A six-minute HPLC with near UPLC performance for the determination of anthocyanins in black currant: Screening of 415 genotypes.

Black currants (Ribes spp.) are rapidly expanding and growing genetic diversity demands analytical tools capable of high-throughput, robust screening of anthocyanin composition across large populations. Here, we report the development and extensive validation of an ultra-rapid (6 min), highly sensitive and reproducible RP-HPLC-DAD method based on a Kinetex EVO C18 column for the determination of major and minor anthocyanins in black currant. Application of this method to 415 genotypes - the most comprehensive screening to date - allowed accurate estimation of the proportional anthocyanin architecture, defined predominantly by delphinidin 3-O-rutinoside (44%), cyanidin 3-O-rutinoside (33%), delphinidin 3-O-glucoside (13%), and cyanidin 3-O-glucoside (6%). Notably, our data shows that petunidin 3-O-rutinoside was a considerable colorant in some genotypes, predominantly derived from the 'Ores × Ijunskaya Kondrashovoi' pedigree, indicating a lineage-specific diversification of the black currant anthocyanin profile. Collectively, the proposed method constitutes a strategic analytical tool for next-generation breeding and precision phenotyping of black currant anthocyanin profiles.