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Transcriptional control of anthocyanin biosynthesis genes and transcription factors associated with flower coloration patterns in Gerbera hybrida

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Abstract

We analyzed the expression of anthocyanin biosynthesis genes and transcription factors (TFs) in the Gerbera hybrida cultivars ‘Bintang’ and ‘Alliance’ that exhibit different coloration patterns. Differential expression of biosynthesis genes and TFs was associated with variable anthocyanin content at different flower developmental stages (S1–S3) in both cultivars; higher anthocyanin content was correlated with higher levels of gene expression. Exposure to different temperatures (6 and 22 °C) also resulted in different anthocyanin content levels: the lower temperature (6 °C) enhanced anthocyanin content compared to the higher temperature (22 °C). However, the increased anthocyanin content of ‘Bintang’ compared to ‘Alliance’ was the result of higher levels of expression of all detected genes, regardless of flower stage and temperature conditions. Therefore, we conclude that transcriptional control of the detected genes is associated with the mechanisms of anthocyanin biosynthesis and coloration patterns in gerberas; however, further studies of the key genes are needed.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Korea Institute of Planning and Evaluation for Technology in Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (IPET) through the Agri-Bio industry Technology Development Program, funded by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) (Grant #: 315002-5).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Horticultural Science, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 4165122, South Korea

    Aung Htay Naing, Ji Hye Lee, Kyoung-ook Kim & Chang Kil Kim

  2. Department of Horticulture & Life Science, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, 712-749, South Korea

    Kyeung Il Park

  3. Department of Agricultural Education, Sunchon National University, Suncheon, South Korea

    Mi Young Chung

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  1. Aung Htay Naing
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  2. Ji Hye Lee
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  3. Kyeung Il Park
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  4. Kyoung-ook Kim
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  6. Chang Kil Kim
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Contributions

AHN designed the study, conducted the experiments, and wrote the manuscript. CKK supervised experiments at all stages and performed critical revisions of the manuscript. JHL, KIP, MYC, and KOK were involved in the experimentation and data analysis. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Chang Kil Kim.

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The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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Aung Htay Naing and Ji Hye Lee: Equally contributed to this work.

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Naing, A.H., Lee, J.H., Park, K.I. et al. Transcriptional control of anthocyanin biosynthesis genes and transcription factors associated with flower coloration patterns in Gerbera hybrida. 3 Biotech 8, 65 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13205-018-1099-0

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