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Differential expression of anthocyanin structural genes and transcription factors determines coloration patterns in gerbera flowers

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Abstract

We investigated the expression of anthocyanin structural genes and transcription factors (TFs) associated with varying anthocyanin content during different developmental stages (S1–S4) of the gerbera cultivars ‘Nathasha’ and ‘Rosalin’. Accumulation of anthocyanin started at S1 and reached a maximum at S3 in both cultivars. Enhancement of anthocyanin content in ‘Nathasha’ was associated with upregulation of ANS and MYB10, whereas in ‘Rosalin’, upregulation was associated with CHS1, MYB10, and MYC1. Low-temperature exposure (6 °C) enhanced anthocyanin content to a greater extent than that at 22 °C via stronger upregulation of CHS1 and MYB10 in ‘Nathasha’ and CHS1 in ‘Rosalin’, irrespective of flower developmental stage. However, differences in anthocyanin content between the two cultivars were found to be influenced by the expression levels of all structural genes and TFs, irrespective of flower developmental stage and temperature conditions. We suggest that differences in the regulation mechanisms of anthocyanin biosynthesis and coloration pattern between ‘Nathasha’ and ‘Rosalin’ are related to differences in the expression patterns of structural genes and TFs; however, further functional studies of the key genes in anthocyanin biosynthesis are needed.

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Abbreviations

PAL :

Phenylalanine ammonia lyase

CHS :

Chalcone synthase

F3H :

Flavanone-3-hydroxylase

F3′H :

Flavonoid 3′ hydroxylase

ANS :

Anthocyanidin synthase

DFR :

Dihydroflavonol-4-reductase

UFGT :

UDP-glycose flavonoid 3-O-glycosyl transferase

bHLH:

Basic helix–loop–helix

TF:

Transcription factor

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Funding

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). The funding body did not play a role in the design of the study and writing of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

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

    Aung Htay Naing, Da Young Park & Chang Kil Kim

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

    Kyeung Il Park

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  1. Aung Htay Naing
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  2. Da Young Park
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  3. Kyeung Il Park
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  4. 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. DYP and KIP were involved in qRT-PCR analysis and interpretation of the data. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chang Kil Kim.

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Naing, A.H., Park, D.Y., Park, K.I. et al. Differential expression of anthocyanin structural genes and transcription factors determines coloration patterns in gerbera flowers. 3 Biotech 8, 393 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13205-018-1408-7

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