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Far-red light intensity influences the physiology and herbivory resistance of bok choy (Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis)
Meng-Yuan Huang12†
,
Kuan-Hung Lin3†
,
Ching-Wen Tan4
,
Chuan-Ming Yeh5
,
Ching-Wen Wang6
,
Chung-I Chen7
,
Hsin-Yu Teng1
,
Shi-Peng Chen8*
1Department of Life Sciences, National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan
2Innovation and Development Center of Sustainable Agriculture, National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan
3Department of Horticulture and Biotechnology, Chinese Culture University, Taipei 11114, Taiwan
4Department of Entomology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan
5Institute of Molecular Biology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan
6Endemic Species Research Institute, Nantou 552, Taiwan
7Department of Forestry, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung, Taiwan
8Department of Horticulture, National Chiayi University, Chiayi 60004, Taiwan
*Corresponding Author
†These authors contributed equally to this work.
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Abstract

Controlled environment agriculture is employed to optimize the yield of leafy vegetables, such as bok choy (Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis). Despite preventative measures, indoor cultivation leaves the plants susceptible to herbivorous pests, highlighting the potential of light spectra adjustments to improve both productivity and pest resistance in vertical farming systems. This study investigated the effects of supplemental far-red (FR) light at different intensities on the morphology, physiological processes, and resistance to Spodoptera litura larvae of bok choy plants. Our results show that high FR levels significantly promote plant growth traits, including plant height, leaf length, leaf width, leaf area, and fresh weight. The FR treatment also influenced photosynthetic parameters, with higher FR intensity levels reducing chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, except for non-photochemical quenching, compared to control treatments. In addition, leaf flavonoid and polyphenol contents increased after the FR treatment, while chlorophyll b, anthocyanin, and carotenoid contents were reduced. Following these physiological changes, we also observed that S. litura larvae gained less weight when feeding on FR-treated plants. Our findings suggest that an optimal strategy for regulating FR spectra can improve growth performance and defense capability outcomes in bok choy plants against insect herbivory, leading to higher production yields that benefit growers.

Keywords
chlorophyll fluorescence
growth promotion
photosynthesis
plant defense
polyphenol
Spodoptera litura
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Information
  • Publisher :KOREAN SOCIETY FOR HORTICULTURAL SCIENCE
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국원예학회
  • Journal Title :Horticultural Science and Technology
  • Journal Title(Ko) :원예과학기술지
  • Received Date : 2025-10-12
  • Revised Date : 2026-01-03
  • Accepted Date : 2026-03-24
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7235/HORT.20260010
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