Variation in Anthocyanin Production Among Accessions and Cultivars of Rought Bluegrass
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Date
2014-02
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Abstract
When under biotic or abiotic stress many plants possess the ability to synthesize anthocyanins, red or blue secondary pigments. The stress induction of anthocyanin biosynthesis has only been studied on a small sample of species. In order to meet the demand for this natural product, it’s essential to evaluate anthocyanin biosynthesis in other species. Turfgrasses are a group of perennial monocots that can withstand constant aggressive harvesting without effecting the growth of new tissues; therefore metabolites of interest could be harvested over and over on the same plant(s). One turfgrass species of interest, rough bluegrass (RB - Poa trivialis L.), is known to exhibit visible concentrations of anthocyanins in nature. Previous experiments using this species (cv. ‘Havana’) showed that when exposed to prolonged high irradiance white light, anthocyanin concentration could increase by 12,000% or more The purpose of this study was to first determine if the ability to up-regulate anthocyanin synthesis is variable among RB accessions, and second to determine what may limit anthocyanin synthesis among these accessions. Nineteen accessions and 6 cultivars of RB were compared for their ability to up-regulate anthocyanin synthesis under non-intermittent blue LED irradiation for 5 days. Results show that not all accessions and cultivars of this species are equal in their ability to induce high quantities of anthocyanins. However, supplementary analysis of these samples showed that those plants that do not produce high concentrations of anthocyanins may just be producing high concentrations of other flavonoid compounds.
Description
Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (FAES): 3rd Place (The Ohio State University Edward F. Hayes Graduate Research Forum)
Keywords
Turfgrass, Anthocyanin, Plant Physiology, Poa trivialis