TITLE:
Synergistic Effects of a Night Temperature Shift and Methyl Jasmonate on the Production of Anthocyanin in Red Leaf Lettuce
AUTHORS:
Masaru Sakamoto, Takahiro Suzuki
KEYWORDS:
Anthocyanin, Night Temperature, Methyl Jasmonate, Red Leaf Lettuce, Oxidative Stress
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.8 No.7,
June
16,
2017
ABSTRACT: The production of a secondary metabolite such as
anthocyanin is coordinately regulated by plant intrinsic factors and influenced
by multiple environmental factors. In red leaf lettuce, the red pigment
component anthocyanin is important for the commercial value of the crop, but
its synchronous regulation by multiple factors is not well understood. Here, we
examined the synergistic effects of a night temperature shift and methyl
jasmonate (MJ) on the production of anthocyanin in red leaf lettuce. Low or
high night temperature treatment for 3 days just before harvesting induced the
production of anthocyanin without affecting plant biomass. Temperature-dependent
activation of anthocyanin accumulation was accelerated by treating with MJ.
Night temperature shifts and MJ triggered oxidative stresses in leaves, as
indicated by hydrogen peroxide accumulation and lipid peroxidation.
Interestingly, these oxidative stresses were more evident in leaves
simultaneously treated with both a high night temperature and MJ. The activity
of the superoxide dismutase (SOD) was increased alongside the elevation of
oxidative stress. Taken together, these results indicate that the combined
treatment of a night temperature shift with MJ may accelerate anthocyanin
production by increasing the levels of oxidative stress to the leaves of red
leaf lettuce.