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The dominant allele Aft induces a shift from flavonol to anthocyanin production in response to UV-B radiation in tomato fruit

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Abstract

Main conclusion

The introgression of the A ft allele into domesticated tomato induced a shift from flavonol to anthocyanin production in response to UV-B radiation, while the hp - 1 allele negatively influenced the response of flavonoid biosynthesis to UV-B.

Introgression of the dominant allele Anthocyanin fruit (Aft) from Solanum chilense induces anthocyanin accumulation in the peel of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) fruit. UV-B radiation can influence plant secondary metabolism regulating the expression of several genes, among which those involved in flavonoid biosynthesis. Here, we investigated whether post-harvest UV-B treatment could up-regulate flavonoid production in tomato fruits and whether the Aft allele could affect flavonoid biosynthesis under UV-B radiation. Mature green fruits of an anthocyanin-rich tomato mutant line (SA206) and of its wild-type reference, cv. Roma, were daily subjected to post-harvest UV-B treatment until full ripening. Up-regulation of CHS and CHI transcription by UV-B treatment induced flavonoid accumulation in the peel of cv. Roma. Conversely, UV-B decreased the total flavonoid content and CHS transcript levels in the SA206 peel. SA206 being a double mutant containing also hp-1 allele, we investigated also the behavior of hp-1 fruit. The decreased peel flavonoid accumulation and gene transcription in response to UV-B suggest that hp-1 allele is involved in the marked down-regulation of the flavonoid biosynthesis observed in SA206 fruit. Interestingly, in SA206, UV-B radiation promoted the synthesis of delphinidin, petunidin, and malvidin by increasing F3′5′H and DFR transcription, but it decreased rutin production, suggesting a switch from flavonols to anthocyanins. Finally, although UV-B radiation does not reach the inner fruit tissues, it down-regulated flavonoid biosynthesis in the flesh of both genotypes. This study provides, for the first time, evidence that the presence of the functional Aft allele, under UV-B radiation, redirects flavonoid synthesis towards anthocyanin production and suggests that the hp-1 allele negatively influences the response of flavonoid biosynthesis to UV-B.

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Abbreviations

Aft :

Anthocyanin fruit

ANS :

Anthocyanidin synthase

CHI :

Chalcone isomerase

CHS :

Chalcone synthase

COP1 :

CONSTITUTIVE PHOTOMORPHOGENIC 1

DFR :

Dihydroflavonol 4-reductase

F3H :

Flavanone 3-hydroxylase

F3′H :

Flavonoid 3′-hydroxylase

F3′5′H :

Flavonoid 3′5′-hydroxylase

hp-1 :

High-pigment-1

UVR8 :

UV RESISTANCE LOCUS8

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Acknowledgements

The research was supported by funds of the University of Pisa and the University of Milan. We are indebted with Prof. Gian Piero Soressi (University of Tuscia) for sharing genetic material and Prof. Chiara Tonelli (University of Milan) for helpful discussions. We kindly acknowledge Prof. Åke Strid (School of Science and Technology, Orebro University) for measurement of light transmittance across tomato peel.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Trees and Timber Institute IVALSA, National Research Council of Italy, Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, FI, Italy

    Stefano Catola

  2. Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124, Pisa, Italy

    Antonella Castagna, Marco Santin & Annamaria Ranieri

  3. Department of BioSciences, University of Milan, Via Celoria 26, 20133, Milan, Italy

    Valentina Calvenzani & Katia Petroni

  4. Department of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, University of Tuscia, Via S. C. de Lellis, 01100, Viterbo, Italy

    Andrea Mazzucato

  5. Interdepartmental Research Center Nutrafood “Nutraceuticals and Food for Health”, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124, Pisa, Italy

    Annamaria Ranieri

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  1. Stefano Catola
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  2. Antonella Castagna
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  4. Valentina Calvenzani
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  6. Andrea Mazzucato
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  7. Annamaria Ranieri
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Antonella Castagna or Katia Petroni.

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Special topic: Polyphenols II: biosynthesis and function in plants and ecosystems. Guest editor: Stefan Martens.

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Catola, S., Castagna, A., Santin, M. et al. The dominant allele Aft induces a shift from flavonol to anthocyanin production in response to UV-B radiation in tomato fruit. Planta 246, 263–275 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-017-2710-z

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