Characteristic Anthocyanin Pattern from Onions and other Allium spp

Abstract

Three red onion (Allium cepa) cultivars, top onion (A. cepa var. viviparum), A. altaicum and chive (A. schoenoprasum) contained several or all of the following anthocyanins: 3-(6"-malonyl-3"-glucosylglucoside), 3-(3",6"-dimalonylglucoside), 3-(6"-malonylglucoside), 3-(3"-malonylglucoside), 3-(3"-glucosylglucoside) and 3-glucoside of cyanidin. Trace amounts of two pelargonidin derivatives and the 3,5-diglucosides of cyanidin and peonidin were for the first time reported in red onion. Carbon NMR data showed that the sugars of the 3-(6"-malonyl-3"-glucosylglucoside), 3-(6"-malonylglucoside) and 3-glucoside of cyanidin were pyranoses. Substitution either by sugar or acid in the sugar 3-position of an anthocyanin has never been reported outside the genus Allium.

Complete assignment of structural genes involved in flavonoid biosynthesis influencing bulb color to individual chromosomes of the shallot (Allium cepa L.)

“…Red onions also contain anthocyanins, which are the largest subclass of plant flavonoids. The major anthocyanins in red onions are cyanidin 3-(6"-malonylglucoside), cyanidin 3-(6"-malonyl-3"-glucosylglucoside), cyanidin 3-(3"-glucosylglucoside), and cyanidin 3-glucoside (Terahara et al 1994;Fossen et al 1996;Donner et al 1997). Cyanidin 3-(6"-malonylglucoside) constitutes more than 50% of the total anthocyanin content in three different cultivars of red onion (Fossen et al 1996).…”

“…The major anthocyanins in red onions are cyanidin 3-(6"-malonylglucoside), cyanidin 3-(6"-malonyl-3"-glucosylglucoside), cyanidin 3-(3"-glucosylglucoside), and cyanidin 3-glucoside (Terahara et al 1994;Fossen et al 1996;Donner et al 1997). Cyanidin 3-(6"-malonylglucoside) constitutes more than 50% of the total anthocyanin content in three different cultivars of red onion (Fossen et al 1996). Although the level of the anthocyanin content of red onions is <10% with respect to flavonols such as quercetin (Rhodes and Price 1996), the simultaneous intake of flavonols and anthocyanins could be regarded as particularly healthy (Gennaro et al 2002).…”

Identification of a Novel DFR-A Mutant Allele Determining the Bulb Color Difference between Red and Yellow Onions (Allium cepa L.)

“…Flavonoid compounds are known to confer bulb colors in onions (Fossen et al 1996). Flavonoid is one of major secondary metabolites, and more than 8,000 derivatives have been reported in plant species (Veitch and Grayer 2011).…”

Application of the Molecular Marker in Linkage Disequilibrium with Ms, a Restorer-of-fertility Locus, for Improvement of Onion Breeding Efficiency

“…Regarding the amount of world production, onion is the second most important vegetable crop, second to tomato (Griffiths et al, 2002). Onion is also known to be one of major sources of dietary flavonoids such as quercetin and anthocyanin (Fossen et al, 1996;Rhodes and Price, 1996;Slimestad et al, 2007). Although diverse landraces and open-pollinated (OP) varieties have been developed since the ancient cultivation of onions, the proportion of F 1 hybrid cultivars has been steadily increasing since the discovery of male-sterile onions by Jones and Emsweller (1936).…”