The carotenoid contents in F
1 and F
2 plants of Beta orange strain and Delta strain were investigated. The interaction of gene
B and
Del on the carotenoid biosynthesis was also investigated. In F
1 hybrid, the content of α-carotene specifically increased as compared with their parent strain, while the content of ε-carotene slightly increased, F
2 plants were consisted of 9 types. These types were divided into 3 subgroups. Group 1 (4 types) contained so much amount of α-carotene, while group 2 (2 types) contained little amount of α-carotene. Group 3 (3 types) contained no α- and δ-carotene. ε-carotene was detected only in the plants contained α-carotene. These results suggest that genes
B and
Del highly and complementally participate in the biosynthesis of α-carotene, and that gene
Del mainly participate in the biosynthesis of carotene with the preceding participation of gene B. Namely, gene
B participates in the cyclic formation of β-ionone, and there was a mutual relation of
BB>B+B>B+B+ in β-carotene productivity. Gene Del participates in the cyclic formation of ε-ionone, and there is a mutual δ-carotene productivity is in a relation of
DelDel>Del<+Del, but none in
Del+Del+. Gene
B and gene
Del participate in production of α- and ε-carotene, and ε-carotene productivity was most remarkable in
BBDelDel, less in
B+BDel+Del, scarce in
B+B+DelDel. But in
B+B+Del+Del+, ε-carotene was not formed.
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