ISHS Acta Horticulturae 618: XXVI International Horticultural Congress: Environmental Stress and Horticulture Crops
FLAVONOID BIOSYNTHESIS IN BILBERRY (VACCINIUM MYRTILLUS L.) |
| Authors: | L. Jaakola, A. Hohtola, K. Määttä, S. Törrönen, S. Kärenlampi |
| Keywords: | anthocyanins, flavonols, gene expression, sun exposure, leaves |
| Abstract:
Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) is the characteristic understory species in boreal forests. In Northern Europe it is among the most important wild berries. Bilberry is preferably a shade plant and when growing under direct sunlight, the upper leaves of the plants turn red. This phenomenon is regarded to provide protection against UV-B irradiation via the production of anthocyanins and other protective flavonoids. The aim of the present study was to clarify the role of flavonoid biosynthesis of the bilberry plants growing in the direct sunlight. Expression of flavonoid pathway genes of bilberries was studied in the upper leaves of bilberry, exposed to direct sunlight, in the shade leaves growing lower in the same plants and in berries. Bilberry-specific digoxigenin-dUTP labeled cDNA fragments of five genes from the flavonoid pathway, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), chalcone synthase (CHS), flavanone 3-hydroxylase (F3H), dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR), and anthocyanidin synthase (ANS), were used as probes for determining the expression of the flavonoid pathway genes in bilberries. The results indicate the activation of the expression of flavonoid pathway genes in bilberry leaves exposed to the direct sunlight. | |
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