Anthocyanin Accumulation and Color Development in Seedless Barberry (Berberis vulgaris L.) Fruits: The Role of Altitude and Sun Light - the Preliminary Results

ABSTRACT

The present research was conducted to investigate the effect of direct sun-light on color development of seedless barberry fruit. The selected orchards were in different locations (with different altitude). On some trees, some inflorescences were chosen to cover as bagged (excluded from direct sun-light). Some cases also used as non-bagged. Bagging was done in different times during growing season. Results showed that in all regions, day temperatures were higher than 20°C, and night was lower than 30°C. The lowest difference of day-night temperatures observed in Marvak. Bagging showed a significant effect on anthocyanin (ant), hue angle (h*), lightness and redness (a*). Bagging time significantly influenced chroma (C*) and b/a values. Ant, C*, a*, and a/b values significantly affected by location characteristics specifically altitude, and the highest ant and a* value observed in Marvak. In all locations, the highest value of ant and h* observed with not-bagged fruits. The highest value of a* obtained in not-bagged fruits. It is concluded that direct sun is needed for color development of barberry fruits, however, night-cool temperatures also are important for anthocyanin accumulation of this fruit.

KEYWORDS:

• Altitude
• anthocyanin
• bagging
• barberry
• redness
• temperature

Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge all who co-operate ours to find new insights into physiological behaviors of barberry shrubs.