Abstract: | A quantitative study has been made of developmental changesin the anthocyanins and a flavonol glycoside in the red/bluebicoloured flowers of Lathyrus odoratus L. Anthocyanin formationoccurs during the period of most rapid growth of the petals.At maturity about four times as much anthocyanin is presentin the standard petal as in the pair of wing petals, which aretogether comparable in fresh weight to the standard. The patternof development of flavonol glycoside is quite different; someare formed well before anthocyanin formation occurs and at maturityabout six times as much flavonol glycoside is present in thewings as in the standard per unit amount of anthocyanin. Somefurther evidence is thus provide that the flavonol glycosidemay be acting as a co-pigment which modifies the wing petalcolour to blue. |