Guard cell swelling controls the aperture of stomata, pores that facilitate gas exchange and water loss from leaves. The hormone abscisic acid (ABA) has a central role in regulation of stomatal closure through synthesis of second messengers, which include reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS accumulation must be minimized by antioxidants to keep concentrations from reaching damaging levels within...

The glycosylation of flavonoids increases their solubility and stability in plants. Flowers accumulate anthocyanidin and flavonol glycosides which are synthesized by UDP-sugar flavonoid glycosyltransferases (UFGTs). In our previous study, a cDNA clone (Fh3GT1) encoding UFGT was isolated from Freesia hybrida, which was preliminarily proved to be invovled in cyanidin 3-O-glucoside biosynthesis. H...

Horse gram [Macrotyloma uniflorum (Lam.) Verdc.] seeds containing high concentrations of fatty acids, flavonols and minerals should provide government, public and private organizations with a nutritious and healthy food for use by malnourished and food deprived people worldwide. Seeds from seven horse gram accessions, geographically adapted to Griffin, GA, USA were analyzed for fatty acid, flav...

Cuticular waxes of Viscum album subspecies and of V. cruciatum have been examined for their micromorphology and chemical composition. Wax crystalloids occur preferably as irregular platelets and rodlets, while deviant structures are found in small areas. Among the triterpenoids forming the wax layer, oleanolic acid is prevailing with some 80%. The quantitative composition of the long-chain alip...

Evidence from in vitro and in vivo studies indicates that rutin, the main flavonoid in tartary buckwheat ( Fagopyrum tataricum ), may have high value for medicine and health. This paper reports the finding of a flavonol synthase (FLS) gene, cloned and characterized from F. tataricum and designated FtFLS1, that is involved in rutin biosynthesis. The FtFLS1 gene was expressed in Escherichia coli...

Flavonol synthase (FLS) was demonstrated in crude extracts from flower buds o f Dianthus caryophyllus (carnation). The enzyme catalyzed the conversion o f dihydrokaempferol and dihydroquercetin to kaempferol and quercetin, respectively. The reaction required 2-oxoglutarate, ferrous ion and ascorbate as co-factors and had a pH optimum at about 7.4. The demonstration o f FLS activity allowed comp...