Articles
Light quality from supplemental light-emitting diodes modulates biosynthesis of secondary metabolites in ripening bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) fruit
Article number
1357_4
Pages
19 – 26
Language
English
Abstract
Wild berries are abundant in health-beneficial bioactive compounds, such as flavonoids, carotenoids, vitamins, and polyphenolic compounds, which accumulate during the fruit ripening process.
Interestingly, wild Vaccinium berries from northern latitudes are found to contain more bioactive compounds compared to southern clones.
The genetic adaptation is most likely favoured by environmental conditions, such as extended day length, cool temperatures and light spectral qualities.
The molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of secondary metabolite biosynthesis in response to light quality have been scarcely explored in Vaccinium berries.
The present study is focused on gaining knowledge on the regulatory process under supplemental red and blue light in non-climacteric wild bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.). Controlled experiments were carried out in phytotrons with local Norwegian ecotypes of bilberry, which were subjected from early to late ripening stages to continuous exposure to specific red and blue wavelengths provided by light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Berry samples from mid-ripening stage were utilized for the gene expression analysis based on RNA-seq transcriptome profiling.
Our recent analyses from the transcriptome data set have shown that light wavelengths induce the anthocyanin biosynthetic genes, resulting in higher delphinidin accumulation in ripe bilberries.
The enhanced secondary metabolic pathways influenced by such light qualities and the differential expression patterns in light-reaction centers as observed in various subunit complexes of photosystem I and II in the photosynthetic apparatus are briefly discussed in this study.
This is crucial in order to study how plants acclimatize to modified light environment in terms of photosynthesis.
The differences in expression of hormone signal transduction pathway genes were also discussed.
The results will contribute to a better understanding of the light-mediated biosynthesis of phytochemicals in Vaccinium berries.
Interestingly, wild Vaccinium berries from northern latitudes are found to contain more bioactive compounds compared to southern clones.
The genetic adaptation is most likely favoured by environmental conditions, such as extended day length, cool temperatures and light spectral qualities.
The molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of secondary metabolite biosynthesis in response to light quality have been scarcely explored in Vaccinium berries.
The present study is focused on gaining knowledge on the regulatory process under supplemental red and blue light in non-climacteric wild bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.). Controlled experiments were carried out in phytotrons with local Norwegian ecotypes of bilberry, which were subjected from early to late ripening stages to continuous exposure to specific red and blue wavelengths provided by light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Berry samples from mid-ripening stage were utilized for the gene expression analysis based on RNA-seq transcriptome profiling.
Our recent analyses from the transcriptome data set have shown that light wavelengths induce the anthocyanin biosynthetic genes, resulting in higher delphinidin accumulation in ripe bilberries.
The enhanced secondary metabolic pathways influenced by such light qualities and the differential expression patterns in light-reaction centers as observed in various subunit complexes of photosystem I and II in the photosynthetic apparatus are briefly discussed in this study.
This is crucial in order to study how plants acclimatize to modified light environment in terms of photosynthesis.
The differences in expression of hormone signal transduction pathway genes were also discussed.
The results will contribute to a better understanding of the light-mediated biosynthesis of phytochemicals in Vaccinium berries.
Publication
Authors
A. Samkumar, K. Karppinen, I. Martinussen, R.V. Espley, L. Jaakola
Keywords
anthocyanins, Vaccinium berries, bilberry, LED light, photosynthesis
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