Abstract
'Kusaie lime' should be regarded as a yellow-fruited form of 'Rangpur lime'. In order to elucidate the mechanism of this alteration, the carotenoid content and composition in flavedo tissue and juice sacs of fruits were analyzed. An unusual accumulation of phytoene was detected in flavedo tissue of 'Rangpur'. But the contents of β-cryptoxanthin, all-trans-violaxanthin and 9-cis-violaxanthin were decreased. Significant differences in total carotenoid were not found. Therefore, it was supposed that biosynthesis downstream from phytoene was suppressed in flavedo of 'Kusaie'. On the other hand, the accumulation of phytoene was not observed in juice sacs of 'Kusaie'. However, total carotenoid of 'Kusaie' was smaller than that of 'Rangpur'. Probably, in juice sacs of 'Kusaie', the amount of carotenoid production may be decreased, or, the resolution of carotenoids may be accelerated. Moreover, the difference of ABA contents between 'Kusaie' and 'Rangpur' will be examined.
