Evaluation of Fruit Anthocyanin Composition by LC/MS in Interspecific Hybrids Between Haskap (Lonicera caerulea subsp. edulis (Turcz. ex. Herder) Hulten) and Miyama-uguisukagura (Lonicera gracilipes Miq.)

Haskap (Lonicera caerulea subsp. edulis) is a deciduous shrub that produces blue-black edible berries with a sour-sweet taste. By expanding fruit color variation, the value of agricultural products is enhanced. Interspecific hybrids were obtained from crossings between Haskap and red-fruit bearing Miyamauguisukagura (Lonicera gracilipes). The fruit color of the interspecific hybrids obtained was red-purple. Fruit color in Haskap is mainly affected by the concentration of anthocyanin. However, there are no reports on the chemical determinants of fruit color in interspecific hybrids between Haskap and Miyama-uguisukagura. We evaluated anthocyanin components in these hybrids and their parents using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry, and revealed the presence of five different kinds of anthocyanins. The major anthocyanin in interspecific hybrids and Haskap was cyanidin 3-glucoside, while in Miyama-uguisukagura, it was cyanidin 3,5-diglucoside. Some genotypes among interspecific hybrids showed higher concentrations of cyanidin 3,5-diglucoside and peonidin 3,5-diglucoside, compared with their parents. The genotypes of interspecific hybrids and the parents were evaluated by principal component analysis of anthocyanin concentration. Our study contributes to the identification of anthocyanin composition in fruits of interspecific hybrids and in expanding fruit color variation when breeding new varieties.