Medicinal Plant Research 2025, Vol.15, No.2, 71-79 http://hortherbpublisher.com/index.php/mpr 72 system of production that enhances yield, quality and resource use. This study overcome the seasonal and climatic constraint of the traditional planting and realized safe and stable production of medicinal raw materials. In addition, the findings of this research will be applied in establishing the foundation for large-scale application of environmental control technology on other medicinal plants, as well as construction of technological innovation in pharmaceuticals and agricultural technology. This study aims to meet the growing global demand for high-quality medicinal plants, as well as promote integration and development of technology in green agriculture. 2 Growth Characteristics and Environmental Requirements of Leonurus japonicus 2.1 Biological characteristics and environmental factor requirements Leonurus japonicus, or honeyweed, is an annual or biennial herb that occurs in wet areas in tropical and temperate regions, between sea level and 3 400 meters. Honeyweed prefers full sun but can be cultivated in soils of pH 4 to 8, although it can also tolerate semi-shade (Tan et al., 2018). The plant has bisexual and zygomorphic flowers, primarily insect-pollinated. As far as climate is concerned, the temperature of the warmest month, the minimum temperature of the coldest month, precipitation during the wettest and driest months, and the elevation are the governing environmental factors on its distribution (Zhang et al., 2023). 2.2 Effects of environmental factors on the yield and quality of Leonurus japonicus Environmental factors such as pH greatly affect the growth and quality of Leonurus japonicus. Under hydroponic conditions, the plant can grow between pH 5 and 8, while its neutral alkalinity is most favorable to the accumulation of photosynthetic pigment and soluble proteins to enhance growth and yield. Alkaline condition is also favorable to biosynthesis and accumulation of stachydrine, a major nitrogen alkaloid, through the enhancement of addition reactions with nitrogen. Climate change scenarios predict to alter the correct ranges of distribution of L. japonicus as exhibiting a strong response to temperature and precipitation regime shifts (Shang et al., 2014). 2.3 Limitations of current cultivation techniques and research Current cultivation practices for Leonurus japonicus are constrained by how the plant responds to external conditions such as pH and climatic factors. Though versatile in pH tolerance, the plant growth and alkaloid production are optimized in specific conditions that may enable difficulty to obtain in all cultivation sites (Rojas‐Sandoval and Acevedo-Rodríguez, 2022). Further, anticipated shifts in distribution due to climate change pose a challenge to having equal yields and quality, and thus increased research on adaptive cultivation patterns is necessary. Reduction of wild resources of L. japonicus also emphasizes the need for intensified conservation and sustainable use measures (Li et al., 2019). 3 Application Principles and Progress of Environmental Control Technology 3.1 Basic principles and development of environmental control technology Controlled environment technology in medicinal plant production such as Leonurus japonicus depends on the precise control of environmental parameters to optimize plant growth and bioactive compound production (Zhao, 2024). Controlled environment technology, including vertical farms, offers the potential to control light, temperature, humidity, and more that can influence the quantity and quality of medicinal plants to a significant extent. Their development has been driven by the need to surpass the inadequacy of traditional methods of cultivation to provide steady conditions to which plants can adapt and develop phytochemicals best (De Carlo et al., 2021). 3.2 Precision regulation of factors such as temperature, humidity, and light One of the most important areas in medicinal plant production is tight control over environmental conditions. Sensor- and IoT-based systems can offer real-time measurement and regulation of temperature, humidity, and light intensity in growing spaces (Zhu et al., 2024). The systems can automatically manage environmental conditions, facilitating the delivery of optimal conditions supporting plant growth and enhancing the tolerance of plants to environmental stresses such as drought and heat. In addition, electromagnetic fields have also been explored as a tool for plant growth and metabolic control, offering a novel approach to environmental regulation (Ahmed et al., 2024) (Figure 1).
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