Project description:To investigate the transcriptome changes by CO2 supply, we evaluated the transcriptional changes in fennel. We then performed gene expression profiling analysis using data obtained from RNA-seq of fennel at two stress conditions.
Project description:Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) is an aromatic herb cultivated worldwide. Narrow-wavelength red LED light can potentially regulate the accumulation of secondary metabolites such as aroma compounds for crops, but its impact on fennel aroma remains unclear. This study investigated supplemental red LED effects on fennel aroma using nutrient film hydroponic systems, comparing natural greenhouse light (control) with supplemental red LED (100 μmol·m-2·s-1, 14h·d-1). GC-MS-O characterized aroma compounds in fresh fennel while RNA-seq analyzed gene expression. Supplemental red LED was found to enhance growth (height, fresh biomass) and significantly increase aroma-active compounds in leaves, particularly phenylpropanoids like (E)-anethole and estragole. RNA-seq revealed 1958 upregulated and 278 downregulated genes. Under supplemental red light conditions, several phenylpropanoid biosynthesis genes were regulated, including eugenol synthase and isoeugenol synthase; related transcripts were also identified as differentially expressed. Results demonstrated the potential application of LED lighting for enhancing culinary herb quality in controlled environments and providing some molecular insights for fennel aroma biosynthesis.
