Phytochemical Characterisation of Species: Unveiling Flavonoid Profiles Related to Ploidy and Hybrid Origin.

The genetic, morphological and taxonomic diversity of the genus is due to homoploid and polyploid hybridisation, autopolyploidy and apomixis, which also influence the production and diversity of secondary metabolites, especially flavonoids. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships and variations of flavonoids in terms of hybrid origin and ploidy level between the parental species and their hybrid derivatives. The sampling design included leaf material of the following accessions from ten natural localities: parental taxa (di-, tri- and tetraploids of ; diploid and ) and their di-, tri- and tetraploid hybrid derivatives from crosses of × (subg. ) as well as the tetraploid and , which originate from crosses of × (subg. ). We analysed the flavonoid profiles from the leaf fractions by LC-MS. A total of 23 flavonoids were identified, including apigenin and luteolin derivatives, which distinguish the hybrid groups from each other. This profiling highlights the distinctiveness of the and accessions and emphasises the potential of the subg. for further research on bioactive compounds in biological studies.