Photo of the week: Pretty in purple?

It's a pretty sight under the microscope, but not so beautiful when seen at the field level. The production of red anthocyanin pigments is a common response to cool weather.

Refer to this discussion for a more detailed description of the physiological response to light and low temperature by Dominic Petrella at the Iniversity of Minnesota.

False spring, false colors: What does purple turf mean? Part 1…