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Abstract

Advancements in light-emitting diode (LED) technology have expanded opportunities for cultivating medicinal plants in controlled environments. This study evaluates two genotypes of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) under four LED light treatments compared to traditional greenhouse lighting. The experimental setup included an 18-hour light/6-hour dark cycle, a photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) of ~300 µmol/m²/s, and an average temperature range of 25–35 °C. Key variables measured included shoot fresh and dry weights (SFW and SDW), chlorophyll (Chl) and carotenoid levels, and oxidative stress markers, such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Results showed that red+blue LED light significantly enhanced SFW, SDW, chlorophyll, and carotenoid content, while also minimizing H2O2 and MDA levels, indicating reduced oxidative stress. These findings suggest that red+blue LED lighting optimizes growth and antioxidant capacity, improving the quality of lemon balm plantlets compared to greenhouse light.

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