An Advanced Technique for Monitoring the Color Change from Yellow to Red in Floral Tissues of Dyer's Saffron

Abstract

Summary Corollas, styles, anthers, and ovaries separated from fresh capitula of dyer's saffron ( Carthamus tinctorius L.) were laid on microscope slides, and their reddening capacities were investigated by a technique of spot scanning. Styles reddened the most, followed by corollas, anthers, and finally ovaries with little or no capacity for tissue reddening. Red color accumulated more in larger styles than in smaller ones. Styles were divided longitudinally into three parts, and the appearance of red color in each part was scanned. The most activity was found in the middle part; reddening of the upper part ranked second, and reddening was least in the basal part. The observed differences in red-color-accumulating capacities are discussed briefly in relation to precursor translocation and enzyme activity distribution.