Year: 1974
Type: article
Abstract: 1. Absorption curves of fresh, intact petals of Chrysanthemum morifolium (68 cultivars) were measured with a multipurpose recording spectrophotometer (Model: MPS-50L, Shimadzu) using the opal glass transmission method, for distinction and classification of a wide variety of flower colors.The in vivo maxima of anthocyanin absorption were in the range of 530-560nm, carotenoids 420-490nm, and flavonols 350-370nm.2. Four patterns of absorption spectra in the visible range were observed. Group (1): Only one absorption maximum due to flavonols is observed in the range of ca. 350-370nm. The flower color of this pattern is white, and only 8 out of 68 cultivars were of this type. Group (2): Two maxima were observed, that is, one in the range of ca. 350-370nm as in group (1) and the other in the range of ca. 540-560nm which is the maximum of anthocyanin pigments. Twenty-six cultivars belonged to this group and their colors were pink or red-purple. Group (3): Absorption curves of this pattern showed the three characteristic peaks of carotenoid pigments in the range of 420-490nm. Fourteen yellow cultivars were found to belong to this group. Group (4): This pattern show the combined absorption of flavonols as in group (1), anthocyanins as in group (2), and carotenoids as in group (3). Twenty cultivars belonged to this group and their colors varied from orange to red.3. The flower color was deeper yellow or deeper pink (red-purple), as the optical density at the λmax of carotenoids or anthocyanins was high. In the group (4), flower color varied from orange to red depending on the relative ratio of the optical density of carotenoids and anthocyanins.4. In the absorption spectra of all flowers containing carotenoides, these pigments showed λmax almost at the same wave-length, but anthocyanins had different λmax depending on flower color. The λmax due to anthocyanins of red flowers were detected at shorter wave-lengths, while that of orange and pink flowers at longer wave-lengths, and that of red-purple flowers in the region between them.The λmax of anthocyanins, in general, shifted to longer wave-lengths with the decrease of their optical density. This may suggest the participation of co-pigmentation by flavonols in the flower color variation.Consequently, by measuring the absorption spectra of intact petals, the main pigments related to flower color can be identified both qualitatively and quantitatively.
DOI: 10.2503/jjshs.43.165
Authors: Koshiro KAWASE, Yotaro TSUKAMOTO
Institution: Kyoto University
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4232944231