ANTHOCYANINS AND ANTHOCYANIDINS OF THE BARLEY PERICARP AND ALEURONE TISSUES

Abstract

The anthocyanins and anthocyanidins of the pericarp and aleurone tissues of one white, three blue, two purple, and two black barley varieties were isolated by paper chromatography. Two anthocyanins, "B" and "C" (perhaps cyanidin-3-glucoside), occurred in one black and in the blue and purple varieties. Additionally, of three anthocyanins found in the two purple varieties, two, "D" and "E", were common to both and one, "F", was found only in the variety Gopal. Also found in the purple varieties was a poorly resolved group of anthocyanins designated as "A". Two anthocyanidins, delphinidin and cyanidin, were found in all varieties and one, pelargonidin, was found only in the purple varieties. It is probable that anthocyanins A and A1are delphinidin derivatives; anthocyanins C and D, cyanidin derivatives; and anthocyanins E and F, pelargonidin derivatives. The relationships of the anthocyanins to colour inheritance patterns were discussed.