A survey of anthocyanins in fruits of some angiosperms,II

Anthocyanins in the fruits of 41 species belonging to 25 families were investigated paper-chromatographically. Fifteen kinds of anthocyanins, in addition to the previous findings, were newly identified. In addition to cyanidin 3-monoglucoside as the most common anthocyanin, the 3-rutinoside and the 3-sambubioside were found in the fruits with high frequency.     

Seed mass and the evolution of fleshy fruits in angiosperms

Fleshy fruits, like drupes and berries, have evolved many times through angiosperm history. Two hypotheses suggest that fleshy fruit evolution is related to changes in the seed mass fitness landscape. The reduced dispersal capability following from an increase in seed mass may be counterbalanced by evolution of traits mediating seed dispersal by animals, such as fleshy fruits. Alternatively, increasing availability and capabilities of frugivores promote evolution of fleshy fruits and allow an increase in seed size. Both these hypotheses predict an association between evolution of fleshy fruits and increasing seed size. We investigated patterns of fruit and seed evolution by contrasting seed mass between fleshy and non‐fleshy fruited sister clades. We found a consistent association between possession of fleshy fruits and heavier seeds. The direction of fruit type change did not alter this pattern; seed mass was higher in clades where fleshy fruits evolved and lower in clades where non‐fleshy fruits evolved, as compared to their sister clades. These patterns are congruent with the predictions from the two hypotheses, but other evidence is needed to distinguish between them. We emphasize the need to integrate studies of seed disperser effectiveness, seed morphology, and plant recruitment success to better understand the frugivores’ role in fleshy fruit evolution.     

The natural distribution in angiosperms of anthocyanins acylated with aliphatic dicarboxylic acids

An electrophoretic survey of mainly floral tissues of 282 species from 68 families showed the presence of zwitterionic anthocyanins in 38% of the species and in 30% of the families. Families recognised for the first time as having such pigments include the Alliaceae, Gramineae, Orchidaceae and Ranunculaceae. Families where they are rare or absent include the Boraginaceae, Geraniaceae, Iridaceae, Onagraceae and Umbelliferae. Acylating acids so far identified are malic, malonic and succinic and of these three, malonic seems to be the most common. The significance of this acylation appears to be related to the stabilization of anthocyanins in the acidic environment of the cell sap.     

Foliar ascorbic acid in some angiosperms

The ascorbic acid (vitamin C) content of the leaves of 213 angiosperm species is recorded. The nutritional and taxonomic significance of the results is     

Paper chromatographic survey of anthocyanins in leguminosae

Flower anthocyanins of 22 leguminous species, of which 20 species belong to the subfamily Faboideae, were examined. In the present study, 21 kinds of anthocyanin were found and their distribution pattern in 22 species was discussed.Albizia julibrissin belonging to the subfamily Mimosoideae contained only cyanidin 3-glucoside, which was quite different from the pigment constitutents in other species. Anthocyanins ofCercis chinensis belonging to the subfamily Caesalpinioideae were similar to those of species of the subfamily Faboideae. Malvidin glycoside was contained as a main pigment in 14 species examined. Malvidin and petunidin glycosides were most frequent and occurred in 20 legumes. Delphinidin glycoside, cyanidin glycoside and peonidin glycoside were present in descending order.     

Paper chromatographic survey of anthocyanins in leguminosae

Three different anthocyanins were shown to be contained in the dull purple flowers ofMucuna sempervirens Hemsl. (Japanese nameAira-tobikazura). They were identified as the 3-monoglucosides of delphinidin, petunidin and malvidin, respectively, by means of paper chromatographic and spectral analyses, and present in the ratio about 1:5:4 in the petals.     

Variation and similarities in pollen features in some basal angiosperms, with some taxonomic implications

Species within three families of basal angiosperms (Trimeniaceae, Winteraceae, Monimiaceae) illustrate differences and similarities in pollen within a species, between species and between genera. Trimenia papuana (Trimeniaceae) has dimorphic pollen (inaperturate, polyforate), each confined to different individual plants. Other species have either disulculate or polyforate pollen. Evolution seems to be from disulculate to inaperturate to polyforate. Present-day Winteraceae have pollen in permanent tetrads except four species of Zygogynum with monads. Why? Did such monads appear as fossils before tetrads in Winteraceae? Molecular studies of Takhtajania perrieri indicate it is basal but its unique bicarpellate unilocular gynoecium seems derived. Although Hedycarya arborea and Kibaropsis caledonica have near-identical permanent pollen tetrads, many other features are very different. Hedycarya species have permanent tetrads or inaperturate monads with spinulose, `starry' or other sculpturing, and it is suggested this and recent molecular data indicate further studies are needed to determine generic limits.     

Contributions to the cytology of endosperm in some angiosperms

Cytological observations on the endosperm ofZephyranthes grandiflora have shown that the endosperm is triploid in general, with 3n=36 chromosomes, but that nuclei of higher polyploidy also occur. Wall formation started at 7 days after pollination and the 9 day old endosperm was completely cellular. Maximum variation in size and shape of nuclei was recorded in the 8 day old endosperm. No, similar variation was observed in the root tip nuclei. Polyploidy by endomitosis, and probably also by fusion of nuclei, together with aneuploidy may be responsible for the nuclear variation in the endosperm. The low seed setting has been attributed to the failure of endosperm resulting from the mitotic irregularities which characterized the collapsing endosperm.     

A further survey of anthocyanins and other phenolics in Ilex and Euonymus

A survey of 27 plants of Ilex and Euonymus revealed that the distribution of anthocyanins and cinnamic acid esters in their fruits is correlated with accepted taxonomic classification. In the skin of the fruit, the 3-xylosylglucoside of cyanidin and pelargonidin and the 3-monoglucoside of cyanidin were identified, and the hydrolysed fruit-extracts were found to contain quercetin, kaempferol and caffeic acid. The genus Ilex has been shown to be distinguishable from the genus Euonymus by their anthocyanins; I. micrococca was exceptional in having only chrysanthemin. Additionally, chlorogenic and isochlorogenic acids and caffeylglucose occur in Ilex but not in Euonymus. The microspectrophotometric examination of the pigment cells of the black- and red-Ilex fruits revealed that the position of absorption maxima in the visible region is mainly related to the relative amounts of anthocyanin and flavonol present.     

Sterols and fatty acids of some non-photosynthetic angiosperms

Sterols and fatty acids were extracted and identified from three parasitic angiosperms, Cuscuta campestris, Monotropa uniflora and M. hypopitys. Each plant contained the typical 16 and 18-carbon fatty acids of angiosperms, but the partially-photosynthetic Cuscuta contained much larger quantities of linolenic acid than the non-green Monotropa species which had smaller amounts of linolenic acid characteristic of non-photosynthetic tissue. Sterol quantity was three times higher in Cuscuta than in the Monotropa species. Sitosterol was the major sterol in all species with smaller amounts of campesterol and cholesterol.