Effects of Growing Season on Flower Color and Flowering in Pink Flower Genotypes of Spray Chrysanthemum

Abstract

To clarify the relationship between flower color and growing season in pink flower genotypes of spray chrysanthemum (Dendranthema grandiflorum), the flower color in each cropping season was evaluated by the use of color different meter and HPLC. Although there were significant differences in the value of L^*a^*b^* among the cropping season in yellow and white flower genotypes, there was no flower color change during the cropping season recognized by visible observation. However, pink flower genotypes except ‘Chatoo’ showed low L^* and b^* values and remarkably high a^* and c^* values in the autumn, then reversed the tendency of each value was observed in the summer season. In ‘Chatoo’, the difference of each value among cropping season was low although it showed the same tendency as other pink flower genotypes. The two main anthocyanins, cyanidin 3-O-(6”-O-monomalonyl-β-glucopyranoside) and cyanidin 3-O-(3”, 6”-O-dimalonyl-β-glucopyranoside), were detected in pink flower genotypes. There was no change in the component ratio of anthocyanins observed among the cropping season, suggesting that flower color in pink flower genotypes of spray type chrysanthemums is determined by changes in the two main flower pigments.