Tissue localization of betacyanins in cactus stems
Betalains are soluble pigments found only in the suborder Chenopodiniae, while in all other Angiospermae they are replaced by anthocyanins. The convergent evolution of the presence of anthocyanins and betalains in vegetative tissues supports the hypothesis of a similar function, based on the absorpt...
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Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
2012-06-01
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| Series: | Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad |
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| Online Access: | https://revista.ib.unam.mx/index.php/bio/article/view/977 |
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| author | Alessandro Mosco |
| author_facet | Alessandro Mosco |
| author_sort | Alessandro Mosco |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Betalains are soluble pigments found only in the suborder Chenopodiniae, while in all other Angiospermae
they are replaced by anthocyanins. The convergent evolution of the presence of anthocyanins and betalains in
vegetative tissues supports the hypothesis of a similar function, based on the absorption properties of these pigments.
The screening effect of anthocyanins results in the reduction of the amount of photoinhibition. Betalains, being the
anthocyanin counterpart in most families of Caryophyllales, were also suggested to have a screening role. This study
is aimed at identifying in which Cactaceae stem tissues betacyanins, reddish to violet betalain pigments, accumulate.
Stem accumulation of betacyanins was observed in cacti both in their natural habitat and in cultivation. The localization
of betacyanins was assessed by light microscope studies on tubercle transverse sections. During 2 field trips in distinct
years to the Mexican plateau in March, many cactus species, belonging to different genera, were observed displaying
a reddish stem. Light microscope studies on cultivated plants showed that betacyanins accumulate in the hypodermis
and in the outer layers of the chlorenchyma, where they may act as a screen, thus protecting the photosystems present
in the underlying chlorenchyma, and have a possible antioxidant function in the cortex.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2e37a6117ccb46d7885ceee255acf66f |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1870-3453 2007-8706 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2012-06-01 |
| publisher | Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad |
| spelling | doaj-art-2e37a6117ccb46d7885ceee255acf66f2025-08-20T02:59:01ZengUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoRevista Mexicana de Biodiversidad1870-34532007-87062012-06-0183210.22201/ib.20078706e.2012.2.977Tissue localization of betacyanins in cactus stemsAlessandro MoscoBetalains are soluble pigments found only in the suborder Chenopodiniae, while in all other Angiospermae they are replaced by anthocyanins. The convergent evolution of the presence of anthocyanins and betalains in vegetative tissues supports the hypothesis of a similar function, based on the absorption properties of these pigments. The screening effect of anthocyanins results in the reduction of the amount of photoinhibition. Betalains, being the anthocyanin counterpart in most families of Caryophyllales, were also suggested to have a screening role. This study is aimed at identifying in which Cactaceae stem tissues betacyanins, reddish to violet betalain pigments, accumulate. Stem accumulation of betacyanins was observed in cacti both in their natural habitat and in cultivation. The localization of betacyanins was assessed by light microscope studies on tubercle transverse sections. During 2 field trips in distinct years to the Mexican plateau in March, many cactus species, belonging to different genera, were observed displaying a reddish stem. Light microscope studies on cultivated plants showed that betacyanins accumulate in the hypodermis and in the outer layers of the chlorenchyma, where they may act as a screen, thus protecting the photosystems present in the underlying chlorenchyma, and have a possible antioxidant function in the cortex. https://revista.ib.unam.mx/index.php/bio/article/view/977betacyaninscactiepidermishypodermis |
| spellingShingle | Alessandro Mosco Tissue localization of betacyanins in cactus stems Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad betacyanins cacti epidermis hypodermis |
| title | Tissue localization of betacyanins in cactus stems |
| title_full | Tissue localization of betacyanins in cactus stems |
| title_fullStr | Tissue localization of betacyanins in cactus stems |
| title_full_unstemmed | Tissue localization of betacyanins in cactus stems |
| title_short | Tissue localization of betacyanins in cactus stems |
| title_sort | tissue localization of betacyanins in cactus stems |
| topic | betacyanins cacti epidermis hypodermis |
| url | https://revista.ib.unam.mx/index.php/bio/article/view/977 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT alessandromosco tissuelocalizationofbetacyaninsincactusstems |