The Adaptive Role of Carotenoids and Anthocyanins in Solanum lycopersicum Pigment Mutants under High Irradiance
А. А. Ашихмин, М. А. Bolshakov, Pavel Pashkovskiy, Mikhail Vereshchagin, Alexandra Khudyakova, Г. Н. Ширшикова, А. Д. Кожевникова, Anatoliy Kosobryukhov, Vladimir D. Kreslavski, Vladimir V. Kuznetsov, Suleyman I. Allakhverdiev
Abstract
3617) were investigated. This study also evaluated the dry weight percentage of low molecular weight antioxidant capacity, expression patterns of some photoreceptor-regulated genes, and structural aspects of leaf mesophyll cells. The 3005 mutant displayed increased levels of photosynthetic pigments and anthocyanins, whereas the 3617 mutant demonstrated a heightened content of ultraviolet-absorbing pigments. The photosynthetic rate, photosystem II activity, antioxidant capacity, and carotenoid content were most pronounced in the high-pigment mutant after 72 h exposure to intense light. This mutant also exhibited an increase in leaf thickness and water content when exposed to high-intensity light, suggesting superior physiological adaptability and reduced photoinhibition. Our findings indicate that the enhanced adaptability of the high-pigment mutant might be attributed to increased flavonoid and carotenoid contents, leading to augmented expression of key genes associated with pigment synthesis and light regulation.