Whole-plant reddening in Silene germana is due to anthocyanin accumulation in response to visible light

Abstract

The phenology of anthocyanin accumulation in leaves has been widely studied in perennial plants; several hypotheses have been proposed to explain their adaptive significance. Here, we explored the photoprotection hypothesis in Silene germana, a Mediterranean annual plant with late-spring/summer flowering. We analysed the temporal patterns of anthocyanin accumulation in photosynthetic calyces, leaves and stems and throughout the reproductive season, and their relationship with flower abortion, florivory and plant mortality due to drought. In addition, the flavonoid production and the photoinhibitory response were measured in a shading experiment. The whole plant becomes red at the end of the flowering and remains red until fruiting and senescence. Calyces were redder on the side with more sun exposition. Aborted flowers showed redder calyces than those of fruiting flowers. No effect of plant redness on florivory or plant mortality was found. The shading experiment showed a positive relationship between anthocyanin accumulation and intensity of solar radiation, but plants growing in absence of UV showed similar redness than full sunlight plants. Plants growing in natural shade lack anthocyanins but produced the same amount of non-anthocyanin flavonoids. Anthocyanic and non-anthocyanic plants showed similar photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm) after sun exposition, but in early morning, the former showed lower Fv/Fm values. Plants growing in full sunlight produced more fruits than those of natural shade plants. Whole-plant reddening during fruiting and senescence appears to be a property of S. germana. Our results suggest that anthocyanin accumulation depends on sunlight intensity, but non-anthocyanin flavonoids are produced constitutively.