Increasing Plant Flavonoid Biomaterials in Response to UV-A Light

Abstract

Flavonoid biomaterials have a protecting function from various stresses. We examined the flavonoid biosynthesis in plant treated under visible light (VL) and additional UV-A light. The transgenic tobacco containing PRODUCTION OF ANTHOCYANIN PIGMENT 1 (PAP1) cDNA, involved in flavonoid biosynthesis from Arabidopsis thaliana, were used for studying the flavonoid biosynthesis under both light conditions comparing to non transgenic tobacco. The flavonoid biomaterials were extracted with acidic methanol and water solvent from treated plant leaves. The absorbance of each biomaterial in the extract was measured under specific wavelength using a spectrophotometer. Additional UV-A radiated to non transgenic and transgenic tobacco affect the increasing of p-coumaric acid, naringenin, apigenin and kaempherol biomaterials from themselves grown under VL (approximately 120-130%). However, PAP1 transgenic tobaccos under additional UV-A radiation enhance the accumulation of these biomaterials up to160-180% higher than non transgenic tobaccos grown under VL condition. Moreover, PAP1 transgenic tobacco radiated with UVA light also significantly increased pelargonidin biomaterial. PAP1 transgenic tobaccos had a similar phenotype with non transgenic tobaccos but the color of fully expanding flower was more pink intensity than non transgenic.