The protection of Salicornia rubra from ultraviolet radiation by betacyanins and phenolic compounds.

ABSTRACT: Salicornia rubra is a commonly occurring annual species of the salt playas of the Great Basin Desert of the western United States. In such habitats, plants experience high levels of ultraviolet radiation, which could potentially damage DNA. As a member of the Amaranthaceae (Caryophyllales), S. rubra shoots typically contain high concentrations of the red-violet pigments called betacyanins, which are ultraviolet-absorbing compounds. Nevertheless, some specimens of S. rubra are green even when growing with full exposure to the sun. We, therefore, tested several hypotheses regarding the causes of variation among S. rubra plants in betacyanin concentration and the role of betacyanins in the absorption of ultraviolet radiation. We measured ultrav

SUBMITTER: Jensen K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10168037 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature