Flower colors and pigments of interspecific hybrids between Camellia japonica L. and C. chrysantha (Hu) Tuyama

The colors and the yellow pigment components of the interspecific hybrids obtained by crossing C. japonica cvs. Shiratama and Chochidori with C. chrysantha and those of their parents were investigated and analyzed. The white flowered seed parents contained only one common major flavonols and the yellow flowered pollen parent had three major flavonols and some carotenoids. The yellow flavonols in both parents and carotenoids in pollen parent were detected in the hybrids. Therefore, it is deducible that the transmission of the yellow pigment genes from both parents to the F1 hybrids was successful