Color Variation and Secondary Metabolites’ Footprint in a Taxonomic Complex of <i>Phyteuma</i> sp. (Campanulaceae)
In the genus <i>Phyteuma</i>, the taxonomic delimitation of some species is difficult since a high variability of morphological traits, such as flower color, is present, probably due to high levels of hybridization. Historic descriptions and the morphological traits used in the taxonomic...
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MDPI AG
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/11/21/2894 |
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| author | Mariana Cecilia Grohar Aljaz Medic Tea Ivancic Robert Veberic Jernej Jogan |
| author_facet | Mariana Cecilia Grohar Aljaz Medic Tea Ivancic Robert Veberic Jernej Jogan |
| author_sort | Mariana Cecilia Grohar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In the genus <i>Phyteuma</i>, the taxonomic delimitation of some species is difficult since a high variability of morphological traits, such as flower color, is present, probably due to high levels of hybridization. Historic descriptions and the morphological traits used in the taxonomic keys are sometimes unclear and lead to misinterpretations. Here, a detailed analysis of flower color variability in different populations of sympatric <i>P. spicatum</i>, <i>P. ovatum</i>, and <i>P. persicifolium</i> constitutes a new approach to clarifying the taxonomic statuses. The numeric analysis of color, providing colorimetric variables, together with the detailed description of the metabolic profiles of populations with different flower colors, constitute a unique chemical fingerprint that identifies species and subspecies with clear markers. This study is the most complete metabolic research on genus <i>Phyteuma</i>, since we identified and quantified 44 phenolic compounds using HPLC-MS, comprising 14 phenolic acids, 23 flavonols and flavones, and, for the first time in the genus, 7 anthocyanins involved in flower color variability. This approach contributes to clarifying the differences between species, which is particularly relevant in taxonomic complexes such as the present, where morphology fails to clearly differentiate taxa at specific and intraspecific levels. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T18:44:28Z |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T18:44:28Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-d932e143e44e47d09e0653ecce463a652023-11-24T06:24:51ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472022-10-011121289410.3390/plants11212894Color Variation and Secondary Metabolites’ Footprint in a Taxonomic Complex of <i>Phyteuma</i> sp. (Campanulaceae)Mariana Cecilia Grohar0Aljaz Medic1Tea Ivancic2Robert Veberic3Jernej Jogan4Department of Agronomy, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva ulica 101, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaDepartment of Agronomy, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva ulica 101, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaDepartment of Agronomy, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva ulica 101, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaDepartment of Agronomy, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva ulica 101, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaDepartment of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Vecna pot 111, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaIn the genus <i>Phyteuma</i>, the taxonomic delimitation of some species is difficult since a high variability of morphological traits, such as flower color, is present, probably due to high levels of hybridization. Historic descriptions and the morphological traits used in the taxonomic keys are sometimes unclear and lead to misinterpretations. Here, a detailed analysis of flower color variability in different populations of sympatric <i>P. spicatum</i>, <i>P. ovatum</i>, and <i>P. persicifolium</i> constitutes a new approach to clarifying the taxonomic statuses. The numeric analysis of color, providing colorimetric variables, together with the detailed description of the metabolic profiles of populations with different flower colors, constitute a unique chemical fingerprint that identifies species and subspecies with clear markers. This study is the most complete metabolic research on genus <i>Phyteuma</i>, since we identified and quantified 44 phenolic compounds using HPLC-MS, comprising 14 phenolic acids, 23 flavonols and flavones, and, for the first time in the genus, 7 anthocyanins involved in flower color variability. This approach contributes to clarifying the differences between species, which is particularly relevant in taxonomic complexes such as the present, where morphology fails to clearly differentiate taxa at specific and intraspecific levels.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/11/21/2894phenolic compoundsanthocyaninsphenolic acidsflavonolsHPLC-MSidentification |
| spellingShingle | Mariana Cecilia Grohar Aljaz Medic Tea Ivancic Robert Veberic Jernej Jogan Color Variation and Secondary Metabolites’ Footprint in a Taxonomic Complex of <i>Phyteuma</i> sp. (Campanulaceae) Plants phenolic compounds anthocyanins phenolic acids flavonols HPLC-MS identification |
| title | Color Variation and Secondary Metabolites’ Footprint in a Taxonomic Complex of <i>Phyteuma</i> sp. (Campanulaceae) |
| title_full | Color Variation and Secondary Metabolites’ Footprint in a Taxonomic Complex of <i>Phyteuma</i> sp. (Campanulaceae) |
| title_fullStr | Color Variation and Secondary Metabolites’ Footprint in a Taxonomic Complex of <i>Phyteuma</i> sp. (Campanulaceae) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Color Variation and Secondary Metabolites’ Footprint in a Taxonomic Complex of <i>Phyteuma</i> sp. (Campanulaceae) |
| title_short | Color Variation and Secondary Metabolites’ Footprint in a Taxonomic Complex of <i>Phyteuma</i> sp. (Campanulaceae) |
| title_sort | color variation and secondary metabolites footprint in a taxonomic complex of i phyteuma i sp campanulaceae |
| topic | phenolic compounds anthocyanins phenolic acids flavonols HPLC-MS identification |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/11/21/2894 |
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