Breeding research on rose pigments. 1. The occurrence of flavonoids and carotenoids in rose petals

Summary As a preamble to a breeding programme for colour in roses, the relative quantities of carotenoids, cyanidin, pelargonidin, quercetin and kaempferol were determined in about 200 varieties and some species. Cyanidin was about normally distributed among red varieties, as were carotenoids and flavonols among white and yellow varieties. A positive relationship between pelargonidin and kaempferol was established, and a negative one between pelargonidin and quercetin. No other relations were found between the pigments.