FLAVONOID GLYCOSIDE VARIATION IN WILD SPECIMENS OF CENTAUREA-TRIUMFETTI (COMPOSITAE) AND COMMENTS ON ITS RELATIONSHIPS WITH CENTAUREA-MONTANA BASED ON FLAVONOID FINGERPRINTS

Individuals of Centaurea triumfetti (Compositae) from two distant origins (Switzerland and Yugoslavia) were surveyed for their flavonoid glycosidic patterns. Diversity in the distribution of the 27 flavonoids detected mainly concerned 6-C-mono-glucosides of the flavones apigenin, luteolin and chrysoeriol and some of their 2''-O-conjugated derivates, and was also related with the geographical origin of individuals, first at the scale of countries and then at the scale of stations (Yugoslavia). Further important flavonoid variations were also noted at the intra-stational level. In the case of Swiss material, the comparison of flavonoid profiles of introgressive specimens (Centaurea triumfetti and Centaurea montana) can be helpful in the identification of the mother plant. As was shown previously for Centaurea montana, the flavonoid variation in Centaurea triumfetti is based on genetic parameters and originates in the strictly allogamous reproductive mode of the species. Some general trends in the flavonoid metabolism of Centaurea triumfetti (2n = 22)-in particular high amounts of flavones 6-C-mono-glucosides-and of Centaurea montana (2n = 44)-specially the synthesis of 'complex'' (2''-O-conjugated and their acylated derivatives) flavone C-glycosides precisely based on the monosides present in Centaurea triumfetti-support the existence of genetic relationships between these species in the context of a polyploidisation process. This supports the hypothesis presented previously on the basis of biological and caryological studies.