Some physiological changes at early germination phases of mirabilis jalapa l.

Abstract

Having been studied for many years in genetics due to floral pigments, Mirabilis jalapa L. is a common plant that is tolerant to environmental pollutants. It bears additional importance for having seeds and tuberous roots with antiviral, antifungal and anticarcinogen activities. Deemed as the plant of the future, it is a well established fact that it exhibits a high level of activity of protease and phosphatase and a high level amount of anthocyanin and carotenoid during the germination at early seedling phase of seeds obtained from red colored plants. It can be asserted that anthocyanin functions as protectant against UV irradiation and conservative of free radicals whereas carotenoids act as accessory pigments to already rare chlorophyll pigments. On the other hand, it is determined that the amount of chlorophyll a, b is high during germination at early seedling phases of seeds obtained from white flowered plants, from which it is inferred that while synthesizing of anthocyanin, a decrease in chlorophyll is in question and UV protection is enabled via extra productivity of photosynthetic material. © 2005 Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.