Flavonoids in seed coats of two <i>Colutea</i> species: Ecophysiological aspects

Abstract

Abstract Colutea is a genus of great rusticity and is valuable as forage. Its domestication is limited by the low germination rates and high susceptibility of the seeds to fungal attack. Abundant kaempferol, quercetin and myricelin glycosides have been identified from seed coats of Colutea arborescens and C. atlantica. Their ecophysiological role is studied by bioassays: inhibition test of germination of Lactuca sativa ; inhibition test of growth of Cladosporium cladosporoides and Sterigmatomyces polyborus isolated from the seed coats.