Comparative Metabolomic and Transcriptomic Analyses Uncover Variation in Pigment Accumulation Profiles in <i>Alpinia hainanensis</i> Bracts
<i>Alpinia hainanensis</i> is a famous flowering herbaceous plant with valuable ornamental value that is distinguished by its brightly colored labellum. <i>A. hainanensis</i> ‘Shengzhen’ has been identified to possess a novel ornamental feature: its inflorescence is adorned w...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-03-01
|
| Series: | Horticulturae |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/11/3/266 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850090756251844608 |
|---|---|
| author | Tong Zhao Qianxia Yu Huanfang Liu Zehong Wei |
| author_facet | Tong Zhao Qianxia Yu Huanfang Liu Zehong Wei |
| author_sort | Tong Zhao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Alpinia hainanensis</i> is a famous flowering herbaceous plant with valuable ornamental value that is distinguished by its brightly colored labellum. <i>A. hainanensis</i> ‘Shengzhen’ has been identified to possess a novel ornamental feature: its inflorescence is adorned with charming pink bracts. Although flavonoids are recognized as the primary pigments that color most flowers, the role of their metabolic pathways in shaping the bract color of <i>A. hainanensis</i> ‘Shengzhen’ has not yet been fully explored. This research performed transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses on the floral bracts of both wild-type (white bract) and ‘Shengzhen’ cultivar (pink bract) of <i>A. hainanensis</i>. The results identified 565 flavonoid metabolites, including 19 anthocyanins. The ‘Shengzhen’ cultivar showed a higher accumulation of 17 anthocyanins (seven cyanidins, two delphinidins, one pelargonidin, three peonidins, and four petunidins) compared to the wild type. A combined transcriptomic and metabonomic investigation revealed significant links between four differentially expressed genes and seven anthocyanins. The key genes responsible for flavonoid and anthocyanin synthesis, such as <i>AhPAL</i>, <i>AhC4H</i>, <i>AhCHI</i>, <i>AhF3H</i>, <i>AhDFR</i>, <i>AhFLS</i>, and <i>AhF3′5′H</i>, were further analyzed to explain the differences in pigmentation. This study offers a fresh perspective on anthocyanin accumulation in <i>Alpinia</i>, paving the way for future flower color breeding efforts in the genus. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-47be81b670844a6d8767df0180a2e6a8 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2311-7524 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Horticulturae |
| spelling | doaj-art-47be81b670844a6d8767df0180a2e6a82025-08-20T02:42:31ZengMDPI AGHorticulturae2311-75242025-03-0111326610.3390/horticulturae11030266Comparative Metabolomic and Transcriptomic Analyses Uncover Variation in Pigment Accumulation Profiles in <i>Alpinia hainanensis</i> BractsTong Zhao0Qianxia Yu1Huanfang Liu2Zehong Wei3School of Horticulture and Food, Guangdong Eco-engineering Polytechnic, Guangzhou 510520, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, South China Peanut Sub-Center of National Center of Oilseed Crops Improvement, Crops Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou 510520, ChinaKey Laboratory of Plant Resources Conservation and Sustainable Utilization, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, ChinaSchool of Automobile, Guangdong Mechanical and Electrical Polytechnic, Guangzhou 510520, China<i>Alpinia hainanensis</i> is a famous flowering herbaceous plant with valuable ornamental value that is distinguished by its brightly colored labellum. <i>A. hainanensis</i> ‘Shengzhen’ has been identified to possess a novel ornamental feature: its inflorescence is adorned with charming pink bracts. Although flavonoids are recognized as the primary pigments that color most flowers, the role of their metabolic pathways in shaping the bract color of <i>A. hainanensis</i> ‘Shengzhen’ has not yet been fully explored. This research performed transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses on the floral bracts of both wild-type (white bract) and ‘Shengzhen’ cultivar (pink bract) of <i>A. hainanensis</i>. The results identified 565 flavonoid metabolites, including 19 anthocyanins. The ‘Shengzhen’ cultivar showed a higher accumulation of 17 anthocyanins (seven cyanidins, two delphinidins, one pelargonidin, three peonidins, and four petunidins) compared to the wild type. A combined transcriptomic and metabonomic investigation revealed significant links between four differentially expressed genes and seven anthocyanins. The key genes responsible for flavonoid and anthocyanin synthesis, such as <i>AhPAL</i>, <i>AhC4H</i>, <i>AhCHI</i>, <i>AhF3H</i>, <i>AhDFR</i>, <i>AhFLS</i>, and <i>AhF3′5′H</i>, were further analyzed to explain the differences in pigmentation. This study offers a fresh perspective on anthocyanin accumulation in <i>Alpinia</i>, paving the way for future flower color breeding efforts in the genus.https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/11/3/266<i>Alpinia hainanensis</i>anthocyaninsbract colorationflavonoidsmetabolomic profilingtranscriptomic analysis |
| spellingShingle | Tong Zhao Qianxia Yu Huanfang Liu Zehong Wei Comparative Metabolomic and Transcriptomic Analyses Uncover Variation in Pigment Accumulation Profiles in <i>Alpinia hainanensis</i> Bracts Horticulturae <i>Alpinia hainanensis</i> anthocyanins bract coloration flavonoids metabolomic profiling transcriptomic analysis |
| title | Comparative Metabolomic and Transcriptomic Analyses Uncover Variation in Pigment Accumulation Profiles in <i>Alpinia hainanensis</i> Bracts |
| title_full | Comparative Metabolomic and Transcriptomic Analyses Uncover Variation in Pigment Accumulation Profiles in <i>Alpinia hainanensis</i> Bracts |
| title_fullStr | Comparative Metabolomic and Transcriptomic Analyses Uncover Variation in Pigment Accumulation Profiles in <i>Alpinia hainanensis</i> Bracts |
| title_full_unstemmed | Comparative Metabolomic and Transcriptomic Analyses Uncover Variation in Pigment Accumulation Profiles in <i>Alpinia hainanensis</i> Bracts |
| title_short | Comparative Metabolomic and Transcriptomic Analyses Uncover Variation in Pigment Accumulation Profiles in <i>Alpinia hainanensis</i> Bracts |
| title_sort | comparative metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses uncover variation in pigment accumulation profiles in i alpinia hainanensis i bracts |
| topic | <i>Alpinia hainanensis</i> anthocyanins bract coloration flavonoids metabolomic profiling transcriptomic analysis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/11/3/266 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT tongzhao comparativemetabolomicandtranscriptomicanalysesuncovervariationinpigmentaccumulationprofilesinialpiniahainanensisibracts AT qianxiayu comparativemetabolomicandtranscriptomicanalysesuncovervariationinpigmentaccumulationprofilesinialpiniahainanensisibracts AT huanfangliu comparativemetabolomicandtranscriptomicanalysesuncovervariationinpigmentaccumulationprofilesinialpiniahainanensisibracts AT zehongwei comparativemetabolomicandtranscriptomicanalysesuncovervariationinpigmentaccumulationprofilesinialpiniahainanensisibracts |