“Cyclamen Red” Colors Based on a Macrocyclic Anthocyanin in Carnation Flowers

Abstract

The “cyclamen” red (or pink) colors in carnation flowers cultivars Red Rox and eight others are based on the presence of a new macrocyclic anthocyanin, pelargonidin 3,5-di- O -β-glucoside(6‘ ‘,6‘ ‘‘-malyl diester) identified by spectroscopic methods. The instability of the bridging malyl group with sugars in acidic medium readily causes the formation of the opened ring form, 3- O -(6‘ ‘- O -malylglucoside)-5- O -glucoside. The issue of cyclamen colors based in carnations on this original acylated pelargonidin derivative simulating those based on simpler cyanidin glycosides in Rosa cultivars is discussed using CIELAB colorimetric coordinates. Keywords: Dianthus caryophyllus; Caryophyllaceae; carnation; flower anthocyanins; malylated pelargonidin diglucoside; CIELAB