Genetic control of quercetin formation in the aleurone tissue of maize.

The genes C, C2, R, A, A2, Bz, Bz2 and Pr are required for the formation of purple anthocyanin in the aleurone tissue of maize, and the recessive gene(s) result in non-purple (red, bronze and colorless). Aleurone extracts of recessive a and certain double recessive combinations were analyzed by paper chromatography, absorption spectra in the ultraviolet (UV) and infrared, mass spectra, and other analytical techniques. Homozygous recessive a tissue accumulates the flavonol, quercetin, while the double combinations a c and a r lack it, suggesting that dominant genes C and R are required for its formation and act prior to A in the synthesis of flavonols, as in the gene action sequence for anthocyanin synthesis. Dominant C-I inhibits the formation of quercetin, whereas Bz, Bz2 and In do not affect its formation. These results suggest a close biogenetic relationship between quercetin and cyanidin-3-glucoside and also independently confirm the position of A in both sequences.