Flower colors and pigments in hybrids with Camellia chrysantha

The yellow pigment components of the interspecific hybrids of 'Suzanne Withers' (C. reticulata × C. saluenensis, seed parent) × C. chrysantha (pollen parent), 'Lasca Beauty' (C. reticulata × C. japonica, seed parent) × C. chrysantha (pollen parent) and the parents were analyzed. C. chrysantha contains three major flavonols and some carotenoids, 'Suzanne Withers' has two major flavonols, while 'Lasca Beauty' has no yellow pigment detected. The yellow pigment genes from both parents were expressed in hybrids of 'Suzanne Withers' × C. chrysanthan because yellow pigments characteristic of both parents were detected in the petals of the hybrids. Quercetin-7-glucoside, which is the most important yellow pigment in C. chrysantha, was found in small amounts in progenies. In hybrids of 'Lasca Beauty' × C. chrysantha the yellow pigments observed were those from C. chrysantha; however, quercetin-7-glucoside was not found in them, only the other two flavonols and carotenoids were detected.