Flavonoids in flowers of 16 Kalanchoë blossfeldiana varieties

Kalanchoë blossfeldiana flowers were found to contain 3,5-O-β-diglucosides of pelargonidin, cyanidin, peonidin, delphinidin, petunidin and malvidin, along with at least 7 distinct flavonol glycosides based on quercetin or kaempferol, including quercetin 3-(2″-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-α-l-rhamnopyranoside), a flavonol previously found in Ginkgo biloba. Based on flavonoid findings, approaches for molecular breeding towards blue flower colour are discussed.