New Zealand Journal of Botany abstracts
*Author for correspondence.
B00017
Received 2 June 2000; accepted 16 October 2000
Anthocyanin pigmentation in the adventitious roots of Metrosideros
excelsa (Myrtaceae)
S. M. SOLANGAARACHCHI
KEVIN S. GOULD*
Plant Science Group
School of Biological Sciences
The University of Auckland
Private Bag 92019
Auckland, New Zealand
email: k.gould@auckland.ac.nz
Abstract Anthocyanin pigmentation is a prominent feature in
the adventitious roots of
Metrosideros excelsa. We describe the
histological distributions and chemical nature of anthocyanins in these roots,
and quantify their antioxidant activity. Anthocyanins were present in one or
more cell layers of the root cap, epidermis, hypodermis, and cortex. A narrow
band immediately behind the root apex was usually anthocyanin free.
Photosensitivity of anthocyanin biosynthesis was evident both for adventitious
roots and for plagiotropic roots exposed at the soil surface. The anthocyanins
were cyanidin- and delphinidin-based. Methanolic extracts of the roots did not
show a direct relationship between anthocyanin concentration and antioxidant
activity. The possible function of anthocyanins in these roots is unknown.
Keywords Metrosideros excelsa; anthocyanin; flavonoid;
root; anatomy; antioxidant; free radical
Abbreviations PC = paper chromatography, TLC = thin layer
chromatography, DPPH = α,α-diphenyl-β-picrylhydrazyl, Cy =
cyanidin, Dp = delphinidin, Pg = pelargonidin, Pn = peonidin, Pt = petunidin,
Mv = malvidin
New Zealand Journal of Botany, 2001, Vol. 39: 161-166
0028-825X/00/3901-0161 $7.00 (c) The Royal Society of New Zealand 2001
PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (5204K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)
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