Genetic control of quercetin formation in the aleurone tissue of maize

Abstract

The genes C, C2, R, A, A2, B_z, B_z² and P_r are required for the formation of purple anthocyanin in the aleurone tissue of maize, and the recessive gene(s) result in non-purple (red, bronze and colorless). Aleurone extracts of recessive a and certain double recessive combinations were analyzed by paper chromatography, absorption spectra in the ultraviolet (UV) and infrared, mass spectra, and other analytical techniques. Homozygous recessive a tissue accumulates the flavonol, quercetin, while the double combinations a c and a r lack it, suggesting that dominant genes C and R are required for its formation and act prior to A in the synthesis of flavonols, as in the gene action sequence for anthocyanin synthesis. Dominant C-I inhibits the formation of quercetin, whereas B_z, B_z² and In do not affect its formation. These results suggest a close biogenetic relationship between quercetin and cyanidin-3-glucoside and also independently confirm the position of A in both sequences.