Insight into the Molecular Mechanism of Flower Color Regulation in <i>Rhododendron latoucheae</i> Franch: A Multi-Omics Approach
<i>Rhododendron latoucheae</i> Franch. (<i>R. latoucheae</i>) is a valuable woody plant known for its high ornamental value. While purple flowers are a distinct and attractive variant phenotype of <i>R. latoucheae</i>, the underlying mechanism regulating its flowe...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/16/2897 |
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| author | Peng Xiao Hui Zhang Qiulin Liao Ninghua Zhu Jiaao Chen Lehan Ma Minhuan Zhang Shouyun Shen |
| author_facet | Peng Xiao Hui Zhang Qiulin Liao Ninghua Zhu Jiaao Chen Lehan Ma Minhuan Zhang Shouyun Shen |
| author_sort | Peng Xiao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Rhododendron latoucheae</i> Franch. (<i>R. latoucheae</i>) is a valuable woody plant known for its high ornamental value. While purple flowers are a distinct and attractive variant phenotype of <i>R. latoucheae</i>, the underlying mechanism regulating its flower color is still poorly understood. To investigate the molecular regulatory mechanism responsible for the variation in flower color, we selected plants with white-pink and purple petals as the object and conducted analyses of metabolites, key genes, and transcription factors associated with flower color. A combined metabolome–transcriptome analysis was performed, and the expression of key genes was subsequently verified through qRT-PCR experiments. The results of our study demonstrated a significant enrichment of differential metabolites in the flavonoid metabolic pathway. Changes in anthocyanin content followed the same trend as the observed flower color variations, specifically showing significant correlations with the contents of malvidin-3-O-glucoside, dihydromyricetin, gallocatechin, and peonidin-3-O-glucoside. Furthermore, we identified three key structural genes (<i>F3GT1</i>, <i>LAR</i>, <i>ANR</i>) and four transcription factors (bHLH130, bHLH41, bHLH123, MYB4) that are potentially associated with the biosynthesis of flavonoid compounds, thereby influencing the appearance of purple flower color in <i>R. latoucheae</i>. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:39:01Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:39:01Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
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| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj.art-d6fa8138acba49f3bd03269433e0fe9f2023-11-19T02:40:30ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472023-08-011216289710.3390/plants12162897Insight into the Molecular Mechanism of Flower Color Regulation in <i>Rhododendron latoucheae</i> Franch: A Multi-Omics ApproachPeng Xiao0Hui Zhang1Qiulin Liao2Ninghua Zhu3Jiaao Chen4Lehan Ma5Minhuan Zhang6Shouyun Shen7College of Landscape Architecture, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, ChinaCollege of Landscape Architecture, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, ChinaCollege of Landscape Architecture, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, ChinaCollege of Forestry, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, ChinaCollege of Landscape Architecture, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, ChinaCollege of Landscape Architecture, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, ChinaCollege of Landscape Architecture, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, ChinaCollege of Landscape Architecture, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China<i>Rhododendron latoucheae</i> Franch. (<i>R. latoucheae</i>) is a valuable woody plant known for its high ornamental value. While purple flowers are a distinct and attractive variant phenotype of <i>R. latoucheae</i>, the underlying mechanism regulating its flower color is still poorly understood. To investigate the molecular regulatory mechanism responsible for the variation in flower color, we selected plants with white-pink and purple petals as the object and conducted analyses of metabolites, key genes, and transcription factors associated with flower color. A combined metabolome–transcriptome analysis was performed, and the expression of key genes was subsequently verified through qRT-PCR experiments. The results of our study demonstrated a significant enrichment of differential metabolites in the flavonoid metabolic pathway. Changes in anthocyanin content followed the same trend as the observed flower color variations, specifically showing significant correlations with the contents of malvidin-3-O-glucoside, dihydromyricetin, gallocatechin, and peonidin-3-O-glucoside. Furthermore, we identified three key structural genes (<i>F3GT1</i>, <i>LAR</i>, <i>ANR</i>) and four transcription factors (bHLH130, bHLH41, bHLH123, MYB4) that are potentially associated with the biosynthesis of flavonoid compounds, thereby influencing the appearance of purple flower color in <i>R. latoucheae</i>.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/16/2897<i>Rhododendron latoucheae</i>flower color regulationmetabolism grouptranscriptomeflavonoids |
| spellingShingle | Peng Xiao Hui Zhang Qiulin Liao Ninghua Zhu Jiaao Chen Lehan Ma Minhuan Zhang Shouyun Shen Insight into the Molecular Mechanism of Flower Color Regulation in <i>Rhododendron latoucheae</i> Franch: A Multi-Omics Approach Plants <i>Rhododendron latoucheae</i> flower color regulation metabolism group transcriptome flavonoids |
| title | Insight into the Molecular Mechanism of Flower Color Regulation in <i>Rhododendron latoucheae</i> Franch: A Multi-Omics Approach |
| title_full | Insight into the Molecular Mechanism of Flower Color Regulation in <i>Rhododendron latoucheae</i> Franch: A Multi-Omics Approach |
| title_fullStr | Insight into the Molecular Mechanism of Flower Color Regulation in <i>Rhododendron latoucheae</i> Franch: A Multi-Omics Approach |
| title_full_unstemmed | Insight into the Molecular Mechanism of Flower Color Regulation in <i>Rhododendron latoucheae</i> Franch: A Multi-Omics Approach |
| title_short | Insight into the Molecular Mechanism of Flower Color Regulation in <i>Rhododendron latoucheae</i> Franch: A Multi-Omics Approach |
| title_sort | insight into the molecular mechanism of flower color regulation in i rhododendron latoucheae i franch a multi omics approach |
| topic | <i>Rhododendron latoucheae</i> flower color regulation metabolism group transcriptome flavonoids |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/16/2897 |
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