Progress in the Research on the Regulation Mechanism of Light Induced Anthocyanin Synthesis in Pear Peel
Published:07 Nov.2022 Source:Hortic Res
Pear belongs to Pyrus genus in the family of Rosaceae, which is an important temperate deciduous fruit tree in the world. Pear peel has a variety of colors. In recent years, the cultivation of red-skinned pears has gradually increased. The formation of red-skinned pears mainly comes from the accumulation of anthocyanins in the peel.
Anthocyanins are a valuable source of antioxidants in the human diet and contribute to fruit coloration. In red-skinned pears, anthocyanin biosynthesis can be induced by light, in which the MYB–bHLH–WDR complex plays a critically important role in transcriptional regulation. However, the knowledge of WRKY-mediated transcriptional regulation of light-induced anthocyanin biosynthesis is scarce in red pears.
Recently, Professor Teng Yuanwen/Bai Songling research team from the Institute of Fruit Science of Zhejiang University revealed the molecular mechanism that a light responsive WRKY transcription factor PpWRKY44 promotes anthocyanin synthesis in pear peel by regulating the expression of PpMYB10. Their work identified and functionally characterized a light-inducing WRKY TF, PpWRKY44, in pear. Functional analysis based on overexpressed pear calli showed that PpWRKY44 promoted anthocyanin accumulation. Also, transiently overexpressed PpWRKY44 in pear leaves and fruit peels significantly enhanced the accumulation of anthocyanin, whereas silencing PpWRKY44 in pear fruit peels impaired induction of the accumulation of anthocyanin by light.