Hmm, this brings up a question for me. I use anthocyanin
production as an example of phenotypic plasticity in class.
My story is that anthocyanins protect from excessive
sunlight, particularly in plants that are exposed to more
sunlight than they usually receive (e.g. understory plants
where a forest gap forms). My thoughts are that either
this decreases photorespiration, damage from too many UV
rays, and helps avoid overheating. I consider my own
hypothesis, although I could have picked it up somewhere
else. Does anyone have information or studies that support
or refute these ideas?
Doug
On 26 Oct 1998 21:17:07 GMT TFylan <tfylan at aol.com> wrote:
> Any useful products a re passed into the stem before abcission Dead leaves are
> brown so anthoocyanins have all either been used up to help make the abcission
> layer or have been translocated back into the stem before abcission layer
> iscomplete Anthocyanins are sugars which are easily transported Rose bushes
> have stems tinged with red especially in spring when sugars are being
> transported and it is usually a sign of health . red Beeches have anthocyanin
> in their leaves which masks the colours of chlorophyll but obviously does not
> affect photosynthesis. Waste products are passedinto the leaves before leaf
> fall Anthocyanins are not waste products
>>
>>>>>>>>>Douglas P. Jensen
Department of Biology
MSC 7801
James Madison University
Harrisonburg VA 22807
phone: (540)568-3343
jensendp at jmu.edu
