Abstract
In order to make clear the conversion process from flavanonol to anthocyanidin, flavonoid components in sepals of Aquilegia flabellata with white flowers (Fw) and A. hybrida cv. McKana′s Giant with creamy white flowers (Mw) were analysed. Isovitexin and populin were identified in both Fw and Mw while leucopelargonidin existed only in Mw. F1 hybrids between Fw and Mw showed blue-violet sepals and F2 progeny showed two-gene segregation of sepal coloration. Thus the conversion process is controlled by two genes. One recessive gene of Fw controls the reduction of flavanonol and the other recessive gene of Mw controls the dehydration of lcucoanthocyanidin. Complementation of these two genes enables the synthesis of anthocyanidin in F1 hybrids.
