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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Food Quality Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #393741
Research Project: Reducing Postharvest Loss and Improving Fresh Produce Marketability and Nutritive Values through Technological Innovations and Process Optimization

Location: Food Quality Laboratory

Title: Two MYB activators of anthocyanin biosynthesis exhibit specialized activity in petiole and fruit of diploid strawberry

Author
item LUO, XI - University Of Maryland
item PLUNKERT, MADISON - University Of Maryland
item TENG, ZI - University Of Maryland
item MACKENZIE, KATHRYN - University Of Helsinki
item GUO, LEI - University Of Maryland
item Luo, Yaguang - Sunny
item HYTÖNEN, TIMO - University Of Helsinki
item LIU, ZHONGCHI - University Of Maryland

Submitted to: New Phytologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/21/2022
Publication Date: 3/13/2023
Citation: Luo, X., Plunkert, M., Teng, Z., Mackenzie, K., Guo, L., Luo, Y., Hytönen, T., Liu, Z. 2023. Two MYB activators of anthocyanin biosynthesis exhibit specialized activity in petiole and fruit of diploid strawberry. New Phytologist. 74(5):1517-1531. https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/erac507.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/erac507

Interpretive Summary: Fresh produce that are rich in anthocyanins are more attractive to consumers due to the bright and beautiful colors as well as high antioxidant levels. However, anthocyanin biosynthesis pathways in strawberry fruit and petiole remain elusive. Scientists in USDA-ARS and University of Maryland collaboratively investigated anthocyanin biosynthesis in fruits and petioles. Result demonstrates that two paralogous MYB genes with specialized functions enable tissue-specific regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis in fruit and vegetative tissues. Our findings will benefit produce industry in developing high quality and nutritious strawberries for consumers.

Technical Abstract: The R2R3-MYB transcription factor MYB10 is a major regulator of anthocyanin pigmentation in strawberry fruit. However, myb10 mutants still accumulate anthocyanins in the petioles, suggesting that anthocyanin biosynthesis is under distinct regulation in fruits and petioles. Here, we identified a green petioles (gp)-1 mutant from chemical mutagenesis in the diploid wild strawberry Fragaria vesca that lacks anthocyanins in petiole. Using mapping-by-sequencing and transient functional assays, we confirmed that the causative mutation resides in a MYB10-like (MYB10L) gene and that MYB10 and MYB10L function independently in the fruit and petiole respectively. In addition to their tissue-specific regulation, MYB10 and MYB10L respond differently to changes in light quality and produce distinct anthocyanin compositions in their respective tissues. This work demonstrates that two paralogous MYB genes with specialized functions enable tissue-specific regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis in fruit and vegetative tissues.