Profiling anthocyanin species involved in developmentally regulated programmed cell death in lace plant (Aponogeton madagascariensis) leaf development

Programmed cell death (PCD) is a systematic method of cellular destruction and is required in plants
for normal development and survival. Lace plant ( Aponogeton madagascariensis) uses PCD to form
perforations throughout its leaves and has emerged as a model organism in the study of
developmentally regulated PCD in plants. The development of perforation formation in lace plant
leaves is divided into five main stages: pre-perforation (prior to PCD initiation), window (PCD
occurs), perforation formation, perforation expansion, and mature (PCD completed). Early stage
leaves are pink in colour due to abundant anthocyanin pigmentation; the first visible sign of cell
death is the disappearance of anthocyanin in window stage leaves. Due to this conspicuous pattern of
anthocyanin loss, it is suspected that these pigments may play a role in lace plant PCD. The research
objective is to profile anthocyanin species involved in developmental PCD during lace plant leaf
development. Sterile cultures of lace plant were established, and tissues were excised for crude
anthocyanin extraction. The extracts profiled via LC-DAD and LC-MS. LC-DAD results indicated
that the anthocyanin species and their relative abundances varied with the stages of leaf
development. LC-MS identified four abundant anthocyanin species present in lace plant leaves that
are not found in common fruits and vegetables. The identity of these anthocyanin species are
presently being determined.