Physiology and Functions of Flavonoids

McClure, Jerry W.

doi:10.1007/978-1-4899-2909-9_18

Cited by 222 publications

(151 citation statements)

References 283 publications

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“…During reproduction, anthocyanin pigments contribute to pollinator recruitment to flowers and to attraction of seed dispersa1 agents (Weiss, 1991). Anthocyanin is induced during various environmental stresses, including high light (McClure, 1975;Ryder et al, 1987;Feinbaum and Ausubel, 1988). Because the mixture of flavonoids found in plant tissues has a broad absorption spectrum in the UV-B, it has been hypothesized that these pigments shield plant DNA from UV-induced damage (Harbome, 1988;Stafford, 1990).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Flavonoids Can Protect Maize DNA from the Induction of Ultraviolet Radiation Damage

1994

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Diverse flavonoid compounds are widely distributed in angiosperm families. Flavonoids absorb radiation in the ultraviolet (UV) region of the spectrum, and it has been proposed that these compounds function as UV filters. We demonstrate that the DNA in Zea mays plants that contain flavonoids (primarily anthocyanins) is protected from the induction of damage caused by UV radiation relative to the DNA in plants that are genetically deficient in these compounds. DNA damage was measured with a sensitive and simple assay using individual monoclonal antibodies, one specific for cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer damage and the other specific for pyrimidine(6,4)pyrimidone damage.Maintaining the integrity of DNA despite damage induced by UV radiation is of critica1 importance to a11 organisms that live in sunlight. Two basic strategies are available to ameliorate DNA damage: DNA repair and shielding to minimize DNA damage. Solar radiation contains wavelengths essential for photosynthesis as well as wavelengths that can damage plant DNA. Therefore, plants may have evolved particularly active DNA protection and repair mechanisms; however, to date relatively little has been established about these processes or the extent of irradiation-induced DNA damage in plants (Stapleton, 1992).UV radiation is generally classified into three wavelength ranges: UV-A (320-390 nm), UV-B (280-320 nm), and UV-C (less than 280 nm). The absorption spectrum of DNA includes wavelengths from 240 to 310 nm; however, the leve1 of solar UV that reaches the surface of the earth is high in the UV-A region of the spectrum, decreases sharply in the UV-B range, and drops to nearly zero by 290 nm (Robberecht, 1989). Many studies of the effects of UV radiation have employed germicidal lamps with peak output at 254 nm, in the UV-C region, although this wavelength is not present in sunlight at the earth's surface.Measurements in situ demonstrate that the epidermis of plants absorbs 90 to 99% of incoming UV radiation; flavonoid compounds and cuticular waxes are most likely to be the principal agents of UV absorption (Robberecht and Caldwell, 1978;Caldwell et al., 1983). Long-term damaging effects of UV radiation on plants include growth inhibition and morphological alterations; these types of damage can be observed '

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Flavonoids Can Protect Maize DNA from the Induction of Ultraviolet Radiation Damage

1994

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“…Frequently an inverse relationship between the synthesis of anthocyanin and the synthesis of proanthocyanidin has been reported (8). Genetic blocking of anthocyanin synthesis in barley does not lead to an automatic proanthocyanidin elevation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mutations affecting flavonoid synthesis in barley

Jende-Strid

1978

Carlsberg Res. Commun.

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The anthocyanin, anthocyanidin and proanthocyanidin content of 52 induced barley mutants with altered anthocyanin pigmentation in different organs of the plant has been investigated. Comparing these mutants no correlation between the amount of anthocyanin in the plant and the amount of proanthocyanidin in the dry grains is found. The proanthocyanidins of the lemma, palea, pericarp, testa and aleurone of Bonus, Foma, Kristina, Herta, Balder and 37 a n t mutants yielded upon hydrolysis delphinidin and cyanidin. In 50 of the mutants belonging to at least 16 gene loci only anthocyanin synthesis is impaired. In mutant ant 13-13 a step in the biosynthetic pathway leading to anthocyanins, catechins and proanthocyanidins is blocked.

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“…The direct involvement of phenolics in photoperiodic flower inducton has been discussed by Zucker et al (15) for tobacco and by Taylor (11) for Xanthium, but these authors did not arrive at definitive conclusions. It seems to us that one should differentiate between the bulk of phenolics stored in the vacuoles and the small amounts that are present in compartments within the cytoplasm where regulation and interaction may be expected to occur (5). From our data it follows that a correlation with flower induction in the SD plant S. occidentalis can be construed if we assume that the continuous presence of certain o-dihydroxyphenols in the cytoplasm of leaf cells inhibits the synthesis or the transport of a flowering hormone.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Daylength on Phenol Metabolism in the Leaves of Salvia occidentalis

Engelsma¹

1979

Plant Physiol.

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A method of phenol determination in plant leaves has been developed which is based on the in situ oxidation of these compounds in an atmosphere containing ammonia, followed by difference spectrophotometry. The The daylength affects phenol metabolism in the leaves of plants (4,7,(11)(12)(13)15). Attempts have been made to relate this to photoperiodic phenomena, e.g. flower induction (11,13,15). Such a study is hampered by a number of problems. The fully grown plant carries leaves of different age and different life history. Consequently, the leaves are often of different phenol content and composition. The presence of phenols in different cell compartments and their occurrence in both bound and unbound forms pose other difficulties. The classical method of phenol determination by extraction, chromatography, and spectrophotometry requires much time and fairly large amounts of material and is therefore less suitable to study the changes in phenol pattern in each separate leaf of a developing plant. In order to circumvent some of the above problems we developed a new method of phenol determination which is based on the in situ oxidation of these compounds, followed by difference spectrophotometry. Here, we demonstrate with Salvia occidentalis, an obligate SD' plant, a method whereby a dynamic picture of phenol metabolism as a function of environmental conditions like daylength, light intensity, night interruption, and temperature can be obtained. Possible implications of these data in the mechanism of flower induction will be discussed. MATERIALS AND METHODSPlant Material and Growing Techniques. S. occidentalis plants were propagated by cuttings from a parent plant from a clone previously used by Meijer (6) in our laboratory for his investiga-'Abbreviations: SD: short day; LD: long day.

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Physiology and Functions of Flavonoids

Cited by 222 publications

References 283 publications

Flavonoids Can Protect Maize DNA from the Induction of Ultraviolet Radiation Damage

Flavonoids Can Protect Maize DNA from the Induction of Ultraviolet Radiation Damage

Mutations affecting flavonoid synthesis in barley

Effect of Daylength on Phenol Metabolism in the Leaves of Salvia occidentalis

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