Anthocyanin Synthesis in Corn Endosperm Tissue Cultures. II. Effect of Certain Inhibitory and Stimulatory Agents

Abstract

The strongest inhibiting agents of pigment production are riboflavin, methionine, asparagine, glutamine, and valine. The strongest promoters of pigment synthesis are aspartic acid and cystine. Adenylic and cytidylic acids promote anthocyanin synthesis to some degree. Experiments with purine and pyrimidine analogues seem to indicate that the nucleo-tides probably do not participate directly in pigment formation. It is suggested that aspartic acid plays an important role in anthocyanin synthesis in these tissues at least. Most of the inhibition data are at variance with those of Thimann and his associates which were obtained with Spirodela. It is suggested that differences in the metabolic states of Spirodela (a complete, autotrophic, green plant) and the endosperm cultures (tissues devoid of chlorophyll) as well as the chemical differences between the major pigments of both plants may account for the disparity of results.