Control of ascorbic acid synthesis and accumulation by the incident light red/far red ratio in Phaseolus vulgaris leaves

BARTOLI CARLOS GUILLERMO; TAMBUSSI EDUARDO ALBERTO; FANELLO DIEGO DARÍO; FOYER CHRISTINE H

FEBS LETTERS

Elsevier

Año: 2009 vol. 583 p. 118 - 122

0014-5793

The effects of red/far red (R/FR) ratios on leaf ascorbate (AA) and glutathione (GSH) accumulation were examined in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Growth under low R/FR ratios resulted in a ‘‘shade” phenotype and much lower leaf AA and GSH contents than high (R/FR) ratios. Photosynthesis rates were unaffected by changes in the R/FR ratio but leaf respiration rates, pyridine nucleotide pools and antioxidant enzyme activities were decreased under the low R/FR regime. The GSH pool changed slowly in response to altered R/FR ratios but leaf ascorbate acclimated over a single photoperiod. We conclude that light quality signals, particularly R/FR ratios, are important regulators of antioxidant synthesis and accumulation. These acclimatory changes are an early response to changing light environment.