Effect of anthocyanin on David peach ( Prunus davidiana Franch) under low temperature stress

Abstract

Experiment I was conducted to investigate activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in bark tissues from 1-year-old shoots to 5-years-old David peach seedlings. The enzymes increased rapidly from mid-September to mid-November, then maintained high levels during the winter, and decreased in March. The activity of l-phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) increased from September, reached its peak value in mid-December and then decreased rapidly to a low level. The content of malondialdehyde (MDA), a final product of lipid peroxidation due to cold injury, and electrolyte leakage were both maintained at relatively low levels during autumn and winter. The results demonstrated that David peach had great capacity for enduring cold stress under winter conditions. In experiment II, 1-year-old potted David peach seedlings were transferred, on 14 September 1998, from the field (day temperature 33 °C) into illuminated incubators at 4 °C. The seedlings quickly responded to the chilling treatment. The activities of SOD and PAL, the content of MDA and electrolyte leakage increased rapidly and reached their peak levels after 8 or 12 h, and then decreased to their normal levels. In experiment III, 1-year-old David peach seedlings were sprayed with different concentrations of anthocyanin solutions on 7 October 1998 (day temperature 25 °C), and were chilled 24 h later at −4 °C for 12 h. The same experiment was repeated on 14 October 1998. The results indicated that anthocyanin could decrease the response of David peach seedlings to the chilling treatment, resulting in protection of the seedlings from low temperature injury. In addition, the physiological function of anthocyanin is discussed.