Determination of Minor Floral Anthocyanins in a Red-flowered Petunia

Abstract

Minor floral anthocyanins of a red-flowered petunia were isolated and determined by chromatographic and spectroscopic methods. Petunidin 3-glucoside (1.7%) and malvidin 3-glucoside (1.3%) were determined for the first time in the genus Petunia. Incomplete substrate specificity of anthocyanin 3'- and 3', 5'-methyltransferase is considered to be a cause for accumulating a small amount of 3-glucosides of petunidin and malvidin in the flowers.