In planta high levels of hydrolysable tannins inhibit peroxidase mediated anthocyanin degradation and maintain abaxially red leaves of Excoecaria Cochinchinensis

摘要

BackgroundAbaxially anthocyanic leaves of deeply-shaded understorey plants play important ecological significance for the environmental adaption. In contrast to the transient pigmentation in other plants, anthocyanins are permanently presented in these abaxially red leaves, however, the mechanism for the pigment maintenance remains unclear. In the present study, we investigated phenolic metabolites that may affect pigment stability and degradation in Excoecaria cochinchinensis (a bush of permanently abaxial-red leaves), via a comparison with Osmanthus fragrans (a bush of transiently red leaves).