In order to investigate the inheritance of flower colour in tulips, seven cultivars were crossed and selfed in a diallel. Of these parents and their F
1's the relative amounts of carotenoids, delphinidin, cyanidin, pelargonidin, quercetin and kaempferol were determined.
For delphinidin, quercetin and daempferol only additive gene action was determined, and for carotenoids, cyanidin and pelargonidin also non-additive gene action and plasmic differences.
Biosynthesis of delphinidin and pelargonidin was only found when cyanidin was present, while synthesis of delphinidin and pelargonidin was antagonistic.
Key words
Tulipa
- tulip - flower colour - anthocyanidins - carotenoids - flavonols - combining ability - inheritance