Effect of Different LED Color on Yield and Cordycepin Productionof Cordyceps militaris

Abstract

Effect of different LED colors on yield and cordycepin production of Cordyceps militaris was studied at Chiangrai Horticulture Research Center. LED strips adjusted with RGB controller to obtain light with different colors including blue light, pink light, red light, green light, yellow light and white light were applied to cultured grain of C. militaris to induce fruit body production. It was found that under yellow light and red light, C. militaris were unable to produce fruit bodies. They were then replaced with turquoise and violet lights. Results showed that under green light, highest fresh yield was obtained at 68% of biological efficiency which was significantly different from those of other light colors except that of white light. Under thepink light, the least of fresh weight of fruitbodies was obtained. Longer stroma was found in bottles grew under blue, green and white lights when compared with other lights. The diameter of stroma was wider under pink, violet, green and turquoise lights. However, there is no difference in stroma colour according to CIE L*a*b* color measurement. The highest cordycepin content was obtained with turquoise light followed by pink light, blue light, green light, violet light and white light, respectively. Adenosine content was highest under turquoise light followed by green light, blue light, violet light and white light, respectively and the least was found under pink light. Overall, the green light was the most suitable to apply during fruiting period to get good yield with high amount of cordycepin and adenosine content.