Plants respond to root temperature stresses by producing antioxidants as a defense mechanism. Since a number of these are phytochemicals with enhancing effects on human health, we examined the effects of 4 root-zone temperature (RZT) treatments (10, 20, 28, and 36 °C) on plant growth and the main bioactive compound concentrations in each organ of Agastache rugosa plants. We aimed to determine the optimal RZT treatment to increase bioactive compound concentrations with no deleterious effects on plant growth. Four-week-old seedlings were grown in a plant factory for 32 days. Nine plant growth parameters, namely, shoot and root fresh weights, stem and root lengths, leaf length and leaf width, leaf area, and shoot and root dry weights were significantly decreased at 10 and 36 °C compared with other treatments. A similar pattern was observed for the chlorophyll content and leaf gas exchange parameters. Of all the RZT treatments, RZT at 28 °C produced the significantly greatest accumulation of two major bioactive compounds, namely, rosmarinic acid (RA) and tilianin contents per the A. rugosa plant, and had no adverse effects on the overall growth of A. rugosa. This supports the use of 28 °C RZT to successfully improve the bioactive compounds with no adverse influence on plant growth or yield.

The objective of this study was to select the right species among Agastache in the family Lamiaceae as the result of growth analysis and functional substance analysis. Among 22 species of Agastache, five species (Agastache cana, Agastache foeniculum, Agastache rugosa 'Spike Blue', Agastache rugosa 'Spike Snow', Agastache rupestris) were selected by referring to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)'s plant hardiness zone area and Korea's one based on USDAs. These plants were cultured at 24 ± 1°C and 18 ± 1°C (day and night temperatures, respectively) and 65 ~ 75% relative humidity in a hydroponic culture system for 4 weeks. In terms of growth analysis experiment, stem length, root length, leaf width, leaf area, leaf number, SPAD value, and fresh and dry weights of shoots and roots were measured. The results showed that A. rugosa SS and A. rugosa SB have a higher overall balance value than other species. When compared functional substance value (rosmarinic acid, tilianin, and acacetin) of five species, A. rugosa SS and A. rugosa SB are significantly higher than other species in Agastache. It seems to be directly proportional to the growth analysis results. When considering the growth and functional substance part comprehensively, A. rugosa SS and A. rugosa SB are the most optimal high-value species among Agastache.

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