Foliar Flavonoids and the Systematics of Solanum sect. Basarthrum

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Abstract
Utilizing column, 2-dimensional paper, thin layer, and high performance liquid chromatography, 13 flavonoids, predominantly flavonol diglycosides, were isolated from 20 of the 22 species of Solanum section Basarthrum. Twelve of the flavonols were fully characterized as glycosides of quercetin and kaempferol. The flavonoids proved useful at two levels. Although series within the section are not fully characterized by unique compounds, morphologically cryptic sibling species pairs are separable with flavanol characters. Second, a comparison of the flavonoid data published for the genus shows that the sections studied to date are quite distinct, and that sections considered most closely related morphologically are also most similar chemically. The domesticated S. muricatum possessed the greatest array of flavonols; however, the flavanol pattern did not serve to indicate which of the three wild species closest to S. muricatum was the most likely ancestor.