Identification of betacyanin and effects of environmental factors on its accumulation in halophyte Suaeda salsa.

Effects of temperature, light, salinity and developmental phases on the accumulation of red pigments in the C(3) halophyte Suaeda salsa were studied, and the physical and chemical characteristics of the red pigments were also analyzed. The results indicate that: these red pigments are insoluble in organic solvents but free in water, the pigments are red-violet and stable under acidic condition while yellow and unstable under alkaline condition, and they absorb the highest value at wavelength near 538 nm, light suppresses their accumulation and enhances their decomposition. These results suggest that these red pigments are betacyanins. Darkness, low temperatures and high salinity enhance betacyanin accumulation in Suaeda salsa, and darkness in the germination phase is one of the most important environmental factors for the betacyanin accumulation.