Question

When looking at a field of flowers( a single species of flowers), one may see ranges of phenotypes( e.g. colors). Another field shows only one phenotype. If you were to run a breeding study based on flower colors, which fields would you select? Please explain.

Answer 1

I would select the field of flowers with ranges of phenotypes. The colour of flower mainly contributes to the market value of an ornamental part and the presence of colour is due to three pigments. They are flavanoids, carotenoids and betalains. Flavanoids and carotenoids are widely distributed whereas betalains are found only in plants of particular gene in the order Caryophyllales, that belongs to the small group of organisms Along rhese pigments, flavanoids are the most common flower pigments contributes to a range of colours from yellow to orange and to red to purple. In the past few years, flavonoids biosynthetic pathway leading to the production of anthocyanins and their genetic engineering of biosynthesis produces abundant cultivars. Many variations can be observed in the phenotypes of these different colours and their generations.