anthocyanin

The Human Genome Project is one of the greatest scientific feats in history. It was launched in 1990 and completed in 2003. The international group of researchers wanted to comprehensively study all of the DNA – the genome – from a select set of organisms, foremost of which being that of human beings. The results accelerated the study of human biology and has led to improvements in the practice of medicine.

Every living thing – animal, plant, fungus, and various single-celled organisms – has a genome – a genetic blueprint. A recent study by researchers at the University of Florida has done genome sequencing of blackberries with the hope of being able to achieve more efficient and targeted breeding.

Over the past 20 years, consumer demand for blackberries has increased leading to farmers growing more of the fruit in the United States. The U.S. produces 37 million pounds of processed blackberries and almost 3 million pounds of fresh berries each year.

The Florida researchers made use of a large collection of DNA sequences to computationally piece together the entire genome of the blackberry variety in the study. The genome study uncovered the secrets behind key traits that could lead to growing blackberry plants with no thorns and increasing the production of anthocyanin, which affects the color and health benefits of the fruit.

For Florida, the southeastern United States and regions with similar climates, the genetic research holds the promise of accelerating the process to create blackberry varieties that are better suited to local growing conditions, enhancing both the yield and the quality of the increasingly popular fruit.

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Decoding blackberry DNA: UF study paves way for enhanced breeding strategies

Photo, posted September 18, 2016, courtesy of Theo Crazzolara via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio

We had a particularly colorful fall in the Northeast this year. Almost everywhere you looked, there were brilliant displays of yellow, orange, and red. The colors of fall are a result of chemistry and environmental events that may have taken place many months in the past.

The color of leaves comes from 4 pigments whose effects are governed by photosynthesis. The one that is actually used in photosynthesis is chlorophyll and it causes leaves to be green. But when a tree begins to prepare for dormancy, it stops producing chlorophyll, the green pigmentation fades, and the other pigments that were already in the leaves become visible.

There are xanthoplylls, which are the yellow pigments that are seen the most in fall trees. They are the same pigments that color egg yolks and sometimes parts of the human eye. They are only produced by plants and appear in humans and animals only through consumption.

There are carotenes, which are the orange pigments found in fruits and vegetables, such as carrots, oranges, some bell peppers and squashes.

And there is anthocyanin, which is the pigment found in blueberries, blackberries, and red or violet roses. Its color depends on the pH level of the plant; higher pH leads to darker color. This is the pigment seen in red maples, black cherry trees, Shumard oaks, and more. Only 10% of trees in temperate climates produce anthocyanin and its red pigmentation and most of those trees are in New England.

All these pigments serve purposes. They help trees absorb light energy, prevent sun damage, and even regulate how much energy chlorophyll produces.

There are complicated chemical and environmental factors at play in fall foliage but when they come together like they did this year, it’s a magnificent spectacle.

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Why Do Trees Change Color?

Photo, posted October 17, 2020, courtesy of John Brighenti via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.

Building better blackberries

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Why Do Trees Change Color? | Earth Wise

We had a particularly colorful fall in the Northeast this year. Almost everywhere you looked, there were brilliant displays of yellow, orange, and red. The colors of fall are a result of chemistry and environmental events that may have taken place many months in the past.

Web Links