title: A possible role of an anthocyanin filter in low-intensity light stress-induced flowering in Perilla frutescens var. crispa.
abstract: The red-leaved form of Perilla frutescens var. crispa was induced to flower by low-intensity light stress. The leaves of this form are normally red, but turned green under low-intensity light due to anthocyanin depletion in the epidermis. Flowering did not occur when plants were grown under light passed through a red-colored cellophane paper, which has an absorption spectrum similar to that of anthocyanins. High-concentration anthocyanins may play the role of a red-colored optical filter under normal light conditions, and this filter effect may be lost under low-intensity light, causing a change in the wavelength characteristics of the light with which the mesophyll cells are irradiated. This change may induce a photobiological effect leading to flowering. The gene expression and enzyme activity of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), the key enzyme for anthocyanin biosynthesis, decreased under low-intensity light. L-2-aminooxy-3-phenylpropionic acid (AOPP), which is widely used as a PAL inhibitor, inhibited low-intensity light stress-induced flowering and increased PAL activity and anthocyanin content. The inhibition of flowering by AOPP in P. frutescens may be through different mechanisms than PAL inhibition.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Science and Technology, Niigata University, Ikarashi, Niigata 950-2181, Japan.
authors.forename: Satomi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miki
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Science and Technology, Niigata University, Ikarashi, Niigata 950-2181, Japan.
authors.forename: Kaede C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Wada
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Science and Technology, Niigata University, Ikarashi, Niigata 950-2181, Japan; Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Niigata University, Ikarashi, Niigata 950-2181, Japan. Electronic address: wada-403@qj9.so-net.ne.jp.
authors.forename: Kiyotoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takeno
mesh_terms: D000872:Anthocyanins / Q000378:metabolism*; D035264:Flowers / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D008027:Light; D031344:Perilla frutescens / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D010650:Phenylalanine Ammonia-Lyase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010666:Phenylpropionates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000872:Anthocyanins; D010666:Phenylpropionates; D010940:Plant Proteins; C035253:3-phenylpropionic acid; D010650:Phenylalanine Ammonia-Lyase
keywords: Anthocyanin; Flowering; Low-intensity light; Perilla frutescens; Stress