Genetic complementation was used to correct the albescent flower color mutation of the orchid Doritis pulcherrima. The Zea mays anthocyanin regulatory genes C 1 and B were introduced into the petal cells via particle bombardment. Anthocyanin pigmentation developed within the bombarded cells after 48 hours. This suggests that the albescent phenotype was the result of a defective regulatory gene(s) and not the result of a defective structural gene(s). Genetic complementation via particle bombardment requires considerably less time than via classical breeding and could be used on other species or with other genes.