Red lettuce

Abstract

The present invention relates to a head-forming lettuce plant of the species Lactuca sativa having red leaves throughout the head, including the heart. The red leaves in the heart are red even in the absence of radiation with wavelengths shorter than 400 nm, wherein the absence of radiation with wavelengths shorter than 400 nm is in the growing environment during the complete period from sowing until observation. The ratio between anthocyanin and chlorophyll is between 4 and 50, preferably between 9 and 27. The invention also relates to progeny of the plant.

1 . A head-forming lettuce plant of the species  Lactuca sativa  having red leaves throughout the head, including the heart. 
     
     
         2 . The lettuce plant of  claim 1  having red leaves in the heart, even in the absence of radiation with wavelengths shorter than 400 nm. 
     
     
         3 . The lettuce plant as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the absence of radiation with wavelengths shorter than 400 nm is in the growing environment during the complete period from sowing until observation. 
     
     
         4 . The lettuce plant as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the absorbance ratio A523/A665 between anthocyanin and chlorophyll of the heart leaves is between 4 and 50. 
     
     
         5 . The lettuce plant as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the absorbance ratio A523/A665 between anthocyanin and chlorophyll of the heart leaves is between 9 and 27. 
     
     
         6 . The lettuce plant as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the absorbance ratio A523/A665 between anthocyanin and chlorophyll of the ten youngest heart leaves larger than 1 cm is between 4 and 50. 
     
     
         7 . The lettuce plant as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the absorbance ratio A523/A665 between anthocyanin and chlorophyll of the ten youngest heart leaves larger than 1 cm is between 9 and 27. 
     
     
         8 . The lettuce plant as claimed in any  claim 1  having a genetic constitution that leads to red colouring of the leaves in the heart and which comprises a gene locus for anthocyanin expression, at least two gene loci that are involved in the red colouring in the heart of the head and optionally at least two gene loci that are involved in the intensity of red colouring. 
     
     
         9 . The lettuce plant as claimed in  claim 1 , obtainable from seeds as deposited on Jul. 18, 2005 with the NCIMB under accession numbers NCIMB 41337, NCIMB 41338 and NCIMB 41339. 
     
     
         10 . The lettuce plant as claimed in  claim 1  having the genetic constitution of the seeds as deposited on Jul. 18, 2005 with the NCIMB under accession numbers NCIMB 41337, NCIMB 41338 and NCIMB 41339 that leads to red colouring of the leaves in the heart of the head. 
     
     
         11 . The lettuce plant of the species  Lactuca sativa  having red leaves of  claim 1 , even in the absence of radiation with wavelengths shorter than 400 nm in the growing environment during the complete period from sowing until observation. 
     
     
         12 . The lettuce plant as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the absorbance ratio A523/A665 between anthocyanin and chlorophyll is between 4 and 50. 
     
     
         13 . The lettuce plant as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the absorbance ratio A523/A665 between anthocyanin and chlorophyll is between 9 and 27. 
     
     
         14 . The lettuce plant as claimed  claim 11 , wherein the absorbance ratio A523/A665 between anthocyanin and chlorophyll of the ten youngest heart leaves larger than 1 cm is between 4 and 50. 
     
     
         15 . The lettuce plant as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the absorbance ratio A523/A665 between anthocyanin and chlorophyll of the ten youngest heart leaves larger than 1 cm is between 9 and 27. 
     
     
         16 . Progeny of lettuce plants as claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         17 . Seeds of the lettuce plants as claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         18 . A head of the lettuce plants as claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         19 . A gene complex which in a lettuce plant of the species  Lactuca sativa  leads to red coloration of the leaves throughout the head, including the heart which comprises a gene locus for anthocyanin expression, at least two gene loci that are involved in the red colouring in the heart of the head and optionally at least two gene loci that are involved in the intensity of red colouring. 
     
     
         20 . The gene complex as claimed in  claim 19  as present in the seeds as deposited on Jul. 18, 2005 with the NCIMB under accession numbers NCIMB 41337, NCIMB 41338 and NCIMB 41339.