Abstract
Anthocyanin is widely distributed in higher plants and in tissue cell it is accumulated in central vacuoles. However, detailed mechanism of compartmentalization of anthocyanin is still unclear. Using red radish (Raphanus sativus cv. Pekin mizudaikon), which accumulates anthocyanins in taproots, we have studied on the transport system of anthocyanins from the cytoplasm to vacuoles.
First, we tried to determine the structure of anthocyanins in red radish. Anthocyanins were extracted with 0.5% TFA- 50% CH3CNaq. from cambium and parenchyma tissues of taproots. The HPLC analysis revealed that the composition of anthocyanins was different between the cambium and parenchyma tissues. We isolated seven anthocyanins and four of them were new pigments. All of them had a pelargonidin nucleus, and contained feruloyl, p-coumaroyl and/or malonyl residues. Major anthocyanins in the cambium were higher glucosylated and acylated than those in parenchyma. We will discuss on the structural characteristics and physiological significance of taproots anthocyanin.
