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TitlePigment chemistry and colour of Pelargonium flowers
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication1998
AuthorsMitchell, K.A., Markham K.R., and Boase M.R.
JournalPhytochemistry
Volume47
Issue3
Pagination355 - 361
Date Published1998
ISSN00319422 (ISSN)
KeywordsAbsorption spectroscopy, anthocyanin, article, chemistry, color discrimination, drug isolation, genetic analysis, high performance liquid chromatography, kaempferol, malvidin chloride, nonhuman, Pelargonium, pigmentation, plant cell
AbstractThe major factors responsible for colour variation in a range of Pelargonium species and cultivars were shown to be the types and relative levels of pigments present. Variations in pH and copigment levels were not found to contribute significantly. Flowers with colours ranging from cream and pink through to deep purple, including salmon, orange and red, were studied. While either flavonols or carotenoids were responsible for cream/yellow colouration, all other colours resulted from anthocyanin mixes. The pigments were isolated, quantified and identified by combinations of column and HPL chromatography, absorption spectroscopy and NMR. The major anthocyanins were identified as the 3,5-diglucosides and 3-glucoside-5-(6- acetyl)glucosides of pelargonidin, cyanidin, peonidin, delphinidin, petunidin and malvidin. The acetates, four of which have not been reported previously, were found predominantly in the regal Pelargonium cultivars.
URLhttp://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-0032007588&partnerID=40&md5=348f0d7b987b45ef07082890fcaea26e
DOI10.1016/S0031-9422(97)00595-5

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