EFFECT OF PHYTOCHROME ON THE BIOSYNTHESIS OF ACYCLIC AND CYCLIC CAROTENOIDS IN HIGHER PLANTS

Radish plants were grown in the presence of three different herbicides that interfere with the formation of the normal range of cyclic carotenoids, leading to an accumulation of acyclic biosynthetic intermediates, mainly phytoene (SAN 6706 and amitrole) and zeta-carotene (3852). Plants were then irradiated by four different light programs in order to gain more insight into the first steps of carotenoid biosynthesis and their control by light and phytochrome. In all cases, herbicide-treated and control, carotenoid biosynthesis was greatly enhanced by red light consistent with an effect of phytochrome on the early steps of the pathway. However, similar enhancement was also obtained after treatment with far-red light. Indeed with SAN 6706-treated plants synthesis of phytoene was stimulated to a much greater extent by far-red light given alone, than by red light. The involvement of phytochrome in the regulation of carotenoid biosynthesis appears not to be as simple as previously supposed.