Environmental Significance of Anthocyanins in Plant Stress Responses

TLDR

Anthocyanins are water‑soluble pigments found in all plant tissues, whose biosynthesis has been better understood in recent years, yet their adaptive benefits—especially in non‑reproductive tissues—remain unclear despite being transiently induced by factors such as visible/UVB radiation, cold, and water stress. This review examines how environmental factors induce anthocyanins and their potential role in mitigating stresses from visible/UVB radiation, drought, and cold. It discusses the mechanisms by which anthocyanin production is triggered by environmental cues and how these pigments may confer resistance to such stresses.

Abstract

Abstract— Anthocyanins are water‐soluble pigments found in all plant tissues throughout the plant kingdom. Our understanding of anthocyanin biosynthesis and its molecular control has greatly improved in the last decade. The adaptive advantages of anthocyanins, especially in non‐reproductive tissues, is much less clear. Anthocyanins often appear transiently at specific developmental stages and may be induced by a number of environmental factors including visible and UVB radiation, cold temperatures and water stress. The subsequent production and localization of anthocyanins in root, stem and especially leaf tissues may allow the plant to develop resistance to a number of environmental stresses. This article reviews the environmental induction of anthocyanins and their proposed importance in ameliorating environmental stresses induced by visible and UVB radiation, drought and cold temperatures.