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Bennett J, Meiyalaghan S, Nguyen HM, Boldingh H, Cooney J, Elborough C, Araujo LD, Barrell P, Lin-Wang K, Plunkett BJ, Martin D, Espley RV. Exogenous abscisic acid and sugar induce a cascade of ripening events associated with anthocyanin accumulation in cultured Pinot Noir grape berries. Front Plant Sci 2023; 14:1324675. [PMID: 38186606 PMCID: PMC10768192 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1324675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Fruit quality is dependent on various factors including flavour, texture and colour. These factors are determined by the ripening process, either climacteric or non-climacteric. In grape berry, which is non-climacteric, the process is signalled by a complex set of hormone changes. Abscisic acid (ABA) is one of the key hormones involved in ripening, while sugar availability also plays a significant role in certain ripening aspects such as anthocyanin production. To understand the relative influence of hormone and sugar signalling in situ can prove problematic due to the physiological and environmental (abiotic and biotic) factors at play in vineyards. Here we report on the use of in vitro detached berry culture to investigate the comparative significance of ABA and sugar in the regulation of Pinot noir berry anthocyanin production under controlled conditions. Using a factorial experimental design, pre-véraison berries were cultured on media with various concentrations of sucrose and ABA. After 15 days of in vitro culture, the berries were analysed for changes in metabolites, hormones and gene expression. Results illustrated a stimulatory effect of sucrose and ABA on enhancing berry colour and a corresponding increase in anthocyanins. Increased ABA concentration was able to boost anthocyanin production in berries when sucrose supply was low. The sucrose and ABA effects on berry anthocyanins were primarily manifested through the up-regulation of transcription factors and other genes in the phenylpropanoid pathway, while in other parts of the pathway a down-regulation of key proanthocyanindin transcription factors and genes corresponded to sharp reduction in berry proanthocyanidins, irrespective of sucrose supply. Similarly, increased ABA was correlated with a significant reduction in berry malic acid and associated regulatory genes. These findings suggest a predominance of berry ABA over berry sugar in coordinating the physiological and genetic regulation of anthocyanins and proanthocyanins in Pinot noir grape berries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey Bennett
- Tree Crops, The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Limited, Motueka, New Zealand
| | - Sathiyamoorthy Meiyalaghan
- Premium Crops & Technology, The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Limited, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Han M. Nguyen
- Tree Crops, The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Limited, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Helen Boldingh
- Fruit Crops Physiology, Biological Chemistry & Bioactives, The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Limited, Waikato Mail Centre, Hamilton, New Zealand
| | - Janine Cooney
- Fruit Crops Physiology, Biological Chemistry & Bioactives, The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Limited, Waikato Mail Centre, Hamilton, New Zealand
| | - Caitlin Elborough
- Tree Crops, The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Limited, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Leandro Dias Araujo
- Department of Wine Food & Molecular Biosciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln, New Zealand
| | - Philippa Barrell
- Premium Crops & Technology, The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Limited, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Kui Lin-Wang
- Tree Crops, The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Limited, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Blue J. Plunkett
- Tree Crops, The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Limited, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Damian Martin
- Viticulture & Oenology, The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Limited, Blenheim, New Zealand
| | - Richard V. Espley
- Tree Crops, The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Limited, Auckland, New Zealand
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Ampomah-Dwamena C, Tomes S, Thrimawithana AH, Elborough C, Bhargava N, Rebstock R, Sutherland P, Ireland H, Allan AC, Espley RV. Overexpression of PSY1 increases fruit skin and flesh carotenoid content and reveals associated transcription factors in apple ( Malus × domestica). Front Plant Sci 2022; 13:967143. [PMID: 36186009 PMCID: PMC9520574 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.967143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Knowledge of the transcriptional regulation of the carotenoid metabolic pathway is still emerging and here, we have misexpressed a key biosynthetic gene in apple to highlight potential transcriptional regulators of this pathway. We overexpressed phytoene synthase (PSY1), which controls the key rate-limiting biosynthetic step, in apple and analyzed its effects in transgenic fruit skin and flesh using two approaches. Firstly, the effects of PSY overexpression on carotenoid accumulation and gene expression was assessed in fruit at different development stages. Secondly, the effect of light exclusion on PSY1-induced fruit carotenoid accumulation was examined. PSY1 overexpression increased carotenoid content in transgenic fruit skin and flesh, with beta-carotene being the most prevalent carotenoid compound. Light exclusion by fruit bagging reduced carotenoid content overall, but carotenoid content was still higher in bagged PSY fruit than in bagged controls. In tissues overexpressing PSY1, plastids showed accelerated chloroplast to chromoplast transition as well as high fluorescence intensity, consistent with increased number of chromoplasts and carotenoid accumulation. Surprisingly, the expression of other carotenoid pathway genes was elevated in PSY fruit, suggesting a feed-forward regulation of carotenogenesis when this enzyme step is mis-expressed. Transcriptome profiling of fruit flesh identified differentially expressed transcription factors (TFs) that also were co-expressed with carotenoid pathway genes. A comparison of differentially expressed genes from both the developmental series and light exclusion treatment revealed six candidate TFs exhibiting strong correlation with carotenoid accumulation. This combination of physiological, transcriptomic and metabolite data sheds new light on plant carotenogenesis and TFs that may play a role in regulating apple carotenoid biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sumathi Tomes
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Ltd., Auckland, New Zealand
| | | | - Caitlin Elborough
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Ltd., Auckland, New Zealand
- BioLumic Limited, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Nitisha Bhargava
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Ltd., Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Ria Rebstock
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Ltd., Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Paul Sutherland
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Ltd., Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Hilary Ireland
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Ltd., Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Andrew C. Allan
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Ltd., Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Richard V. Espley
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Ltd., Auckland, New Zealand
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3
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Zhang YL, Lin-Wang K, Albert NW, Elborough C, Espley RV, Andre CM, Fang ZZ. Identification of a Strong Anthocyanin Activator, VbMYBA, From Berries of Vaccinium bracteatum Thunb. Front Plant Sci 2021; 12:697212. [PMID: 34938303 PMCID: PMC8685453 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.697212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Wufanshu (Vaccinium bracteatum Thunb.), which is a wild member of the genus Vaccinium, accumulates high concentration of anthocyanin in its berries. In this study, the accumulated anthocyanins and their derivatives in Wufanshu berries were identified through UHPLC-MS/MS analysis. Candidate anthocyanin biosynthetic genes were identified from the transcriptome of Wufanshu berries. qRT-PCR analyses showed that the expression of anthocyanin structural genes correlated with anthocyanin accumulation in berries. The R2R3-MYB, VbMYBA, which is a homolog of anthocyanin promoting R2R3-MYBs from other Vaccinium species, was also identified. Transient expression of VbMYBA in Nicotiana tabacum leaves confirmed its role as an anthocyanin regulator, and produced a higher anthocyanin concentration when compared with blueberry VcMYBA expression. Dual-luciferase assays further showed that VbMYBA can activate the DFR and UFGT promoters from other Vaccinium species. VbMYBA has an additional 23 aa at the N terminus compared with blueberry VcMYBA, but this was shown not to affect the ability to regulate anthocyanins. Taken together, our results provide important information on the molecular mechanisms responsible for the high anthocyanin content in Wufanshu berries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Ling Zhang
- Fruit Research Institute, Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Fuzhou, China
| | - Kui Lin-Wang
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Mt Albert Research Centre, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Nick W. Albert
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Mt Albert Research Centre, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Caitlin Elborough
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Mt Albert Research Centre, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Richard V. Espley
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Mt Albert Research Centre, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Christelle M. Andre
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Mt Albert Research Centre, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Zhi-Zhen Fang
- Fruit Research Institute, Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Fuzhou, China
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4
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Wu C, Deng C, Hilario E, Albert NW, Lafferty D, Grierson ERP, Plunkett BJ, Elborough C, Saei A, Günther CS, Ireland H, Yocca A, Edger PP, Jaakola L, Karppinen K, Grande A, Kylli R, Lehtola VP, Allan AC, Espley RV, Chagné D. A chromosome-scale assembly of the bilberry genome identifies a complex locus controlling berry anthocyanin composition. Mol Ecol Resour 2021; 22:345-360. [PMID: 34260155 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) belongs to the Vaccinium genus, which includes blueberries (Vaccinium spp.) and cranberry (V. macrocarpon). Unlike its cultivated relatives, bilberry remains largely undomesticated, with berry harvesting almost entirely from the wild. As such, it represents an ideal target for genomic analysis, providing comparisons with the domesticated Vaccinium species. Bilberry is prized for its taste and health properties and has provided essential nutrition for Northern European indigenous populations. It contains high concentrations of phytonutrients, with perhaps the most important being the purple colored anthocyanins, found in both skin and flesh. Here, we present the first bilberry genome assembly, comprising 12 pseudochromosomes assembled using Oxford Nanopore (ONT) and Hi-C Technologies. The pseudochromosomes represent 96.6% complete BUSCO genes with an assessed LAI score of 16.3, showing a high conservation of synteny against the blueberry genome. Kmer analysis showed an unusual third peak, indicating the sequenced samples may have been from two individuals. The alternate alleles were purged so that the final assembly represents only one haplotype. A total of 36,404 genes were annotated after nearly 48% of the assembly was masked to remove repeats. To illustrate the genome quality, we describe the complex MYBA locus, and identify the key regulating MYB genes that determine anthocyanin production. The new bilberry genome builds on the genomic resources and knowledge of Vaccinium species, to help understand the genetics underpinning some of the quality attributes that breeding programs aspire to improve. The high conservation of synteny between bilberry and blueberry genomes means that comparative genome mapping can be applied to transfer knowledge about marker-trait association between these two species, as the loci involved in key characters are orthologous.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Wu
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited (PFR), Auckland, New Zealand.,Genomics Aotearoa, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Cecilia Deng
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited (PFR), Auckland, New Zealand.,Genomics Aotearoa, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Elena Hilario
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited (PFR), Auckland, New Zealand.,Genomics Aotearoa, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | | | - Declan Lafferty
- PFR, Palmerston North, New Zealand.,School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | | | - Blue J Plunkett
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited (PFR), Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Caitlin Elborough
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited (PFR), Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Ali Saei
- BioLumic Limited, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Catrin S Günther
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited (PFR), Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Hilary Ireland
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited (PFR), Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Alan Yocca
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA.,Department of Horticultural Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Patrick P Edger
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Laura Jaakola
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway.,NIBIO, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, Ås, Norway
| | - Katja Karppinen
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | | | - Ritva Kylli
- History, Culture and Communication studies, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | | | - Andrew C Allan
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited (PFR), Auckland, New Zealand.,School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Richard V Espley
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited (PFR), Auckland, New Zealand
| | - David Chagné
- Genomics Aotearoa, Dunedin, New Zealand.,PFR, Palmerston North, New Zealand
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