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Changes in some carotenoids and apocarotenoids during flower development in Boronia megastigma (Nees)

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-16, 21:54 authored by Cooper, C, Noel DaviesNoel Davies, Robert MenaryRobert Menary
The carotenoid profile of an acetone extract from the flowers and leaves of Boronia megastigma (Nees) was examined. A comparison was made of the major carotenoids found in boronia flowers and leaves. The C-40 carotenoids B-carotene, zeaxanthin, lutein, and neoxanthin were positively identified in boronia flowers using known standards, UV-vis spectra, and mass spectrometry. Two other carotenoids were tentatively assigned as the palmitic acid ester of 3-hydroxy-10'-apocaroten-10'-oic acid and 9,15,9'-tri-cis-carotene. Additionally, changes in the levels of C-40 carotenoids, C-27 apocarotenoids, and B-ionone during flower development were measured. Significant increases in B-carotene and apocarotenoids that could be derived from cleavage in the 9,10-position, including B-ionone and various C-27 apocarotenoids, were observed at the time of flower opening. An increase in lutein, which is derived through an alternative biosynthetic pathway, was not observed during flower opening, thus indicating the possibility that the B-carotene pathway was activated during flower opening in boronia. The understanding of these processes may assist in optimizing harvest and postharvest processes useful to the boronia extraction industry.

History

Publication title

Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry

Volume

57

Issue

4

Pagination

1513-1520

ISSN

0021-8561

Department/School

Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA)

Publisher

American Chemical Society

Place of publication

United States

Rights statement

Copyright 2009 American Chemical Society

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Horticultural crops not elsewhere classified