| Summary: | Light quality is a vital environmental signal used to trigger growth and to develop structural differentiation in plants, and it influences morphological, physiological, and biochemical metabolites. In previous studies, different light qualities were found to regulate the synthesis of anthocyanin. However, the mechanism of the synthesis and accumulation of anthocyanins in leaves in response to light quality remains unclear. In this study, the <i>Loropetalum chinense</i> var. <i>rubrum</i> “Xiangnong Fendai” plant was treated with white light (WL), blue light (BL), ultraviolet-A light (UL), and blue light plus ultraviolet-A light (BL + UL), respectively. Under BL, the leaves were described as increasing in redness from “olive green” to “reddish-brown”. The chlorophyll, carotenoid, anthocyanin, and total flavonoid content were significantly higher at 7 d than at 0 d. In addition, BL treatment also significantly increased the accumulation of soluble sugar and soluble protein. In contrast to BL, ultraviolet-A light increased the malondialdehyde (MDA) content and the activities of three antioxidant enzymes in the leaves, including catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), in varying degrees over time. Moreover, we also found that the <i>CRY</i>-like gene, <i>HY5</i>-like gene, <i>BBX</i>-like gene, <i>MYB</i>-like gene, <i>CHS</i>-like gene, <i>DFR</i>-like gene, <i>ANS</i>-like gene, and <i>UFGT</i>-like gene were significantly upregulated. Furthermore, the <i>SOD</i>-like, <i>POD</i>-like, and <i>CAT</i>-like gene expressions related to antioxidase synthesis were found under ultraviolet-A light conditions. In summary, BL is more conducive to reddening the leaves of “Xiangnong Fendai” and will not lead to excessive photooxidation. This provides an effective ecological strategy for light-induced leaf-color changes, thereby promoting the ornamental and economic value of <i>L. chinense</i> var. <i>rubrum</i>.
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