Orange Flowers Research Articles

Photodynamic inactivation of conidia of the fungus Colletotrichum abscissum on Citrus sinensis plants with methylene blue under solar radiation

Antimicrobial photodynamic treatment (APDT) is a promising light based approach to control diseases caused by plant-pathogenic fungi. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of APDT with the phenothiazinium photosensitizer methylene blue (MB) under solar radiation on the germination and viability of conidia of the pathogenic fungus Colletotricum abscissum (former Colletotrichum acutatum sensu lato). Experiments were performed both on petals and leaves of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) in different seasons and weather conditions. Conidial suspensions were deposited on the leaves and petals surface, treated with the PS (25 or 50μM) and exposed to solar radiation for only 30min. The effects of APDT on conidia were evaluated by counting the colony forming units recovered from leaves and petals and by direct evaluating conidial germination on the surface of these plant organs after the treatment. To better understand the mechanistic of conidial photodynamic inactivation, the effect of APDT on the permeability of the conidial plasma membrane was assessed using the fluorescent probe propidium iodide (PI) together with flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy. APDT with MB and solar exposure killed C. abscissum conidia and prevented their germination on both leaves and petals of citrus. Reduction of conidial viability was up to three orders of magnitude and a complete photodynamic inactivation was achieved in some of the treatments. APDT damaged the conidial plasma membrane and increased its permeability to PI. No damage to sweet orange flowers or leaves was observed after APDT. The demonstration of the efficacy of APDT on the plant host represents a further step towards the use of the method for control phytopathogens in the field.

Comparison of the effect of lavender and bitter orange on sleep quality in postmenopausal women: A triple-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial

ABSTRACTThis trial compared the effects of lavender and bitter orange on sleep quality in postmenopausal women. This trial was conducted in 2015. Eligible postmenopausal women were allocated into one of two intervention groups or a control group (n = 52 per group) in a 1:1:1 ratio using a randomized block design. Intervention groups received 500 mg capsules containing only bitter orange or lavender flower powder, and the control group received 500 mg capsules containing starch. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Inventory was used before and eight weeks after starting the intervention. Data analyses were based on intention to treat. A one-way ANOVA showed a slightly significant difference in mean sleep score among the three groups before the intervention (p = .045). The general linear model, adjusted for baseline sleep score and confounding factors, showed significant differences among the groups in the mean sleep score after eight weeks of treatment (p < .001). Bitter orange and lavender significantly improved the mean sleep score compared with the control group (p < .001 and p = .003, respectively). The positive effect of bitter orange and lavender on sleep quality in postmenopausal women suggests that they can be used to improve sleep quality in such women.

Ecological and Biological Studies on the Citrus Flower Moth, Prays citri (Millière) (Lepidoptera: Hyponomeutidae).

The present investigation indicated that the citrus flower moth, Prays citri (Milliere) showed that differences in their response to host plant species. However, P. citri population greatly preferred lime over navel orange and mandarin. Lime flowers received the highest numbers of P. citri throughout the whole period of investigation, while no infestation occurred on mandarin. Navel orange flowers were of intermediate rank for P. citri population. The obtained results illustrated that both larval and pupal populations exhibited one peak of seasonal abundance during 2015 and 2016 seasons. Distribution of P. citri population within host plants, based on the analysis of variance, was affected by directions. However, P. citri population was significantly higher at the south direction than the other cardinal directions (north, west and east) and center of the canopies. The present study showed that P. citri population exhibited positive response to the increase of mean temperature, while, it showed negative response to both relative humidity and wind speed. No significant differences were observed between the duration periods of all developmental stages which reared on different host (lime, navel orange and mandarin) flowers. Analysis of life table of P. citri population indicated that mortality of larval stage is the Key-stage mortality, which can induce population changes comparing to other specific stage mortalities.

Start codon targeted (SCoT) polymorphism-based genetic relationships and diversity among populations of Tecomella undulata (Sm.) Seem—an endangered timber tree of hot arid regions

Tecomella undulata (Sm.) Seem commonly called Rohida or Desert teak (family bignoniaceae) is an important agroforestry tree having an important pharmacological and therapeutic uses. Its distribution is restricted to hot arid regions of India and Pakistan having <150 to 500 mm annual rainfall. Genetic diversity status of this important endangered timber tree species designated state flower of Rajasthan remains unrevealed. Genetic diversity of 21 populations (108 accessions) encompassing yellow, red and orange coloured flower bearing morphotypes collected from all 12 districts of western Rajasthan, India, has been examined using start codon targeted (SCoT) polymorphism for the first time. Fingerprinting with 22 SCoT primers (out of 36 screened) generated 294 amplicons of 100 to 3000 bp size, of which 212 (71.6%) were polymorphic. Amplicon number varied from 4 (SCoT-9) to 24 (SCoT-15) with an average of 13.4 amplicons per primer. Average polymorphism information content (PIC), Nei’s diversity index (H) and Shannon index (I) were 0.54, 0.22 and 0.36, respectively. Dendrogram generated using unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) delineated the 108 accessions into 5 clusters while 2 accessions out grouped. Principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) also revealed similar clustering. High level of genetic differentiation among accessions/populations was attributed to cross pollination and continuous evolution under harsh agro-climatic conditions.

Comparison of the Effect of Lavender and Bitter Orange on Depression in Menopausal Women: A Triple-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

Comparison of the Effect of Lavender and Bitter Orange on Depression in Menopausal Women: A Triple-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial Objectives: Menopause is an inevitable milestone and an important stage in every woman’s life. This study aimed to compare the effects of lavender and bitter orange on depression in menopausal women. Materials and Methods: This triple-blind randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 156 menopausal women in Urmia, Iran in 2015. Eligible women were allocated into 2 intervention groups and one control group with a ratio of 1:1:1 through the randomized block design. Intervention groups received 500 mg capsules containing only bitter orange or lavender flower’s powder and control group received 500 mg starch capsules, all groups used capsules twice daily after breakfast and dinner for 8 weeks. Capsules were in the same appearance. Beck Depression Inventory was completed by the participants before and 8-week after the commencement intervention. The analysis was performed based on intention to treat approach. Results: The one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) analysis showed no significant difference in mean depression score in the three groups before the intervention (P = 0.262); however, the general linear model test adjusted for base line and confounding factors such as menopausal age and women age showed significant differences between the groups in the mean depression score after 8 weeks of treatment (P < 0.001). Bitter orange significantly reduced the mean depression score compared with the control group (adjusted mean difference [AMD], -2.88; 95% CI, -4.26 to -1.51). Lavender significantly reduced the mean depression scores compared with the control group as well (AMD, -3.01; 95% CI, -4.40 to -1.63). There was no significant between lavender and bitter orange groups after intervention (P = 0.850). Conclusion: Considering the positive effect of bitter orange and lavender in reducing depression in menopausal women, they can be used as a complementary medicine in depressed patients.

Genetically engineered orange petunias on the market

Main conclusionUnauthorized genetically engineered orange petunias were found on the market.Genetic engineering of petunia was shown to lead to novel flower color some 20 years ago. Here we show that petunia lines with orange flowers, generated for scientific purposes, apparently found their way to petunia breeding programmes, intentionally or unintentionally. Today they are widely available, but have not been registered for commerce.

Begonia ignita (sect. Petermannia, Begoniaceae), a new species with orange flowers from Sulawesi, Indonesia

Begonia ignita C.W.Lin & C.I. Peng, a new species of Begonia sect. petermannia from Sulawesi, Indonesia, is here described and illustrated. It is distinct from other species in Begonia section Peterma

President's Page

At the 2016 SEG Annual Meeting in Dallas, a historical photo was displayed in the SEG China Pavilion (see below). The photo was taken in 1981 during the first joint technical symposium between SEG and the Chinese Geophysical Society (CGS) in Beijing. The event involved more than 500 geophysicists and included approximately 65 timely technical papers contributed by both organizations. Kevin M. Barry (former SEG president) led the SEG delegation. Gu Gong-Xu (former CGS president) was the host. Lee Lawyer, who donated this photo, attended the symposium when he was the SEG vice president and chief geophysicist at Chevron (11th from left, third row from back). Believe it or not, I was also in the photo (third from right, second row from back). I contributed a paper on “Seismic migration in frequency domain with a phase-shift method” with my coauthor, Han Chang-Feng. Of course, I was very young at that time with a lot of black hair! Lawyer recalled, “Dr. Gu chaired the technical meeting. He used three flowers to show the time of the presentations. When the green flower was in, the speaker had time. When the orange flower was placed in the vase, he had five minutes to summarize. When the red flower was used, his time was up!”

Anthocyanin Profiles in Flowers of Grape Hyacinth.

Grape hyacinth (Muscari spp.) is a popular ornamental bulbous perennial famous for its blue flowers. To understand the chemical basis of the rich blue colors in this plant, anthocyanin profiles of six blue flowering grape hyacinths as well as one pink and one white cultivar were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. Along with two known compounds, eight putative anthocyanins were identified in the tepals of grape hyacinth for the first time. The accumulation and distribution of anthocyanins in the plant showed significant cultivar and flower development specificity. Violet-blue flowers mainly contained simple delphinidin-type anthocyanins bearing one or two methyl-groups but no acyl groups, whereas white and pink flowers synthesised more complex pelargonidin/cyanidin-derivatives with acyl-moieties but no methyl-groups. The results partially reveal why solid blue, orange or red flowers are rare in this plant in nature. In addition, pelargonidin-type anthocyanins were found for the first time in the genus, bringing more opportunities in terms of breeding of flower color in grape hyacinth.

"Paintings Fade Like Flowers": Pigment Analysis and Digital Reconstruction of a Faded Pink Lake Pigment in Vincent van Gogh's Undergrowth with Two Figures.

Color fading in Vincent van Gogh's Undergrowth with Two Figures was studied chemically to facilitate the creation of a digital reconstruction of fugitive colors . The painting contains a field of white, green, orange, and yellow flowers under a canopy of poplar trees with two central figures-a man and a woman, arms entwined. From Van Gogh's letters, however, it is known that he painted the picture with some pink flowers, which appear to have altered, presumably to white. Raman spectroscopy was applied to microsamples of paint to identify the faded pigment as geranium lake, which in this painting consists of the dye, eosin (2',4',5',7'-tetrabromofluorescein). For the first time, lead(II) sulfate has been specifically identified as the likely inorganic substrate for a geranium lake used by Van Gogh in the last months of his life. Microfocus X-ray fluorescence (MXRF) spectroscopy was subsequently used in situ to analyze the white flowers to identify bromine as a proxy for eosin, thus indicating an original pink coloration. Of the 387 white flowers analyzed, 37.7% contained measurable bromine and were, therefore, originally pink. Several cross-sections from these formerly pink areas were assessed using a combination of visual inspection and microcolorimetry to create a colored mask in Adobe Photoshop to digitally reconstruct a suggestion of the original appearance of the painting with regard to the faded flowers. Additionally, microfadeometry was undertaken for the first time on a painting cross-section sample to understand the actual fading kinetics of the underlying bright pink geranium lake used by Van Gogh. A combination of Raman microspectroscopy, MXRF, and scanning electron microscopy energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) were utilized in situ and on paint microsamples to identify the complete palette used to create Undergrowth with Two Figures.

Non-invasive spectroscopic methods to estimate orange firmness, peel thickness, and total pectin content

Orange firmness, peel thickness, and total pectin content are associated with fruit quality and denote important parameters for the food industry. These attributes are usually determined through destructive methods that can be time-consuming and also unable to monitor fruit quality over time. Therefore, non-invasive methods such time-domain nuclear magnetic resonance (TD-NMR), near-infrared (NIR), and mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopies may represent efficient alternatives to evaluate these quality attributes. In this work, partial least square regression (PLSR) models of TD-NMR relaxometry as well as NIR and MIR spectroscopic data were used to predict firmness, peel thickness, and total pectin content of fresh Valencia oranges. Principal component analyses (PCA) were applied to explain the correlations of orange ripening stage, flowering, and crop season with its physicochemical parameters. Data obtained through standard destructive methods were used to calibrate and validate the PLSR models. NIR and MIR showed the best PLSR models for orange firmness, with Pearson correlation coefficients (r) of 0.92 and 0.84 and squared errors of prediction (SEP) equal to 6.22 and 9.05N, respectively. Orange peel thickness PLSR model was validated only by TD-NMR (r=0.72; SEP=0.49mm). TD-NMR and NIR also presented potential to predict total pectin orange in orange (r=0.76 and 0.70; SEP=5.76% and 5.04%, respectively). Therefore, NIR presented a higher potential to predict orange firmness than MIR and TD-NMR. On the other hand, TD-NMR showed a higher prediction power concerning peel thickness than NIR and MIR. Both NIR and TD-NMR methods showed similar prediction powers for total pectin content.

Genome-wide screening and characterization of long non-coding RNAs involved in flowering development of trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata L. Raf.)

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been demonstrated to play critical regulatory roles in post-transcriptional and transcriptional regulation in Arabidopsis. However, lncRNAs and their functional roles remain poorly characterized in woody plants, including citrus. To identify lncRNAs and investigate their role in citrus flowering, paired-end strand-specific RNA sequencing was performed for precocious trifoliate orange and its wild-type counterpart. A total of 6,584 potential lncRNAs were identified, 51.6% of which were from intergenic regions. Additionally, 555 lncRNAs were significantly up-regulated and 276 lncRNAs were down-regulated in precocious trifoliate orange, indicating that lncRNAs could be involved in the regulation of trifoliate orange flowering. Comparisons between lncRNAs and coding genes indicated that lncRNAs tend to have shorter transcripts and lower expression levels and that they display significant expression specificity. More importantly, 59 and 7 lncRNAs were identified as putative targets and target mimics of citrus miRNAs, respectively. In addition, the targets of Pt-miR156 and Pt-miR396 were confirmed using the regional amplification reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction method. Furthermore, overexpression of Pt-miR156a1 and Pt-miR156a1 in Arabidopsis resulted in an extended juvenile phase, short siliques, and smaller leaves in transgenic plants compared with control plants. These findings provide important insight regarding citrus lncRNAs, thus enabling in-depth functional analyses.

Differences in pollination success between local and foreign flower color phenotypes: a translocation experiment with Gentiana lutea (Gentianaceae).

BackgroundThe adaptive maintenance of flower color variation is frequently attributed to pollinators partly because they preferentially visit certain flower phenotypes. We tested whether Gentiana lutea—which shows a flower color variation (from orange to yellow) in the Cantabrian Mountains range (north of Spain)—is locally adapted to the pollinator community.MethodsWe transplanted orange-flowering individuals to a population with yellow-flowering individuals and vice versa, in order to assess whether there is a pollination advantage in the local morph by comparing its visitation rate with the foreign morph.ResultsOur reciprocal transplant experiment did not show clear local morph advantage in overall visitation rate: local orange flowers received more visits than foreign yellow flowers in the orange population, while both local and foreign flowers received the same visits in the yellow population; thus, there is no evidence of local adaptation in Gentiana lutea to the pollinator assemblage. However, some floral visitor groups (such as Bombus pratorum, B. soroensis ancaricus and B. lapidarius decipiens) consistently preferred the local morph to the foreign morph whereas others (such as Bombus terrestris) consistently preferred the foreign morph.DiscussionWe concluded that there is no evidence of local adaptation to the pollinator community in each of the two G. lutea populations studied. The consequences for local adaptation to pollinator on G. lutea flower color would depend on the variation along the Cantabrian Mountains range in morph frequency and pollinator community composition.

Hydrogen Cyanamide on Citrus: Preliminary Data on Phytotoxicity and Influence on Flush in Potted and Field Trees

Bloom in individual citrus (Citrus) trees often continues for more than 1 month in south Florida, with even greater bloom duration within most orchard blocks because of variation in bloom timing between trees. Prolonged bloom contributes to variable fruit maturity as harvest approaches and increases severity of postbloom fruit drop (PFD) disease (caused by Colletotrichum acutatum). Hydrogen cyanamide (cyanamide) has been effective in accelerating bloom in various deciduous fruits, and its potential use in citrus was investigated in this preliminary study. Cyanamide was applied at a range of concentrations, from 0% to 1.0% a.i., to potted trees of six citrus types reflecting fairly broad diversity in commercial citrus that was readily available as seed [alemow (Citrus macrophylla), ‘Duncan’ grapefruit (Citrus paradisi), sour orange (Citrus aurantium), ‘Smooth Flat Seville’ sour orange hybrid (C. aurantium hybrid), ‘Swingle’ citrumelo (C. paradisi × Poncirus trifoliata), and ‘Sun Chu Sha’ mandarin (Citrus reticulata)] in Dec. 1999 while trees were quiescent. Phytotoxicity increased with cyanamide rate, with some damage at 0.125% cyanamide on most tested plants, and large variation among citrus types. All cyanamide rates hastened flushing. Airblast application of cyanamide (0, 0.025%, 0.05%, and 0.10%) was made to mature trees of ‘Valencia’ and ‘Navel’ sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) in Ft. Pierce, FL, on 27 Jan. 2000. On 15 Feb. and 28 Feb. additional trees received cyanamide at 0.05%. There was considerable defoliation, which increased linearly with cyanamide rate. Flushing and flowering were unaffected by cyanamide compared with controls except in February where cyanamide applied at 0.05% increased flowers per tree in ‘Valencia’ sweet orange, and in contrast, 0.1% cyanamide on 27 Jan. reduced ‘Navel’ sweet orange flowering. Cyanamide application to ‘Valencia’ sweet orange on 28 Feb., after initial flowering but 16 days before peak bloom, significantly reduced yield per tree but there were no other effects on cropping. In these trials, cyanamide was not an effective agent for hastening bloom in south Florida citrus with applications late January through February. Further work is needed to determine whether December applications of cyanamide to trees in the field may be more effective in concentrating subsequent flush and bloom.

Transcriptomics and Metabolite Analysis Reveals the Molecular Mechanism of Anthocyanin Biosynthesis Branch Pathway in Different Senecio cruentus Cultivars

The cyanidin (Cy), pelargonidin (Pg), and delphinidin (Dp) pathways are the three major branching anthocyanin biosynthesis pathways that regulate flavonoid metabolic flux and are responsible for red, orange, and blue flower colors, respectively. Different species have evolved to develop multiple regulation mechanisms that form the branched pathways. In the current study, five Senecio cruentus cultivars with different colors were investigated. We found that the white and yellow cultivars do not accumulate anthocyanin and that the blue, pink, and carmine cultivars mainly accumulate Dp, Pg, and Cy in differing densities. Subsequent transcriptome analysis determined that there were 43 unigenes encoding anthocyanin biosynthesis genes in the blue cultivar. We also combined chemical and transcriptomic analyses to investigate the major metabolic pathways that are related to the observed differences in flower pigmentation in the series of S. cruentus. The results showed that mutations of the ScbHLH17 and ScCHI1/2 coding regions abolish anthocyanin formation in the white and the yellow cultivars; the competition of the ScF3′H1, ScF3′5′H, and ScDFR1/2 genes for naringenin determines the differences in branching metabolic flux of the Cy, Dp, and Pg pathways. Our findings provide new insights into the regulation of anthocyanin branching and also supplement gene resources (including ScF3′5 ′H, ScF3′H, and ScDFRs) for flower color modification of ornamentals.

Red Anthocyanins and Yellow Carotenoids Form the Color of Orange-Flower Gentian (Gentiana lutea L. var. aurantiaca).

Flower color is an important characteristic that determines the commercial value of ornamental plants. Gentian flowers occur in a limited range of colors because this species is not widely cultivated as a cut flower. Gentiana lutea L. var. aurantiaca (abbr, aurantiaca) is characterized by its orange flowers, but the specific pigments responsible for this coloration are unknown. We therefore investigated the carotenoid and flavonoid composition of petals during flower development in the orange-flowered gentian variety of aurantiaca and the yellow-flowered variety of G. lutea L. var. lutea (abbr, lutea). We observed minor varietal differences in the concentration of carotenoids at the early and final stages, but only aurantiaca petals accumulated pelargonidin glycosides, whereas these compounds were not found in lutea petals. We cloned and sequenced the anthocyanin biosynthetic gene fragments from petals, and analyzed the expression of these genes in the petals of both varieties to determine the molecular mechanisms responsible for the differences in petal color. Comparisons of deduced amino acid sequences encoded by the isolated anthocyanin cDNA fragments indicated that chalcone synthase (CHS), chalcone isomerase (CHI), anthocyanidin synthase 1 (ANS1) and ANS2 are identical in both aurantiaca and lutea varieties whereas minor amino acid differences of the deduced flavonone 3-hydroxylase (F3H) and dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR) between both varieties were observed. The aurantiaca petals expressed substantially higher levels of transcripts representing CHS, F3H, DFR, ANS and UDP-glucose:flavonoid-3-O-glucosyltransferase genes, compared to lutea petals. Pelargonidin glycoside synthesis in aurantiaca petals therefore appears to reflect the higher steady-state levels of pelargonidin synthesis transcripts. Moreover, possible changes in the substrate specificity of DFR enzymes may represent additional mechanisms for producing red pelargonidin glycosides in petals of aurantiaca. Our report describing the exclusive accumulation of pelargonidin glycosides in aurantiaca petals may facilitate the modification of gentian flower color by the production of red anthocyanins.

Comparison effect of Lavender and Citrus aurantium aroma on anxiety in female students at Golestan University of Medical Sciences

Introduction: Test anxiety is a common phenomenon and the problematic concern of the educational system. Scented essentials like lavender (angustifolia) oil and Citrus aurantium (orange flower) oil have positive impact on people's physical and mental condition and anxiety. This study was designed to compare and evaluate the effects of lavender essential oil aroma and Citrus aurantium essential oil aroma on test anxiety. Materials and methods: This double-blind clinical trial study was carried out on 80 female students from the Faculty of Paramedics Sciences, Gorgan city in 2013. Students were randomly and equally assigned to the two lavender or Citrus aurantium groups. All students smelled oil for a period of 60 seconds. To stay scents, some oil was rubbed on the candidates foreheads using an applicator. To evaluate the level of anxiety and stress before the intervention, Sarason Anxiety Test, and to measure the effect of essence after intervention, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) questionnaire were used. Data were analyzed using SPSS16 software and the independent and paired T-tests. Results: The mean anxiety in students in lavender group dropped from (5.67±2.05) to (3.9± 1.82) and in Citrus aurantium group decreased from (5.25±2.06) to (3.97±2). This difference was statistically significant (P <0.001). The intervention had a significant effect on heart rate; however, had no effect on the blood pressure. Conclusion: According to the results, lavender and citrus aurantium scents had positive effects on students' test anxiety and can be used as a cheap and good psychological care in treatment support systems to control and reduce anxiety with least side effects.

Characterization of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, as the main causal agent of citrus anthracnose, and C. karstii as species preferentially associated with lemon twig dieback in Portugal

In the last two decades significant losses in citrus production in Portugal related to anthracnose symptoms have been recorded. These symptoms were attributed to Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, but preliminary population diversity evidence suggested that other Colletotrichum species could be involved in the disease. In this work, a field survey of the main citrus growing areas in Portugal was conducted and the pathogenicity of a group of Colletotrichum spp. isolates was studied along with morphological and genetic variability characterization [including Inter-Simple Sequence Repeats (ISSR) profiles and DNA sequence data of rDNA-ITS and β-tubulin 2 gene regions]. Colletotrichum karstii (from the C. boninense species complex) and C. gloeosporioides were identified from symptoms on leaves, branches, flowers and fruits of several citrus cultivars. However, C. acutatum, the species most commonly associated with citrus anthracnose in the Americas, was never detected. While C. gloeosporioides was isolated at higher frequency overall (87 %), C. karstii was more frequent in branches and leaves of lemon in specific geographic locations. Only C. gloeosporioides was detected in flowers. Colletotrichum karstii and C. gloeosporioides were pathogenic to sweet orange flowers and fruits and to leaves of sweet orange, mandarin and lemon, while reference C. acutatum citrus isolates were pathogenic to Key lime flowers and leaves.

Anthocyanins in different Citrus species: an UHPLC-PDA-ESI/MSn -assisted qualitative and quantitative investigation.

Anthocyanins are water-soluble pigments belonging to the flavonoid family. They are typically present in the flesh and peel in the blood orange cultivars. Although blood orange young shoots and flowers are not anthocyanin-colored, lemon, citron, rangpur lime, and Meyer lemon young shoots and flowers exhibit marked pigmentation as a result of anthocyanins, demonstrating that anthocyanin biosynthesis in the Citrus genus is both tissue- and genotype-dependent. The present study aimed to examine the qualitative and quantitative anthocyanin profile of fruit and other tissues from different Citrus species. The presence of anthocyanin-pigmented stigmas in the young flowers of a blood orange tree (cv. 'Moro') was characterized and reported for the first time. The dominant pigments in blood orange fruits were cyanidin 3-glucoside and cyanidin 3-(6''-malonyl-glucoside), whereas different patterns were observed in the young shoots, flowers and peel tissues of different Citrus species. The present study is the first to report differentially expressed anthocyanin pigmentation patterns in different organs from several species of the genus Citrus. The results obtained could also represent a starting point for further investigations that aim to better understand which regulatory genes are involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis in the fruits, shoots and floral tissues of different Citrus species. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Analysis of Carotenoids, Flavonoids and Essential Oil of Calendula officinalis Cultivars Growing in Estonia

Pot Marigold (Calendula officinalis L.) is an annual ornamental plant with yellow to orange flowers which belongs the the Asteraceae family, its flowers are- used in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries. The commercial samples of seeds (n=24) of C. officinalis were cultivated in home gardens in Estonia. Total carotenoid contents, determined spectrophotometrically (X=455 nm) in the inflorescences, varied from 0.7 to 2.7%, the cultivar with the highest carotenoid content was 'Dracon'. The total content of flavonoids, determined spectrophotometrically (?=370 nm), varied from 0.8% to 1.7%. The best cultivar contained almost maximum amount of total carotenoids (2.5%) and flavonoids (1.7%) was 'Radio". The oil yields of eight cultivars of C. officinalis obtained were from 0.10 to 0.43%, the highest yield (0.43%) of the oil was obtained from the cultivar 'Double Ball'. A total 70 compounds were identified and analysed by GC-MS in the essential oil of C. officinalis, representing over 95% from total oil. The major components of the oils (>5%) of C. officinalis cultivars were a- cadinole (18.4-32.0%), y-cadinene (9.7-18.9%), viridiflorol (2.0-10.0%), t-cadinole (4.7-7.9%), 8-cadinole (3.3-5.6%), and y-muurolene (0.8-5.1%). There is no clear relation between the colour of the inflorescences of C. officinalis and the total content of flavonoids and carotenoids. The chemotypes of essential oils of C. officinalis were not found among the cultivars studied.