Red Color Expression Research Articles

Comparative metabolomics reveals complex metabolic shifts associated with nitrogen-induced color development in mature pepper fruit.

Pigments derived from red pepper fruits are widely used in food and cosmetics as natural colorants. Nitrogen (N) is a key nutrient affecting plant growth and metabolism; however, its regulation of color-related metabolites in pepper fruit has not been fully elucidated. This study analyzed the effects of N supply (0, 250, and 400 kg N ha-1) on the growth, fruit skin color, and targeted and non-target secondary metabolites of field-grown pepper fruits at the mature red stage. Overall, 16 carotenoids were detected, of which capsanthin, zeaxanthin, and capsorubin were the dominant ones. N application at 250 kg ha-1 dramatically increased contents of red pigment capsanthin, yellow-orange zeaxanthin and β-carotene, with optimum fruit yield. A total of 290 secondary metabolites were detected and identified. The relative content of most flavonoids and phenolic acids was decreased with increasing N supply. Correlation analysis showed that color parameters were highly correlated with N application rates, carotenoids, flavonoids, phenolic acids, lignans, and coumarins. Collectively, N promoted carotenoid biosynthesis but downregulated phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis, which together determined the spectrum of red color expression in pepper fruit. Our results provide a better understanding of the impact of N nutrition on pepper fruit color formation and related physiology, and identification of target metabolites for enhancement of nutritional quality and consumer appeal.

Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses reveal how girdling promotes leaf color expression in Acer rubrum L

BackgroundAcer rubrum L. (red maple) is a popular tree with attractive colored leaves, strong physiological adaptability, and a high ornamental value. Changes in leaf color can be an adaptive response to changes in environmental factors, and also a stress response to external disturbances. In this study, we evaluated the effect of girdling on the color expression of A. rubrum leaves. We studied the phenotypic characteristics, physiological and biochemical characteristics, and the transcriptomic and metabolomic profiles of leaves on girdled and non-girdled branches of A. rubrum.ResultsPhenotypic studies showed that girdling resulted in earlier formation of red leaves, and a more intense red color in the leaves. Compared with the control branches, the girdled branches produced leaves with significantly different color parameters a*. Physiological and biochemical studies showed that girdling of branches resulted in uneven accumulation of chlorophyll, carotenoids, anthocyanins, and other pigments in leaves above the band. In the transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses, 28,432 unigenes including 1095 up-regulated genes and 708 down-regulated genes were identified, and the differentially expressed genes were mapped to various KEGG (kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes) pathways. Six genes encoding key transcription factors related to anthocyanin metabolism were among differentially expressed genes between leaves on girdled and non-girdled branches.ConclusionsGirdling significantly affected the growth and photosynthesis of red maple, and affected the metabolic pathways, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, and carbon metabolisms in the leaves. This resulted in pigment accumulation in the leaves above the girdling site, leading to marked red color expression in those leaves. A transcriptome analysis revealed six genes encoding anthocyanin-related transcription factors that were up-regulated in the leaves above the girdling site. These transcription factors are known to be involved in the regulation of phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, anthocyanin biosynthesis, and flavonoid biosynthesis. These results suggest that leaf reddening is a complex environmental adaptation strategy to maintain normal metabolism in response to environmental changes. Overall, the results of these comprehensive phenotype, physiological, biochemical, transcriptomic, and metabolomic analyses provide a deeper and more reliable understanding of the coevolution of red maple leaves in response to environmental changes.

The effect of prefermentative addition of gallic acid and ellagic acid on the red wine color, copigmentation and phenolic profiles during wine aging

Though non-anthocyanin phenolics normally do not have red color, they affect the red color expression in the copigmentation of red wines. In this study, the influence of prefermentative addition of 300mg/L gallic acid and ellagic acid, as cofactors, on aging dry red wines had been systematically evaluated at the industrial scales from the perspectives of color, phenolic profiles and copigmentation effects of anthocyanins. Red wines made with these two compounds exhibited better color properties than the control, having better CIELAB chromatic parameters. Additionally, significantly higher levels of detectable anthocyanins and copigmented anthocyanin ratio had been observed. Wines with ellagic acid showed better chromatic properties and phenolic profiles than wines with gallic acid, as shown in previous theoretical results. Anti-copigmentation phenomenon was noticed and elucidated. These practical results confirmed that ellagic acid was the better cofactor, and would give more additional guidance for the production of high quality wine. Chemical compoundsMalvidin-3-O-glucoside (PubChem CID: 443,652); Petunidin-3-O-glucoside (PubChem CID: 443,651); Delphinidin-3-O-glucoside (PubChem CID: 443,650); Peonidin-3-O-glucoside (PubChem CID: 443,654); Ellagic acid (PubChem CID: 5,281,855); Gallic acid (PubChem CID: 370); Quercetin (PubChem CID: 443,654); Caffeic acid (PubChem CID: 689,043); (+)-catechin (PubChem CID: 9064); Vanillic acid (PubChem CID: 8468).

The Effect of Several Paper Bags on Fruit Skin Coloration of Red Skin European Pear ‘Kalle’

This study was conducted to elucidate the relationship between light and coloring and to obtain basic results for promoting redness expression in 'Kalle' (Pyrus communis L.) pear skin. It was investigated in location of anthocyanin layer by microscopic observation and differences in skin color expression of 'Kalle' bagged with paper bag which has different light transmittance rate and inside temperature. However, there was no anthocyanin layer in the brown skin and golden yellow color, anthocyanin layer was distributed in epidermins or hyperdermis of red skin pear and apple. Dark red colored 'Kalle' had more anthocyanin content, FW than light red colored apple 'Hongro'. Light transmittance rate of physical characteristics used paper bags was the highest in white paper bag, 42.2% and it also had more light quantity, than any other tested paper bags in specific wave length 650-655 nm. The maximum temperature of inner bag was higher about in yellow paper bag. The red coloration and anthocyanin contents in no bagged fruits were higher than in any other bagged fruit. However, red color expression among the bagged fruits was higher in white paper bag than in double layered black paper bag and yellow paper bag. Also, chromaticity value seemd to be a good index to explain variation of fruit skin color, because anthocyanin content and chromaticity value were higher. Based on these results, it is desirable to cultivate 'Kalle' without bag for stable redness expression but bagging is essential for decreasing damage by insect in Korea. Further examination to find suitable time of removing paperbag for redness expression and decreasing insect damage. In addition, it is required to develop paperbag whose transmittance rate is high in specific light wavelength or temperature of inner bags is low. Additional key words: anthocyanin, bagging, chromaticity value, light transmittance, Pyrus communis L.

Male red ornamentation is associated with female red sensitivity in sticklebacks.

Sexual selection theory proposes correlated evolutionary changes in mating preferences and secondary sexual characters based on a positive genetic correlation between preference and the preferred trait. Empirical work has provided support for a genetic covariation between female preference and male attractiveness in several taxa. Here, we study parent and offspring visual traits in threespine sticklebacks, Gasterosteus aculeatus. While focusing on the proximate basis of mating preferences, we compare the red breeding coloration of males, which strongly contributes to female choice, with their daughters' red sensitivity measured by optomotor response thresholds. We show that the red color expression of fathers correlates well with their daughters' red sensitivity. Given that a within-population genetic correlation between signal and preference was experimentally confirmed for the red coloration in sticklebacks, our results indicate a proximate mechanism in terms of perceptual sensitivity being involved in the co-evolution of female preferences and male mating signals.

Correlation between chromaticity values and major anthocyanins in seven Acer palmatum Thunb. cultivars

The correlation between the anthocyanin concentrations of seven Acer palmatum Thunb. cultivars and the chromaticity values a*, b*, a*/ b* ratio, h° and L* was investigated. According to the position of leaves on the branch terminal, middle and base sample leaves were analyzed and the positional effect on the level of the major anthocyanin was estimated. Leaf color was measured with a portable colorimeter and individual anthocyanins were detected with the use of HPLC–MS. Cyanidin-3-glucoside was present in all senescing leaves of Acer cultivars and its content decreased from terminal to base position. Cyanidin-3-rutinoside was identified in lower concentrations in the leaves of all cultivars. Multiple variable analysis was calculated for each of the tristimulus values and two major anthocyanins (cyanidin-3-glucoside, cyanidin-3-rutinoside) in senescing leaves of ornamental Acer cultivars. Correlations were detected between the major anthocyanin (cyanidin-3-glucoside) in analyzed Acer cultivars and all chromaticity parameters. The highest correlation coefficient (0.94) was observed between cyanidin-3-glucoside and a*/ b* ratio in cultivar ‘Bloodgood’ and lowest (0.54) between cyanidin-3-glucoside and a* in Acer palmatum Thunb. The correlation between cyanidin-3-rutinoside and chromaticity parameters was not detected in all Acer cultivars, additionally correlation coefficients and statistical significance were much lower. The expression of red color in both senescing leaves and in all-year-red cultivars can be tightly linked with the content level of cyanidin-3-glucoside; the second major anthocyanin does not contribute much to the red leaf color.

(248) New Four Genes Related to Seed Characteristics, Flower Appearance, and Red Color

New four traits not yet reported were founded. One mutant plant was from a population of 81-1251-D-20M treated with EMS (ethylmethane sulfonate), which had tubular petals. This tubular petal plant had normal pollens in anthers, but could almost not produce its seeds without artificial pollination. It was controlled by one single recessive gene. One new spontaneous dwarf mutant line, R3-10, which bore seedcoatless-like seeds with short pappus, was crossed with normal breeding lines GL5 and 87-25M-2M. From F2 and F3 results, it was found that the two traits (seedcoatless-like and short pappus) were governed by each one single recessive gene. A stem lettuce type cultivar, `Baimach', seemed to be almost green, but was really tinged red, which was extremely suppressed in red color expression. Its tinged red color could not be seen, except on only very limited base parts of the stem and dorsal petal. In two F2 population experiments of the crosses of `Baimach' with `Oakleaf' and 98-43-3, it was found that the suppression of red color expression in `Baimach' was caused by a single recessive gene. It looked different from that of gene “v” (vanishing) by Lindqvist, because the red color of plants with “v” gene of Lindqvist were typically tinged and could be identified easily at a young plant stage, but not that of `Baimach'. I designated these new four genes as Tu-tu (Tu = normal, tu = tubular petal), Pp-pp (Pp = normal, pp = short pappus), Scl-scl (Scl = normal, scl = seedcoatless-like), and In-in (In = normal, in = inhibiting red color expression extremely).

Factors influencing red expression in autumn foliage of sugar maple trees.

We evaluated factors influencing the development of autumn red coloration in leaves of sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) by measuring mineral nutrient and carbohydrate concentrations, water content, and phenology of color development of leaves from 16 mature open-grown trees on 12 dates from June through October 1999. Mean foliar nutrient and carbohydrate concentrations and water content were generally within the range published for healthy sugar maple trees. However, foliar nitrogen (N) concentrations were near deficiency values for some trees. The timing and extent of red leaf coloration was consistently correlated with both foliar N concentrations and starch or sugar concentrations, which also varied with N status. Leaves of trees with low foliar N concentrations turned red earlier and more completely than those of trees with high foliar N concentrations. Low-N trees also had higher foliar starch concentrations than high-N trees. During the autumn development of red leaf coloration, foliar starch, glucose and fructose concentrations were positively correlated with red leaf color expression. At peak red expression, the concentrations of glucose, fructose, sucrose and stachyose were all positively correlated with red color expressed as a percent of total leaf area.

キンメダイ赤色素胞の挙動に及ぼす浸漬処理の影響

The effects of distilled water, salt solution, and chilling treatment on erythrosome movements in erythrophores of the red-colored marine fish were investigated to elucidate the mechanism for the inhibition of the red color expression by ice-cold sea water. Soaking in distilled water inhibited the erythrosome dispersion, while erythrosomes of the fish soaked in 3.5% NaCl solution around 1°C dispersed around 10h after death, exhibiting a vivid red skin color. The chilling treatment around 1°C showed a slight inhibition of the appearance of red skin color. These results suggested that ice-cold sea water should not be used in order to reveal the vivid red skin color of marine fish.