ARS | Publication request: LIMONOIDS AS TAXONOMIC MARKERS FOR THE SUBTRIBE CITRINAE AND RELATED SPECIES

Submitted to: American Chemical Society Symposium Series
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: March 25, 1999
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Limonoids are highly oxygenated triterpenoids that are uniquely accumulated in plants of the Meliaceae and Ruteaceae families. The limonoid composition in the fruit of plants in the genus citrus has been extensively characterized over the past few years. Over 50 different limonoids have been isolated from several citrus species. Five main biosynthetic pathways have been established in Citrinae subtribe, each leading to a unique set of end products. This includes the limonin group, found in all citrus and citrus-related species, the ichangensin group found in species related to Citrus ichangenisis, the 7- a- acetate group, found in species related to Poncirus, the calamin group found in species related to the genus Fortunella, and the atalantin group found in genus Atalantia. The qualitative analysis of the limonoid composition of a given species can provide definitive information to further define their taxonomic relationship to other species. This can be used in the search for new germplasm for breeding citrus rootstocks and new fruit- producing cultivars.