Light-controlled flavonoid biosynthesis in fruits

Abstract

Light is one of the most important environmental factors affecting flavonoid biosynthesis in plants. The absolute dependency of light to the plant development has driven evolvement of sophisticated mechanisms to sense and transduce multiple aspects of the light signal. Light effects can be categorized in photoperiod (duration), intensity (quantity), direction and quality (wavelength) including UV-light. Recently, new information has been achieved on the regulation of light-controlled flavonoid biosynthesis in fruits, in which flavonoids have a major contribution on quality. This review focuses on the effects of the different light conditions on the control of flavonoid biosynthesis in fruit producing plants. An overview of the currently known mechanisms of the light-controlled flavonoid accumulation is provided. R2R3 MYB transcription factors are known to regulate by differential expression the biosynthesis of distinct flavonoids in response to specific light wavelengths. Despite recent advances, many gaps remain to be understood in the mechanisms of the transduction pathway of light-controlled flavonoid biosynthesis. A better knowledge on these regulatory mechanisms is likely to be useful for breeding programs aiming to modify fruit flavonoid pattern.

Enhanced light intensity increases flavonol and anthocyanin concentrations but reduces flavone levels in the cotyledons of common buckwheat seedlings

“…Our findings are partially consistent with the results reported by Neugart et al (2013) in kale (Brassica oleracea var. sabellica), where the concentrations of most quercetin glycosides increased with a rise in PAR levels, and the results reported by Zoratti et al (2014) in the leaves of Ligustrum vulgare. The concentrations of flavonol aglycones also increased in the leaves of two Brassica species exposed to higher PAR levels (Fallovo et al 2011).…”

“…The presence of light is crucial for the biosynthesis of various types of flavonoids (Jaakola and Hohtola 2010; Zoratti et al 2014). In apples, the concentrations of phenolic acids, anthocyanins and flavonols increased in response to irradiation, whereas the content of flavanols, procyanidins and dihydrochalcones remained constant (Bakhshi and Arakawa 2006).…”

“…The rapid induction of flavonoid biosynthesis under exposure to high-intensity light testifies to the important role played by flavonoids in photoprotection (Gould 2004;Zoratti et al 2014). Research has demonstrated that the biosynthesis of flavonoids is light dependent, but the mechanisms involved in this process have not been fully elucidated.…”

“…Research has demonstrated that the biosynthesis of flavonoids is light dependent, but the mechanisms involved in this process have not been fully elucidated. In fruit, greater exposure to sunlight increases flavonoid content and, consequently, influences the color and nutritional quality of fruit (Zoratti et al 2014).…”

Characterization of a New Pink-Fruited Tomato Mutant Results in the Identification of a Null Allele of the SlMYB12 Transcription Factor

“…fungi and bacterial infections) and abiotic (i.e. phosphate, nitrogen, light, temperature, UV, or drought) stress responses has recently been described for Arabidopsis (Nakabayashi et al, 2014;Schenke and Cai, 2014;Zoratti et al, 2014). We identified a set of 19 genes that were differentially expressed in the Dy mutants that might be involved in these processes (Supplemental Table S3C).…”