Relative effectiveness and interaction of ultraviolet‐B, red and blue light in anthocyanin synthesis of apple fruit

The effect of light on anthocyanin production in apple (Malus pumila Mill. cv. Jonathan) skin disks was investigated, with prolonged irradiation from different light sources. High fluence rates of white light provided from a xenon lamp were unable to produce large amounts of anthocyanin, and anthocyanin production became saturated at about 30 W m−2. When UV‐B light, provided by a fluorescent lamp which had an emission peak at 312 nm, was combined with the white light, anthocyanin production was synergistically stimulated and increased up to the highest fluence rates of white light tested (44 W m−2). This UV‐B light was more effective than red and blue light provided from fluorescent lamps, but anthocyanin production became saturated at about 1.7 W m−2. However, simultaneous irradiation with red and UV‐B light had a synergistic effect. UV‐B light was also effective in increasing anthocyanin production in whole fruit. Therefore this synergism seemed to have an important role in the development of the desirable red skin color under field light conditions. The results of aminoethoxyvinylglycine treatment suggested that ethylene was not involved in the stimulative effect of UV‐B light.