Identification of Carotenoids in Green Spathes of Hawaii Anthurium Cultivars

Two popular anthurium cultivars, Tropic Lime and Kauai, with light green and light green to light yellow spathes, respectively, were analyzed to identify and quantify carotenoids among University of Hawaii–developed cultivars. Ultraviolet-Visible absorption maxima of hexane extracts from lyophilized, powdered spathe were similar for both cultivars and shared absorption maxima peaks including a major peak at OD 450 nm, closely matching but not identical to a β-carotene pigment standard. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis confirmed the presence of β-carotene and a second carotenoid, lutein, in both anthurium cultivars based on retention times of standards for these two compounds. Total carotenoid content, calculated based on absorption values for β-carotene in hexane at OD 450 nm, were 66.6 ug/g and 18.72 ug/g dry weight of ‘Tropic Lime’ and ‘Kauai’, respectively. HPLC also revealed a third compound of undetermined identity. The novel information on carotenoid identities and methods reported here will aid characterization of floral carotenoid content in anthurium germplasm to support breeding and biotechnological approaches toward development of cultivars with spathes of novel color for the anthurium and floral industry.