Identification of a Genetic Factor Required for High γ-Isoform Concentration in Rice Vitamin E.

The γ-isoforms of tocopherols (Tc) and tocotrienols (T3) possess high biological activities in comparison to the α-isoforms. The concentrations of Tc and T3 isoforms in rice (Oriza sativa) was cultivar-dependent. Using chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) and near isogenic lines (NILs) of indica cultivar "Kasalath" in a japonica cultivar "Koshihikari" genetic background, the Kasalath genomic segment on chromosome 2 was determined to be responsible for the high γ-isoform concentration: γ-tocopherol methyltransferase (γ-TMT) was identified as a candidate gene.

Perianth bottom-specific blue color development in Tulip cv. Murasakizuisho requires ferric ions.

The entire flower of Tulipa gesneriana cv. Murasakizuisho is purple, except the bottom, which is blue. To elucidate the mechanism of the different color development in the same petal, we prepared protoplasts from the purple and blue epidermal regions and measured the flavonoid composition by HPLC, the vacuolar pH by a proton-selective microelectrode, and element contents by the inductively coupled plasma (ICP) method.

First Report of Tulip band breaking virus in Mosaic Diseased Tulip in Japan.

Tulip (Tulipa spp.) is an ornamental plant of major economic importance in Japan. Regions in Toyama Prefecture are some of the most productive for producing tulip bulbs, shipping approximately 50 million bulbs annually.

Anthocyanins in The Dark Purple Anthers of Tulipa gesneriana: Identification of Two Novel Delphinidin 3-O-(6-O-(Acetyl-α-Rhamnopyranosyl)-β-Glucopyranosides).

Two novel anthocyanins, delphinidin 3-O-(6-O-(2-O-acetyl-α-rhamnopyranosyl)-β-glucopyranoside) and delphinidin 3-O-(6-O-(3-O-acetyl-α-rhamnopyranosyl)-β-glucopyranoside), were identified from the anthers of Tulipa gesneriana. These and delphinidin 3-O-(6-O-(α-rhamnopyranosyl)-β-glucopyranoside) made up over 80% of the anthocyanin content in the dark purple anthers and could be responsible for the intense color of the anthers.