Tagetes erecta MARIGOLDS WITH ALTERED CAROTENOID COMPOSITIONS AND RATIOS

Abstract

A marigold plant, a regenerable portion thereof and seed are disclosed whose flower petals, leaves or flower petals and leaves contain one or more of an enhanced neoxanthin plus violaxanthin ratio, an enhanced β-carotene ratio, an enhanced lycopene ratio, an enhanced α-cryptoxanthin ratio, an enhanced phytoene ratio or an enhanced phytofluene ratio relative to that ratio in a non-mutant marigold. A marigold plant, a regenerable portion thereof and seed are also disclosed whose flower petals contain zeaxanthin esters and are substantially free of esters of both neoxanthin and violaxanthin, and wherein zeaxanthin constitutes at least about one-half of the extractable carotenoids when xanthophylls are assayed as alcohols. Also disclosed are methods of preparing such plants, oleoresins and comestible materials that have such carotenoid ratios.

1 - 49 . (canceled)  
   
   
       50 . An oleoresin of a  Tagetes erecta  marigold, said oleoresin having a ratio of the amount of lycopene to the amount of lycopene plus lutein that is at least about 0.1, wherein the amount of lutein is determined after saponification.  
   
   
       51 . An oleoresin of a  Tagetes erecta  marigold, said oleoresin containing free, unesterified xanthophylls.  
   
   
       52 - 61 . (canceled)  
   
   
       62 . A  Tagetes erecta  marigold oleoresin whose carotenoids include zeaxanthin esters and are substantially free of both neoxanthin and violaxanthin esters when said oleoresin is analyzed after saponification.  
   
   
       63 - 75 . (canceled)  
   
   
       76 . The oleoresin according to  claim 50  wherein ratio of the amount of lycopene to the amount of lycopene plus lutein greater than 0.2.  
   
   
       77 . The oleoresin according to  claim 50  wherein ratio of the amount of lycopene to the amount of lycopene plus lutein greater than 0.3.  
   
   
       78 . The oleoresin according to  claim 50  wherein ratio of the amount of lycopene to the amount of lycopene plus lutein greater than 0.5.  
   
   
       79 . The oleoresin according to  claim 50  wherein ratio of the amount of lycopene to the amount of lycopene plus lutein about 1.0.