CHAPTER 3 - Anthocyanins

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the occurrence of anthocyanins in tissue and cell cultures. It focuses on aspects of their biosynthesis and regulation of biosynthesis and accumulation. Anthocyanins occur widely in gymnosperms, monocotyledons, and dicotyledons. They are of chemotaxonomic value and play a role as genetic markers. The main function of anthocyanins is pigmentation of flowers and fruits. Anthocyanins are also indicators of stress. Anthocyanidins are present in conjugated forms, bound to sugars. The resulting glycosides are water soluble and are stored in the vacuolar sap of mature cells. Glycosidic variation leads to around 200 sugar derivatives of anthocyanidins. The most common anthocyanidin, cyanidin, exists in around 40 different glycosidic structures. The co-occurrence of anthocyanins and flavonols in many plant species suggests that these two classes of flavonoids are closely related with respect to their biosynthetic pathways. Regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis is closely connected with regulation of flavonoid biosynthesis.