1H7 



Anthocyanin of Beta Vulgaris. 



F. M. Andrews — Indiana University. 



If a freshly made solution of chlorophyll is placed in a transparent 

 vessel in the direct sunlight it is well known that in a few hours the 

 chlorophyll will be broken down and will become more or less brown in 

 color. If, however, part of the freshly made solution of chlorophyll is 

 placed in the dark it will remain apparently unchanged in color even 

 after twenty-four hours or longer. The above mentioned behavior of 

 chlorophyll acts quite differently from the anthocyanin of Beta vulgaris. 

 The anthocyanin of this plant forms one of those examples where the 

 pigment forms in the subterranean parts. The behavior of this pigment 

 with reference to the light is quite different as regards preservation in 

 the light. If a strong solution of the anthocyanin of Beta vulgaris is 

 placed in a test-tube in darkness it will continue to preserve its normal 

 color for more than a week. Quite different from chlorophyll if a strong 

 solutioii of this anthocyanin is exposed in a test-tube in direct sunlight 

 it will retain its normal bright color for a week, or sometimes more, 

 or until broken down and disorganized by bacterial action. This latter 

 effect finally happens to the solution of anthocyanin of Beta vulgaris 

 in the dark. So that whether in the light or dark the color remains 

 almost the same length of time. While it is clear that the presence of 

 anthocyanin in various plants is not important like chlorophyll, still a 

 comparative, exhaustive study of the two pigments under different 

 physiological conditions is much to be desired and would make a valu- 

 able contribution. 



