FLOWER FLAVONOL AND ANTHOCYANIN DISTRIBUTION IN SUBGENUS ROSA

Abstract In a survey of flower flavonoids in 120 taxa from 10 sections of subgenus Rosa , 19 flavonols and six anthocyanins were detected: six kaempferol (K) glycosides; 3-glucoside (in 99% taxa), 3-rutinoside (63%), 3-sophoroside (60%), 3-rhamnoside (70%), 7-glucoside (94%) and 4′-glucoside (4%); and six quercetin (Q) glycosides: 3-glucoside (91%), 3-glucuronide (62%), 3-rutinoside (63%), 3-sophoroside (69%), 7-glucoside (90%) and 4′-glucoside (4%), and seven unidentified flavonols, and two cyanidin glycosides; 3,5-diglucoside (68%) and 3-glucoside (16%) and two peonidin glycosides; 3,5-diglucoside (41%) and 3-glucoside (4%) and two unidentified anthocyanins. From the flavonoid distribution patterns of this analysis, 120 taxa in the subgenus Rosa were divided into three groups as follows. The first group was characterized by much containing of K and Q 3-glucosides, and the absence of K and Q 4′-glucosides. Fifty-nine taxa from six sections ( Gallicanae 32, Chinenses 14, Synstylae 6, Laevigatae 2, Bracteatae 1 and Banksianae 4) were classified into this group. Small amounts of K and Q 3-sophorosides were found in sections Synstylae, Laevigatae and Bracteatae , but they were sporadically present in sections Gallicanae and Chinenses and were absent in sect. Banksianae . In the second group, 55 taxa from three sections ( Caninae 21, Carolinae 7 and Rosa 27) were placed. These plants contained large amounts of K and Q 3-sophorosides and anthocyanins in their petals, but they did not contain 4′-glucosides. The last group contained only one section, Pimpinellifoliae (six taxa). This group was unique in containing a large amount of K and Q 4′-glucosides. Rosa hemisphaerica , however, did not contain any flavonol and anthocyanin except a small amount of K 3-glucoside. By multivariate analyses, three chemotaxonomical groups of subgenus Rosa were confirmed, and interrelationship among these groups was discussed.