Studies on the Flower Pigments in Snapdragon, Antirrhinum majus L

III. Changes in anthocyanidin-3-glucoside and 3-rutinoside during the Development of Flower Petals

Abstract

Distribution of anthocyanins, especially 3-glucoside, in fifteen marketing cultivars with several pure bred strains of snapdragon was surveyed with chromatographic technique.
In some strains derived from “Ball's Supreme Red” an adequate amount of 3-glucoside with 3-rutinoside was found. In fifteen marketing cultivars, a relatively large amount of cyanidin-3-glucoside was found in young petals of florets of two cultivars, and in others cyanidin or pelargonidin-3-glucoside was detected in only trace or no amount. Nevertheless, in such young flower petals of most cultivars and strains tested, 3-glucosides were detected.
A quantity of two anthocyanins in each developmental stage of flower petals was investigated in a reddish purple strain containing a relatively large amount of cyanidin-3-glucoside. The results are summarized below.
1. The amount of cyanidin-3-glucoside per floret was decreased significantly from the half open stage of petals in all cases, while cyanidin-3-rutinoside had still been increased to senescence.
2. The ratio of 3-glucoside/3-rutinoside in palate was higher than in upper lip in all stages.
3. Decrease of 3-glucoside and increase of 3-rutinoside in palate after flower opening were obviously slower than in upper lip.
From these phenomenon, it was assumed that 3-glucoside would be the precursor of 3-rutinoside in this case.