Anthocyanins and Other Flavonoids in Anthurium Andraeanum Linden ex Andre

Abstract

The major anthocyanin pigments of Anthurium andraeanum Linden ex Andre were identified by thin layer chromatography, spectroscopy and gas liquid chromatography as cyanidin 3-rhamnosylglucoside and pelargonidin 3-rhamnosylglucoside. A noncyanic flavonoid was isolated by two-dimensional paper chromatography of a methanolic extract of the spathes. Using chromatography and ultraviolet spectroscopic shifts with selected reagents, the compound was characterized as acacetin 7-glycoside. No flavonol, aurone or chalcone was detected. Quantitative and qualitative measurements were taken of the anthocyanins and the flavone in anthurium clones of the breeding program at the University of Hawaii. The major color classifications were related to specific anthocyanins and their concentrations. Quantitative and qualitative measurements of the anthocyanins and the flavone were taken of the parent plants and progenies of three crosses. Segregations by color of the offspring of these crosses were analyzed and a scheme of inheritance was proposed. The scheme consists of a system of monogenic control of each anthocyanin, an incomplete dominance form of intra-allelic interaction involving dosage effects on the concentration of each pigment, and recessive epistasis. Results of preliminary tests of the viability of the scheme of inheritance generally supported the scheme.