Intermittent light irradiation with second- or hour-scale periods controlsanthocyanin production by strawberry cells

Anthocyanin production by strawberry cells depends not only on light intens ity but also on the light/dark cycle operation with hour- or second-scale p eriods. These findings are useful fur designing and operating photobioreact ors for enhanced anthocyanin production. Intermittent illumination with a s econd-scale period produces the same amount of anthocyanin as continuous li ght, suggesting that the light intensity distribution within a photobioreac tor does not cause suppressed production. In the hour-scale cycle, continuo us light operation enhanced anthocyanin production more than the light/dark cycle process. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.