工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

近年の植物工場の世界的な広がりと共に、様々な生産手法の開発が求められている。具体的には、植物工場の生産効率の向上のための、生育促進技術、電気エネルギ使用量の削減技術などと共に高付加価値な作物の生産技術の開発が求められる。本研究では、これまでのUV-B照射による機能性成分濃度の増加に関する研究結果を元に、植物体の一部の葉だけでなく、植物体全体の葉の機能性成分濃度を増加させる照射方法の検討を行ったことで、より実用的な照射が可能となることが示され、高付加価値植物生産のためのUV-B照射技術の社会実装に繋がる結果が得られた。