Basalflecke und Fleckenlosigkeit in Mohnblüten: Eine chemogenetische Charakterisierung / Basal Blotches and Blotchlessness of Poppy Flowers: A Chemogenetic Characterization

Abstract

Abstract While Papaver bracteatum and P. pseudo-orientale exhibit large basal blotches in red flowers, these marks are absent in the flowers of their close relative P. orientale. Crossing of the latter species with the former ones surprisingly resulted in hybrids showing blotchlessness. In contrast, the hybrid derived from the interspecific cross P. sommniferum x P. orientale forms relatively small but distinct basal blotches. The first parent has marked, white flowers and another basic number of the genome (x = 11) than P. orientale and its relatives have (x = 7). Chromatographic analysis confirm ed that pelargonidin and cyanidin are the anthocyanidins of poppy flowers. Basal blotches differ from the other parts of petals since they exclusively contain cyanidin glycosides. If they are absent, pelargonidin glycosides homogeneously colour the petals. It is concluded that in blotchless flowers of P. orientale and its hybrids the gene responsible for the 3′-hydroxylation of C15 molecules is repressed. This situation is obviously restricted to the basal areas of petals.