title: Monochromatic light increases anthocyanin content during fruit development in bilberry.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Light is one of the most significant environmental factors affecting to the accumulation of flavonoids in fruits. The composition of the light spectrum has been shown to affect the production of phenolic compounds during fruit ripening. However, specific information on the biosynthesis of flavonoids in fruits in response to different wavelengths of light is still scarce. In the present study bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) fruits, which are known to be rich with anthocyanin compounds, were illuminated with blue, red, far-red or white light during the berry ripening process. Following the illumination, the composition of anthocyanins and other phenolic compounds was analysed at the mature ripening stage of fruits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the three monochromatic light treatments had significant positive effect on the accumulation of total anthocyanins in ripe fruits compared to treatment with white light or plants kept in darkness. The elevated levels of anthocyanins were mainly due to a significant increase in the accumulation of delphinidin glycosides. A total of 33 anthocyanin compounds were detected in ripe bilberry fruits, of which six are novel in bilberry (cyanidin acetyl-3-O-galactose, malvidin acetyl-3-O-galactose, malvidin coumaroyl-3-O-galactose, malvidin coumaroyl-3-O-glucose, delphinidin coumaroyl-3-O-galactose, delphinidin coumaroyl-3-O-glucose).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that the spectral composition of light during berry development has significant effect on the flavonoid composition of ripe bilberry fruits.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zoratti
authors.forename: Marian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sarala
authors.forename: Elisabete
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Karppinen
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martens
authors.forename: Lara
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Giongo
authors.forename: Hely
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Häggman
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jaakola
mesh_terms: D000872:Anthocyanins / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects; D005638:Fruit / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008027:Light; D010636:Phenols / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry; D029800:Vaccinium myrtillus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*
chemical_list: D000872:Anthocyanins; D005419:Flavonoids; D010636:Phenols