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- Author or Editor: Esther L. Porter x
Chilling injury is more severe in the presence of light than in the dark. Anthocyanins, commonly found in the adaxial leaf layers of certain plants, are known to screen incident solar radiation. A correlation, between anthocyanin content and low temperature/light stress tolerance has been suggested. Our objective was to examine this relationship using purple-leaved (Pretty Purple) and green-leaved (Domino) pepper cultivars. At 5 weeks, Pretty Purple had a ca.10-fold higher anthocyanin content and a 50% higher chlorophyll content per area than Domino. Anthocyanins were observed in adaxial epidermal and palisade cells as well as in abaxial guard cells. Plants were grown at 25/20°C (day/night) before exposure to 4 days of chilling (8/5°C) followed by a 3 day recovery at 25/20°C. Light intensity was maintained at a constant level. Both cultivars demonstrated ca. 3-fold declines in light and bicarbonate-saturated photosynthesis following the chilling period with full recovery by 3 days. Quantum efficiency decreased ca. 3-fold in both cultivars with Domino exhibiting a more complete recovery. Variable Chl a fluorescence (Fv/Fm) decreased to 50% of control in Pretty Purple versus 25% of control in Domino, which conversely demonstrated a more complete recovery. The results suggest that anthocyanins may be protecting the photosynthetic apparatus and that differences may exist between cultivars in repair and/or energy quenching mechanisms.