Effect of latitude on flavonoid biosynthesis in plants

Abstract

The growth conditions in different latitudes vary markedly with season, day length, light quality and temperature. Many plant species have adapted well to the distinct environments through different strategies, one of which is the production of additional secondary metabolites. Flavonoids are a widely spread group of plant secondary metabolites that are involved in many crucial functions of plants. Our understanding of the biosynthesis, occurrence and function of flavonoids has increased rapidly in recent decades. Numerous studies have been published on the influence of environmental factors on the biosynthesis of flavonoids. However, extensive long-term studies that examine the effect of the characteristics of northern climates on flavonoid biosynthesis are still scarce. This review focuses on the current knowledge about the effect of light intensity, photoperiod and temperature on the gene-environment interaction related to flavonoid biosynthesis in plants.

Compositional Analysis of Lentil (Lens culinaris) Cultivars Related to Colors and Their Antioxidative Activity

“…Carotenoids are tetraterpenoid, fat-soluble pigments that can be subdivided into two groups based on whether or not they contain oxygen: lutein, zeaxanthin, and violaxanthin do contain a b c oxygen, and -carotene, -carotene, and lycopene do not contain it (Bouvier et al 2005;Bhakta and Siva 2010;Cazzonelli 2011). In contrast, flavonoids, the largest group of secondary metabolites (Kim et al 2013), which have been studied in snapdragon, corn, Arabidopsis, and petunia (Jaakola and Hohtola 2010), are water-soluble pigments. In addition, approximately 20 types of anthocyanins, flavonoid-type pigments producing purple, red, and blue colors, are found in plants (Harborne 1993).…”

Role of Temperature and Soil Moisture Conditions on Flavonoid Production and Biosynthesis-Related Genes in Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba L.) Leaves

“…The flavonoid family is divided into six main classes; namely, flavonols, flavones, lavan-3-ols, isoflavones, flavanones, and anthocyanidins [21]. The metabolism of flavonoids follows a complex pathway, and some environmental factors such as temperature, water status, light condition, and nitrogen all have been demonstrated to affect flavonoids accumulation [22][23][24][25].…”

Individual and interactive effects of temperature, carbon dioxide and abscisic acid on mung bean (Vigna radiata) plants

“…However, plants under higher temperatures produced significantly lower flavonoids than those under lower temperatures (Table 4; Figure 4(b)). It is possible that biosynthesis of flavonoids in plants was partially inhibited by somewhat supraoptimal temperatures, likely outside the optimal range of plants (Jaakola and Hohtola 2010). On the other hand, plants under higher temperatures had significantly higher NBI than plants under lower temperatures (Table 4; Figure 4(c)).…”