FTIR spectroscopy as a powerful tool for assessing coriander responses to LED lighting through specific chemical biomarkers

The study investigated the effects of different LED light wavelengths on the chemical composition and metabolic responses of coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) grown under controlled box conditions. Coriander plants were cultivated under various LED light treatments (CW-control-white, B-blue, R-red, and RB-red/blue combinations). The extracted aboveground plant material was analyzed using ATR-Fourier-Transform Infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), followed by Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The most pronounced changes were detected in the spectral region between 600 and 1800 cm-¹, corresponding to C=O, C=C, C-O, CH₂/CH₃ stretching, and aromatic C=C functional groups of the coriander methanol extracts. However, significant variations in the intensity of the transmission bands were also observed. PCA further confirmed that this region contributed most to the differentiation between CW and treated samples (B, R and RB). The observed variations indicate alterations in the content of aliphatic fatty acids and polyphenolic compounds, suggesting activation of antioxidant defense mechanisms in response to light-induced stress. These findings highlight the potential of LED technology as a tool for optimizing plant growth conditions and enhancing the quality of bioactive compounds and FTIR as an appropriate tool for establishing those findings.