Betalain production is possible in anthocyanin-producing plant species given the presence of DOPA-dioxygenase and L-DOPA

Table 2 Retention times and spectral maxima of the major peaks detected by HPLC using samples from 35S: AmDOD plants fed 10 mM L-DOPA

Peak	Betalain^a	Retention Time (min)	λ_max (nm)
1	Vulgaxanthin I^b	10.4	268, 468
2	Unknown betaxanthin	11.6	262, 470
3	Unknown betaxanthin	20.4	264, 472
4	Unknown betaxanthin	21.7	262, 468

^aSpectral data for all four peaks was generally consistent with data reported previously for betaxanthins, but no specific betaxanthin assignments were made.
^bPeak one has a retention time and spectrum consistent with that of Vulgaxanthin I, as reported for extracts from beetroot [14] and as compared against a beetroot extract run in the same experimental set.

ISSN: 1471-2229