UV Actions in Plant Photomorphogenesis -Induction and Amplification of Anthocyanin Synthesis in Broom Sorghum-

In broom sorghum, Sorghum bicolor Moench, UV causes anthocyanin synthesis having action peaks in UVA and UVB regions. We previously reported that UV induces anthocyanin synthesis through UVB photoreceptor and phytochrome activated by UV. Furthermore, UVA and UVB amplify phytochrome-induced anthocyanin synthesis (PIAS). Our action- spectroscopic research indicated that a UV -receptor for amplification of PIAS is likely to be the same or same type of UVB photoreceptor for induction of anthocyanin synthesis. UVA-amplification of PIAS can be explained by the action of a cryptic red light signal (CRS), an amplification factor for PIAS produced by a distinct phytochrome-species activated by UVA. We suggest that UVA photoreceptors are not involved in anthocyanin synthesis in the broom sorghum.