Many genes controlling anthocyanin synthesis have been described in maize. Some of the genes control the synthesis and modifications of the C15 skeleton, whereas other genes act early in the pathway for anthocyanin biosynthesis (Reddy & Coe, 1962). The characterization of accumulated gene products in single and double recessives reveals the nature of gene controlled mechanisms. Earlier we reported (MGNL, 1985) the characterization of accumulated compounds in the aleurone tissue of C-I and bz1 pr, and the present report deals with chemical characterization studies of compounds in the double recessive, c2 pr. Based on chromatographic and spectroscopic data and chemical tests, the aleurone extract of c2 pr has shown the presence of four phenolic compounds. One of them, a major compound, was isolated on column chromatography silicagel-G ACME's particle size max. 75 µ and was characterized as p-coumaric acid by Co-TLC, Co-paper chromatography, physical and chemical methods. The solvent systems used in the study were (1) n-butanol (27%):aqueous acetic acid (1: 1 v/v); (2) m-cresol:acetic acid:water (50:2:48 v/v); (3) phenol:water (73:27 w/w); (4) distilled water; and (5) acetic acid:conc. HCl:water (30:3:10). Average Rf values and UV absorption maxima are given below.

Table.

V. Sathyanarayana, P Suprasanna, K.V. Rao and G.M. Reddy
 
 

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