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Research Article

Effects of the Photoperiod and Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density on the Growth and Production of Justicidin in Justicia procumbens L. via a Vertical Farm
Kyeong Jin Kim1†
,
Jiye Rhee2†
,
Jeong Hyun Lee1*
1Department of Horticulture, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Korea
2Department of Smart Farm, Namseoul University, Cheonan 31020, Korea
*Corresponding Author
†These authors contributed equally to this work.
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Abstract

Justicia procumbens L., an annual herb, contains the pharmacologically active compounds justicidin A and B. This study analyzed growth characteristics and bioactive accumulation in response to different lighting conditions using a recirculating deep flow technique (DFT) system in a vertical farm and evaluated the effects of the photoperiod and light intensity level for cultivation. Plants were grown under five treatment combinations consisting of two photoperiods—14 and 16 h—and three photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) levels of 200, 300, and 375 µmol·m‒2·s‒1. The D16L375 treatment, with a 16-h photoperiod at 375 µmol·m‒2·s‒1 PPFD, produced the greatest biomass, while justicidin production per unit area was comparable to that under D16L300. Plant height reached 35.6 cm, dry weight was 728.9 g·m‒2, and the areal production of justicidin A and B was 1.33 and 0.62 g·m‒2, respectively. Light use efficiency (LUE) and electrical energy use efficiency (EEUE) based on biomass accumulation were also greatest under D16L375, whereas JA-based LUE and EEUE peaked at lower light intensity levels (D16L200 and D16L300, respectively), indicating a trade-off between maximizing biomass and optimizing energy efficiency for bioactive compound production. Dry weight and justicidin A biosynthesis increased linearly with the daily light integral. Consequently, the combination of an extended photoperiod (16 h) and high PPFD (375 µmol·m‒2·s‒1) proved most efficient for biomass accumulation and bioactive production in J. procumbens. These findings provide fundamental data for designing optimal light environments for the large-scale production of medicinal plants in vertical farming systems.

Keywords
arylnaphthalene lignan
controlled environment agriculture
deep flow technique
light use efficiency
plant factory
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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 : 2026-06-02
  • Revised Date : 2026-09-06
  • Accepted Date : 2026-09-07
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7235/HORT.20260036
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