The genetic control of isovitexin-glycosylation in the petals of Melandrium album.

Abstract

The glycosylation of flavones in the petals of Melandrium album is shown to be controlled by the genes G, X and A. In the presence of the recessive alleles of these genes, only the aglycone isovitexin (6-C-glucosylapigenin) is found in the petals. The gene G controls the transfer of glucose, the gene X the transfer of xylose to the 7-hydroxyl group of isovitexin. The gene G is epistatic over X. In the presence of the gene A arabinose is coupled to the carbon-carbon bound glucose of isovitexin. In the presence of both G and A, or both X and A the corresponding di-glycosides are formed.