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For Those Who Wish to Read Further Bliss, A. J. (1920). [Exact article title, volume, and page numbers to be verified.] Discussion of the inheritance of form and color in standards and falls.

Bruccoleri, R. E., et al. 2023. Genome assembly of the bearded iris, Iris pallida Lam. Gigabyte 2023:94. doi:10.46471/gigabyte.94.

Campanella, J. J., Smalley, J. V., and Dempsey, M. E. (2014). A phylogenetic examination of the primary anthocyanin production pathway of the Plantae. Botanical Studies 55(1):10. link Abstract Background Anthocyanin pigments aid in reproduction and provide ultraviolet protection to land plants. We have examined the phylogenetic relationships among the five primary enzymes responsible for producing anthocyanin pigment in its three major forms. Dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR), anthocyanidin synthase (ANS), Flavonoid 3’glucosyltransferase (F3GT), flavonoid 3’hydroxylase (F3’H), and flavonoid 3’5’ hydroxylase (F3’5’H) are responsible for the final steps in anthocyanin pigment production.

Results We were interested in how conserved the anthocyanin pathway genes may be among land plants, and evolutionarily how far back into the plant lineage anthocyanin production may be traced. The DFR, ANS, F3GT, and F3’H genes date back 450 million years to the first land plants. Mosses, spike mosses, and ferns express these four products, although there is no evidence of sequence orthologues for these genes in algae. Additionally, F3’5’H is not evident in organisms that predated gymnosperms.

Conclusion Our findings support the hypothesis that “blue” anthocyanin pigments did not evolve until 300-350 mya along with the gymnosperms, although the “red” anthocyanin pigments may be as ancient as the mosses (~450 mya).

Campanella, J. J., Cruz, N., Santos, T. V., Alimam, R., and Meckenstock, D. H. (2026). Putative Genetic Lesion(s) in the Anthocyanin Pathway of Glaciata Iris Strain Kupari (Iris pallida). Poster prepared for the American Society of Plant Biology meeting, Ottawa. The poster reports the IpDFR1 mutations, retained leaf DFR activity, two DFR paralogs, and the differential-regulation hypothesis.

For publication in BAIS

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7/13/2026 10:54 PM Douglas, G. (1942). Origin of modern white Iris. Bulletin of the American Iris Society 87:40-44.

Ernst, R. (2004). How to make a red iris. Bulletin of the American Iris Society 334:66–67.

Ernst, R. (2005). The red iris project: An update. Bulletin of the American Iris Society 338:99–100.

Hayashi, K. (1940). Isolation of ensatin, an acylated anthocyanin from the flowers of Japanese iris. Proceeding of the Imperial Academy (Tokyo) 16:478-481

Jeknić, Z., Jeknić, S., Jevremović, S., Subotić, A., and Chen, T. H. (2014). “Alteration of flower color in Iris germanica L. ‘Fire Bride’ through ectopic expression of phytoene synthase gene (crtB) from Pantoea agglomerans.” Plant Cell Reports 33:1307–1321. DOI 10.1007/s00299-014- 1617-4.

Meckenstock, D. H. (2005). Breeding Red Irises: The Carotenoids. Self published.

Meckenstock, D. H. (2012). “Genetic Domains in Tall Bearded Iris Flowers.” Bulletin of the

American Iris Society 93(2): 40–41.

Munro, L. 19__. Notable Irisaríans: Sir Michael Foster. www.hips-roots.com/articles/notable- foster.html.

Randolph, L. F., & Randolph, R. (1966). Iris species collecting trips abroad. Medianite 7(4):6165.

Werckmeister, P. (1960). “Iris Colors and Pigments.” Bulletin of the American Iris Society 158:25–33.

Yabuya, T., Imayama T., Shimomura T., Urushihara R., Yamaguchi M. (2001). New types of major anthocyanins detected in Japanese garden iris and its wild forms. Euphytica 118:253-256. linkYabuya, T., Imayama, T., Shimomura, T. et al. New types of major anthocyanins detected in Japanese garden iris and its wild forms. Euphytica 118, 253–256 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1017562518106 Abstract The anthocyanins of 130 cultivars, 13 lines and 3 wild forms of Iris ensata were analyzed by HPLC, and these plants were classified into 16 types of major anthocyanins. Among these types, 8 types such as petunidin 3RGac5G – delphinidin 3RGac5G, delphinidin 3RGac5G – petunidin 3RGac5G, cyanidin 3RGac5G – peonidin 3RGac5G, delphinidin 3RG – delphinidin 3RGac, petunidin 3RG5G – malvidin 3RG5G, malvidin 3RG5G – peonidin 3RG5G, peonidin 3RG5G – cyanidin 3RG5G and peonidin 3RG – cyanidin 3RG were obtained as new types. In these new types, peonidin 3RG – cyanidin 3RG and peonidin 3RG5G – cyanidin 3RG5G types were noteworthy because cyanidin 3RG and cyanidin 3RG5G are useful for the breeding of red flowers in I. ensata.

For more information on historic Irises visit the Historic Iris Preservation Society at http://www.historiciris.org/

-- BobPries - 17 Jul 2026