Bark anthocyanin levels differ with location in cultivars of red maple

The objective of this study was to determine differences in the bulk anthoc yanin content of bark tissue of container-grown red maple (Acer rubrum L. a nd Acer xfreemanii E. Murray) at two Georgia locations with different envir onmental conditions. Rooted cuttings and tissue-cultured plantlets of eight cultivars were grown in either Blairsville or Tifton, Ga. [U.S, Dept. of A griculture (USDA) Hardiness Zones 6b and 8a; American Horticultural Society (AHS) Heat Zones 5 and 8, respectively], from June 1995 until Dec. 1996. B ark tissue from twigs of trees grown in Blairsville was visually redder and contained more total anthocyanin than did that of trees grown in Tifton. L evels of total anthocyanins were higher (P = 0.0007) at Blairsville (0.087 mg.g(-1), N = 48) than at Tifton (0.068 mg.g(-1), N = 47), At both location s the levels were highest in 'Landsburg' ('Firedance'(TM)), followed by 'Fr anksred' ('Red Sunset'(TM)) and 'October Glory', This is the first report t o quantify anthocyanin differences in bark tissue of container-grown trees. Cooler nights in Blairsville might have contributed to increased coloratio n by reducing respiratory losses, thus leaving more carbohydrates available for pigment production.