Effects on Photosynthetic Characteristics, Yield and Quality on Salvia miltiorrhiza after spaceflight

In order to investigate the effects of photosynthetic characteristics, yield and quality on Salvia miltiorrhiza treated by spaceflight, the chlorophyll and carotenoid content and photosynthetic rate (Pn) were measured, the photosynthetic characteristics and yield of S. miltiorrhiza were evaluated. Meanwhile, the chemical characteristics of S. miltiorrhiza were investigated on the basis of the simultaneous quantitative determination of 6 hydrophilic and lipophilic compounds in samples of S. miltiorrhiza that had undergone spaceflight (SP) and that remained on the ground as a control (CK) by using HPLC. The results indicated that the content of photosynthesis pigment in SP increased enormously; also photosynthetic rate and yield in SP were increased. Although the profiles of active components of SP and CK were similar, most chemical contents were significantly higher (P<0.05) in the former. Acknowledgements: This work is supported by the Science and Technology Committee of Hunan Province numbers 2010sk3013 and State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Hunan province numbers 201105. References: [1] Sui N, Li M, et al. (2010) Scientia Agricultura Sinica 9: 346–354. [2] Kameari N, Horiuchi N, et al. (2010) Hort Res 9: 455–460. [3] Li XB, Xie XM, et al. (2009) Chromatographia 69: 543–548. [4] Zhong GX, Li P, et al. (2009) Agric. Food Chem 57: 6879–6887. [5] Li YG, Song L, et al. (2009)J of Chromatography A. 1216: 1941–1953.