Pigmentation in iris hybrids: the nature and development of flavonoid pigments and their effect on flower color in cultivated hybrids of Iris germanica

Abstract

The development of flavonoid pigments has been investigated in six cultivars of Iris germanica L. with a wide range of flower color but containing essentially the same pigments. Content and localization of anthocyanin and anthoxanthin pigments were observed throughout bud and flower development. All varieties, both cyanic and acyanic, showed a common pattern of initial development in early stages, with leucoanthocyanins preceding anthoxanthins, and anthocyanin appearing later. Pigment concentration reached a maximum in half-grown buds, and quantitative differences among varieties were established. Varieties with high anthocyanin content also had high anthoxanthin content. Relative concentrations of pigments rather than different chemical species appear to be a major factor in determining flower color.