Review of floral polymorphism in chía (Salvia hispanica L.): Modified cause

Abstract

This article reviews the current state of knowledge about the color of the flower of the chia (Salvia hispanica L.) plant because it presents different colors, within a population that was the basis for the generation of five internationally marketed varieties. After a historical review of the most influential studies on floral color polymorphism, the different types of pigments involved and other anthropogenic manipulations such as the application of ionizing radiation that may affect the final color of flowers are analyzed; the latter is involved in the current polymorphism of this species. Although there is a great diversity of types of floral polymorphism, those related to the loss of anthocyanic pigments are the most frequent in wild species. On the contrary, in chia it is the opposite, so far there are no study reports on chia cultivation that support this relationship, in this article we propose a possible hypothesis in relation to a genetic mechanism that is the modified cause of the floral polymorphism it presents.