| Summary: | Anthocyanins are plant pigments derived from the phenylpropanoid pathway which are produced in many different species, contributing to defense against stresses by their antioxidant properties. Cultivated tomatoes cannot synthesize flavonoids; however, wild tomatoes such as <i>Solanum chilense</i> and <i>Solanum lycopersicoides</i> have anthocyanin pigmented skin. Other wild tomato species such as <i>Solanum peruvianum</i> have been poorly studied concerning anthocyanin accumulation in the fruit. This research is the first to address the regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis mediated by drought stress and light radiation in <i>S. peruvianum</i> fruit. Transcript accumulation of <i>SpAN2</i>, encoding for a key MYB type transcription factor for the regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis, was induced in the fruit of plants exposed to drought treatment. In addition, fruit peel accumulates a greater anthocyanin content in water deficit-treated plants. The expression of <i>SpAN2</i> was also regulated according to sunlight exposure, reaching a higher expression during maximal daily UV radiation and under controlled UV-B treatments. Similar results were observed for the expression of the late flavonoid biosynthetic gene dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (<i>SpDFR</i>). These results suggest that <i>SpAN2</i> and <i>SpDFR</i> are involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis under drought stress and UV radiation in <i>S. peruvianum</i>.
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