Light-induced flavone biosynthesis and activity of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and UDP-apiose synthetase in cell suspension cultures of Petroselinum hortense.

The formation of flavone glycosides in cell suspension cultures from parsley leaf petiols after illumination with high intensities of white light was demonstrated. Changes in the activities of two of the enzymes involved in flavone glycoside biosynthesis (phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and UDP-apiose synthetase) were measured over a period of 14 days. The two enzymes reached maximum specific activities after significantly different periods of time.