Accumulation of Betacyanin in Phytolacca americana Cells and of Anthocyanin in Vitis sp. Cells in Relation to Cell Division in Suspension Cultures

In suspension cultures of Vitis sp., maximal accumulation ofanthocyanin was observed during the stationary phase. Accumulationof anthocyanin occurred in parallel with the cessation of celldivision under conditions such as a reduction of the concentrationof phosphate in the medium, or the presence of aphidicolin,an inhibitor of DNA synthesis. By contrast, in suspension culturesof Phytolacca americana, aphidicolin inhibited the accumulationof betacyanin and cell division. When aphidicolin was removedfrom cells by washing, partially synchronized division of cellswas induced and the accumulation of betacyanin also occurred,in conjunction with cell division. In the absence of phosphatefrom the medium, cell division did not occur and accumulationof betacyanin also ceased. Readdition of phosphate to cellsstarved for phosphate induced both cell division and the accumulationof betacyanin. These results indicate a positive correlationbetween the accumulation of betacyanin and cell division inPhytolacca which contrasts with a negative correlation betweenthe accumulation of anthocyanin and cell division in Vitis. (Received April 17, 1989; Accepted December 23, 1989)