Anthocyanin inheritance and instability in purple basil (Ocimum basilicum L.)

Abstract

The instability of the purple pigments (anthocyanins) in purple basil varieties (Ocimum basilicum L.) limits their use as ornamental plants and as a potential anthocyanin source. Several self-pollinated generations of all purple plants were unsuccessful in stabilizing anthocyanin expression. In this study we investigated the inheritance and stability patterns of leaf traits using the Purple Ruffles variety. The results from the complete diallele crosses indicated anthocyanin expression in vegetative tissue is controlled by two dominant genes and ruffled leaf texture is controlled by a single recessive gene. Genes controlling leaf margin and leaf base structures were tightly linked to leaf texture. Essential oil production and oil constituents in leaves did not change as a result of the reversion in color. Color stability in cuttings was affected by the environment and the location where cuttings were taken. An accumulation of secondary metabolites (apigenin, genistein, and kaempferol) in green-reverted sectors on purple leaves was detected using reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis; this suggested a potential block in the anthocyanin pathway. We hypothesize the reversion mutation is occurring in an anthocyanin regulatory gene.

Germination test and ornamental potential of different basil cultivars (Ocimum spp.)

“…Hence, assessments of the visual effects of these cultivars were performed 60 days after sowing. Canopy volume; leaf shape, texture, size, and color; stem and flower color; and number of days to flowering were estimated according to studies containing basil characteristics which were developed by Phippen and Simon (2000) and Lorenzi and Souza (2001).…”

“…Color variation is of great importance for ornamental plants trading along with dye production due to the presence of anthocyanin, especially in purple-colored leaf species (PHIPPEN and SIMON, 2000). Flowers and inflorescences are also essential for landscape composition.…”

Herbal Antioxidants as Rejuvenators in Alternative Medicine

“…Basils contain a wide range of essential oils rich in phenolic compounds (Phippen and Simon, 2000) and a wide array of other natural products including polyphenols such as flavonoids and anthocyanins. Epidemiological studies have suggested positive associations between the consumption of phenolic-rich foods or beverages and the prevention of disease (Scalbert and Williamson, 2000).…”

Mycorrhizal fungi and microalgae modulate antioxidant capacity of basil plants

“…Medicinal plants from the Lamiaceae family have been used since ancient times for their pharmaceutical properties (Bais et al 2002) due to the secondary metabolites such as phenolic compounds (including flavonoids and phenylpropanoids) as well as anthocyanins (Phippen and Simon 2000). Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) belonging to the Lamiaceae family is a rich source of phenolic antioxidant compounds and flavonoids (Juliani and Simon 2002;Jayasinghe et al 2003).…”