biologia plantarum

Biologia plantarum 38:625-627, 1996 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02890623

Chlorophyll fluorescence and anthocyanin content in chilled maize plants after return to a non- chilling temperature under various irradiances

T. Janda¹, G. Szalai¹, E. Páldi¹

¹ Agricultural Research Institute of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Hungary

The effect of irradiance on the ratio of variable to maximum fluorescence (F_v/F_m) and on the anthocyanin content of chilled (0.5 °C) young maize plants was investigated after returning the plants to a non-chilling temperature (25 °C). Compared to control plants grown throughout at 25 °C in the light, the F_v/F_m hardly changed during chilling or when returned to a non-chilling temperature in the dark, but there was a decrease in this parameter if the plants were shifted to the light after the cold treatment. Similarly, compared to the control plants there was no change in the anthocyanin content either at low temperature or after transfer to 25 °C in the dark. However, there was a sudden increase in the anthocyanin level after returning the plants from dark cold conditions to a non-chilling temperature in the light.

Received: January 12, 1996; Accepted: February 15, 1996; Published: December 1, 1996  Show citation