Comparison of flower color with anthocyanin composition patterns in evergreen azalea

In evergreen azaleas, major anthocyanins were detected from petals of wild species and cultivars by HPLC analysis. Depending on flower color, all samples were divided into three groups: red, purple or white, using the Japan color standard for horticultural plants. The chromatic components a* and b* values of red group samples showed a convergent distribution, whereas those of purple group samples showed a wider distribution. According to the HPLC analysis, red group samples had two to four major anthocyanins, and those of the purple group had two to six major ones. In contrast, no anthocyanins were detected in the white group petals, although anthocyanidins were detected. These results suggest that the anthocyanin constitution of the purple group flowers is more varied than that of the red group flowers, and this wider variety among purple flowers contributes to extending the diversity of flower color in evergreen azalea.     

Analysis of petal anthocyanins to investigate coloration mechanism in herbaceous peony cultivars

Petal coloration and anthocyanin compositions of 41 herbaceous peony cultivars were analyzed. Anthocyanins were identified by high-performance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (HPLC–ESI-MSⁿ) coupled with photodiode array detection (DAD). Peonidin-3,5-di-O-glucoside (Pn3G5G), pelargonidin-3,5-di-O-glucoside (Pg3G5G), cyanidin-3,5-di-O-glucoside (Cy3G5G), peonidin-3-O-glucoside (Pn3G), and cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (Cy3G) were the five major anthocyanins in herbaceous peony cultivars. Deep purple or reddish purple cultivars contained 4–5 anthocyanins, whereas pink cultivars only contained Cy3G5G and Pn3G5G, and their contents were much lower than those of purple cultivars. According to the chemical structures of three anthocyanidins in association with petal coloration, flowers were classified into three phenotypes: 1. “Pn, Cy, and Pg” (all purple flowers including two pink flowers); 2. “Pn, Cy” (pink flowers); 3 “Pn” (light pink and white flowers). The coloration mechanisms of cultivars with the pink and purple flowers were quite different. Correlations between lightness (L*) and chroma (C*), chromatic component a* and total anthocyanins (TA) value, a* and co-pigmentation index (CI) showed opposite tendencies, whereas L* and TA showed the same tendency in each group. High contents of Pn3G5G and Pg3G5G may responsible for the purple coloration of herbaceous peony cultivars.     

Analysis of light and sucrose potencies on petal coloration and pigmentation of lisianthus cultivars (in vitro)

To understand how the synthesis of petal pigments is influenced by light and sucrose, a cut flower culture was carried out with and without sucrose in the medium using different cultivars of lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum Grise.). At low light intensity, lightness (L¹) increased and chroma (C¹) decreased. In the presence of sucrose, lightness (L¹) decreased and chroma (C¹) increased. Light intensity and sucrose exerted significant influences on the percentage distribution of different anthocyanidins and total anthocyanin in lisianthus flower petals. Flowers from detached buds cultured in sucrose containing media showed a significant increase in anthocyanin concentration in all the cultivars; ‘Asuka no Asa’, ‘Mickey Rose’ and ‘Asuka no Kurenai’ at a light intensity of 1400 to 2100 lx. Furthermore, more anthocyanin was produced in the sucrose media. The amount of anthocyanin in the petals increased gradually with the lengthening of the photoperiod, whereas flavonol content showed no significant variation in response to light intensity or photoperiod. We found that the lightness, chroma and petal color of the flowers were influenced by sucrose and light intensity through a change in total anthocyanin concentration in petals. The variation in flower color caused by light and sucrose, determined on the basis of CIELAB color diagram, provides for a more accurate color notation in lisianthus.     

蝴蝶石斛兰花色表型及类黄酮成分分析

 利用分光色差计测定了不同颜色蝴蝶石斛兰品种的花色表型,采用高效液相色谱-质谱联用技术检测花朵中类黄酮色素的组成,探讨花色表型与所含类黄酮含量之间的关系。结果表明,蝴蝶石斛兰品种花色主要分布在紫红色和粉红色区域,且唇瓣颜色比花瓣和萼片暗。花色与类黄酮含量之间存在着线性关系,而花青素苷是影响蝴蝶石斛兰花色的主要因素：总花青素苷含量与花色的明度L^*值和色相b^*值以及色相角h值负相关,与色相a^*值正相关。从蝴蝶石斛兰花朵中共检测出28种花青素苷（均为酰基化的矢车菊素–3,7,3’–三葡萄糖苷）和19种黄酮醇苷（苷元有槲皮素、山奈酚和异鼠李素3种）,由此推测了蝴蝶石斛兰品种花中的类黄酮代谢途径。     

Comparative analysis of floral pigmentation between wild-type and white-flowered varieties of Cyclamen graecum

Summary

The flower colour of Cyclamen graecum gra6 (wild-type) is pink-purple in the main part of the petal, referred to as the ‘slip’, and deep purple at the petal base, referred to as the ‘eye’. On the other hand, flowers of C. graecum gra50 (a white-flowered variant) exhibit a white colour in both the ‘slip’ and ‘eye’ regions. In this study, the relationship between floral pigmentation and the expression of several anthocyanin biosynthesis genes was investigated in C. graecum gra6 and gra50. The pigments in the ‘slip’ and ‘eye’ regions consist mainly of malvidin 3,5-diglucoside in gra6, suggesting that the difference between the colour of the ‘slip’ and ‘eye’ regions is related to the amount of anthocyanin present. White-flowered C. graecum gra50 possessed lower amounts of anthocyanins, but higher amounts of flavonols compared to gra6, suggesting a change in metabolism caused by a disruption of anthocyanin biosynthesis. Gene expression analysis demonstrated that expression of the dihydroflavonol 4-reductase gene 2 (CgraDFR2) was lower in gra50 compared with gra6, whereas expression of the three other key genes (dihydroflavonol 4-reductase gene 1, flavonoid 3’,5’-hydroxylase, and anthocyanidin synthase) did not differ greatly. These results suggest that the white-flowered variant (gra50) may result from a defect in expression of the CgraDFR2 gene.     

Anatomical and biochemical studies of anthocyanidins in flowers of Anagallis monelli L. (Primulaceae) hybrids

Violet, lilac and red flower colors segregated in an F₃ population obtained from hybridizing blue and orange breeding lines of Anagallis monelli at UNH. One individual per color was studied, as well as “true-blue” cultivar ‘Skylover Blue’. Anatomical examination revealed typical petal layout with upper epidermis, loose mesophyll and lower epidermis. Cells in upper and lower epidermis were categorized by their vacuole color. Blue and red individuals had mostly blue and red cells, respectively. Lilac and violet individuals had blue and bicolored (red and blue) cells on both surfaces, and red cells on the lower epidermis only. Violet individuals had more blue cells on the upper epidermis than lilac individuals. Anthocyanidins were determined by HPLC for each petal epidermis. Blue flowers had only malvidin in both petal surfaces, red flowers had mostly delphinidin with traces of malvidin. Lilac and violet flowers had more malvidin than delphinidin. For violet and lilac flowers respectively, 2 and 3% delphinidin in upper petal surfaces result in a reddish tone while in the lower surface 33 and 25% delphinidin result in a red color. pH in upper and lower petal surfaces were significantly different for each individual, which may affect final flower color.     

Improvement of flower color by means of leaf treatments in lily

Flower color, an important feature biologically and commercially, is based on four natural pigments – flavonoids, carotenoids, betalains and chlorophylls. Temperature, light, nutrition – as well as additions of sugar, salt, or metals to the conservation water – have an effect on pigmentation. We investigated the effects of K-sulphate and/or sucrose on flower color in leaf treatments applied 30–10 days before harvest to four Asiatic lily (Lilium × elegans Thunb.) cultivars during the winter and summer. Colors of tepals were evaluated by a portable spectrocolorimeter that calculates the standard CIE L*a*b* coordinates and the color differences (E). After leaf treatments during both seasons, cultivars with flowers with high red components (e.g. the purple ‘Fangio’ and the pink ‘Brindisi’) showed significant improvements in color quality. The orange-flowered ‘Tresor’ showed improvement only if K-sulphate and Mix (K-sulphate and sucrose) solution treatments were applied during the summer. The yellow-flowered ‘Menorca’ was not affected by treatments during either summer or winter forcing season. Especially in the winter, a significant reduction in flower abortion was observed for cut flowers of all cultivars. In summer only ‘Fangio’ and ‘Tresor’ showed a reduction in flower abortion. Also, flower size and longevity were improved by the leaf treatment. The results, obtained from a commercial nursery operation, demonstrate that lily growers can adopt a very simple and inexpensive treatment to improve important qualitative traits of their product.     

Genetic and environmental variation for corolla traits in Portulaca grandiflora

A commercial seed lot of Portulaca grandiflora was sampled and the variation for several flower traits was analysed. A genotypic component of variance was estimated for the traits petal length, petal width, and petal number. The heritability for petal number was high (64 · 3), for petal width was intermediate (31 · 3), and for petal length was low (12–3). The environmental variance was partitioned into three components, but more than 90% of it was unaccountable. A significant positive correlation between petal length and petal width was found. A covariance analysis was used to test for genetic variance for petal length and petal width after the effects of covariance had been removed. No relationship was found between total corolla area and flower production. Thus, selection for larger flowers is not expected to reduce the number of flowers produced. Selection responses are predicted for different selection differentials and the assumptions are discussed. The results suggest that selection for increased petal number will be very effective.     

Flower colours and pigments in hybrid tuberose (Polianthes)

The flower pigment constitutions of nine hybrids with pink, reddish purple, purple, orange and yellow flowers obtained from the crossings and back-crossings using Polianthes tuberosa ‘Single’ and ‘Double’ and Polianthes howardii were analysed. Among the parents and hybrids, two white flowered cultivars of P. tuberosa had neither carotenoids nor anthocyanins, one hybrid had only carotenoids, four hybrids had only anthocyanins and an additional other four hybrids along with P. howardii had both carotenoids and anthocyanins in their petals. The main anthocyanidin in the petals of anthocyanin containing flowers is cyanidin with which some hybrids also contained delphinidin. Inducing of the anthocyanins and carotenoids from P. howardii into P. tuberosa can contribute to the extension of the diversity of flower colours in further tuberose breeding.     

Characterization of tetraploid plants regenerated via protoplast culture of Iris fulva and their crossability with Japanese irises

Characteristics such as flower form, size and color of outer and inner perianths, anthocyanins in outer perianths, size, color and fertility of pollen and self-fertility of diploid and tetraploid lines regenerated via protoplast culture of Iris fulva were examined and compared with those of the diploid wild line. Among these characteristics, flower form, inner and outer perianth sizes of the tetraploid lines were noticeable, because these lines had upward flower forms and bigger flowers than diploid lines. Furthermore, reciprocal crosses between diploid or tetraploid lines of I. fulva and I. ensata and those of I. fulva and I. laevigata were performed. Three seedlings were obtained from the cross of tetraploid I. fulva × diploid I. laevigata through embryo rescue. One of them was identified as the interspecific hybrid between tetraploid I. fulva and I. laevigata by flow cytometoric (FCM), cytological and molecular (RAPD) analyses. This is the first report on production of hybrids from these lines. I. fulva has unique brown flowers, and this trait could be very useful for flower color breeding of I. laevigata which lacks this color. Therefore, the hybrid of I. fulva (4×) × I. laevigata may be the best available gene source for brown color breeding of this species.     

Chemically induced floral morphological mutations in two cultivars of Ipomoea purpurea (L.) Roth

Two cultivars of Ipomoea purpurea (Morning Glory) differing in flower colour and corolla morphology were investigated for artificial mutagenesis. The violet blue (VB) cultivar bears flowers with a typical gamopetalous corolla. The red purple (RP) cultivar has flowers with an incised corolla at one or more places at the petal union, i.e. incompletely gamopetalous and has petaloid appendages borne on the outer side. It has been described as petalomaniatic. The petaloid appendages were part and parcel of the petal itself. The mutagens used were ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS), N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (NMG) and sodium azide (SA). Mutants affecting the petal union and petalomaniatic tendency were discussed. It was possible to induce an incompletely gamopetalous petalomaniatic mutant in cultivar VB as well as the typical gamopetalous corolla morphotype in cultivar RP. Preliminary hybridization studies were made using cv. RP and its white colour mutant as one of the parents and crossed with cv. VB. Hybridization studies revealed that independent loci exist for the incomplete gamopetalous nature of the corolla and its petalomaniatic tendency. The mutants obtained were corolla whorl specific and were described as meristic mutations in I. purpurea.     

杜鹃花花色浅析

杜鹃花是著名观赏花卉,具有极高的园林应用价值。从花瓣内部结构和花色素种类2方面概述杜鹃花花色的形成原因;对杜鹃花的花色、花冠内斑点和开放进程中的花色变化进行整理和归纳;分析花色素、pH值、金属离子和光照对杜鹃花花色的影响。     

基于花色表型的牡丹和芍药品种数量分类研究

以38个牡丹和14个芍药为试材,采用色差仪对芍药属品种进行花色表型测定,研究芍药属品种数量分类的情况,以期为芍药属品种鉴定、分类及花色育种提供参考依据。结果表明:聚类分析得到的结果不能科学表征牡丹和芍药花色的分类特点;ISCC-NBS色彩名称表示法对花色的定义更为精确,可将牡丹花色分为黄色、白色、绿色、浅粉色、粉紫色、粉红色、红色、红紫色和红黑色系9类色系;芍药花色分为白色、浅粉色、粉红色、红色和红黑色系5类色系。同时发现芍药属品种花色丰富,且不同色系的芍药属品种花色差异较为显著。     

Senescence of Dendrobium `Pompadour' flowers following pollination

Summary

Flowers of Dendrobium `Pompadour' developed premature petal and sepal senescence following pollination. Pollination induced an ethylene climacteric accompanied by a small respiratory climacteric, epinasty and increased flower or inflorescence fresh weight and water uptake. Pollination did not alter petal and sepal anthocyanin content and ion leakage, and lip, petal and sepal fresh weight and dry weight. The fresh weight and dry weight of stigmas (columns) together with pedicels increased significantly after pollination. Ovary growth of pollinated orchid flowers with petals and sepals intact was greater than that of pollinated orchid flowers without petals and sepals, while their water uptake was not significantly different.     

Comparison of anthocyanins in non-blotches and blotches of the petals of Xibei tree peony

A comparison in non-blotches and blotches of 35 cultivars of Xibei tree peony was investigated to explore flower coloration of Xibei tree peony (the second cultivar group in Chinese tree peony). With high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis, six anthocyanins including peonidin 3,5-di-O-glucoside (Pn3G5G), peonidin 3-O-glucoside (Pn3G), cyanidin 3,5-di-O-glucoside (Cy3G5G), cyanidin 3-O-glucoside (Cy3G), pelargonidin 3,5-di-O-glucoside (Pg3G5G), and pelargonidin 3-O-glucoside (Pg3G) were detected in non-blotches and blotches of petals. Total anthocyanins (TA), total flavones and flavonols (TF), and the copigmentation index (CI) were also analyzed. Cyanidin-based glycosides, which accumulated abundantly at the basal petal, resulted in blotch formation. Some peculiar cultivars with only one kind of anthocyanins or without anthocyanins in non-blotches were found in this study. For example, ‘Feng Zi Xiu Se’, ‘Ou Duan Si Lian’, and ‘Xi Wang’ contained only Pn3G5G; ‘Bing Shan Cang Yu’ and ‘Jin Bo Dang Yang’ contained only Cy3G; while no anthocyanins were found in ‘Bing Shan Xue Lian’. Several cultivars were rich in Pg-based glycosides, such as ‘Ni Hong Huan Cai’, and ‘Ju Yuan Shao Nv’. These cultivars would be excellent parents for creating new cultivars with novel flower color in the future.     

蝴蝶兰新品种‘红桃’

 ‘红桃’蝴蝶兰是以‘台糖火鸟’为母本,‘新女孩’为父本杂交育成的新品种,花浅紫红色,大花,主枝花朵7 ~ 8朵,总花数8 ~ 13朵,花朵排列整齐有序,花径10.0 ~ 10.6 cm;自然条件下10-11月花芽形成并抽出花梗,1月中旬始花,2-3月为盛花期。     

植物花青素生物合成相关基因研究进展

花青素是一种水溶性色素,是构成花瓣和果实颜色的主要色素之一。它是植物二级代谢产物,具有重要的营养和药用作用。综述了植物花青素生物合成途径及生物合成途径中关键酶的研究现状和发展趋势,为今后进一步研究花青素提供参考借鉴。     

蝴蝶兰新品种‘莞蝶1号’

‘莞蝶1号’蝴蝶兰是以‘聚宝红玫瑰’蝴蝶兰为母本,‘红龙’蝴蝶兰为父本杂交育成的大花新品种。花朵深紫红色。花梗长63.2 cm,平均主枝花朵数为7.4,总花朵数为7.9。花朵圆整,排列整齐,平均花径10.3 cm。植株长势较好。     

蝴蝶兰新品种‘翔凤’

‘翔凤’蝴蝶兰是以‘聚宝红玫瑰’蝴蝶兰为母本,‘红龙’蝴蝶兰为父本杂交育成的新品种,为深紫红中大花品种。平均主枝花朵数8.5朵,总花朵数9.0朵,花朵排列整齐有序;平均花径9.2 cm;温室栽培2月中旬始花,2-3月为盛花期。     

观果型玫瑰新品种‘美果玫AF’

 ‘美果玫AF’是从玫瑰种群中选育出的观果型新品种。花色紫红,单瓣。果实红色扁圆形,长径1.96 ~ 2.48 cm,最长3.48 cm,短径小于1.5 cm。果期较长,从5月可挂果至10月。具有较高的观花和观果价值。