Unit 8 Flavonoids

Question 1

1. When it comes to flavonoids, what sort of fruit is likely to be high in anthocyanins?

Answer 1

Berries have the highest levels, particularly black elderberries and aronia berries (chokeberries). Blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and strawberries, with red falling lower.

Question 2

2. How are flavonoids transported from the plant site of synthesis to their destination in the vacuole or cell wall?

Answer 2

GST enzymes, ABC transporters

Question 3

5. Explain how flavonoids provide a wide variety of flower colors?

Answer 3

Aggregation, each aggregate produces a different color.

Question 4

6. Growing the compound DIM – a flavonoid – are you going to see better growing in the sun or shade? Will the concentrations of flavonoids be the same?

Answer 4

• Better growing in the sun, remember plants need light for photosynthesis.
• Not the same in terms of content of flavonoids since these compounds provide UV protection –> plants grown in the sun have more conc of flavonoids opposed to plants grown in the shade
• Some flavonoids are synthesized upon exposure of UV radiation.

Question 5

5. Range of visible light?

Answer 5

400-700 nm

Question 6

Red cabbage is rich on what flavonoid?

Answer 6

Anthocyanins

Question 7

What are flavonoids?

Answer 7

One of the largest and most important groups of Allelochemicals. Consist of a large family of chemicals with many functions, some are allelopathic and some are mutually beneficial.
* From acetate (via malonate) and phenylalanine
* Mostly found in higher plants - animals do not make them
o e.g., flavonoids that give butterflies their color come from diet
* Most are water soluble. They can absorb UV and visible light