Integrated transcriptome and metabolome analyses provide molecular insights into the transition of flower color in the rose cultivar ‘Juicy Terrazza’

Abstract Background Flower color is a prominent ornamental characteristic in roses, and their petals contain a wide range of bioactive compounds. In this study, the petal development of the rose cultivar ‘Juicy Terrazza’ was categorized into three stages: tangerine-colored petals in the flower bud (...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yun Xuan, Jie Ren, Zhu Chen, Dan Shi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:BMC Plant Biology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06794-2
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849238792382185472
author Yun Xuan
Jie Ren
Zhu Chen
Dan Shi
author_facet Yun Xuan
Jie Ren
Zhu Chen
Dan Shi
author_sort Yun Xuan
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Flower color is a prominent ornamental characteristic in roses, and their petals contain a wide range of bioactive compounds. In this study, the petal development of the rose cultivar ‘Juicy Terrazza’ was categorized into three stages: tangerine-colored petals in the flower bud (JT-T), orange-colored petals of the blooming flower (JT-O), and pink-colored petals of the open flower (JT-P). We utilized transcriptomics and metabolomics approaches to investigate the genes and metabolites involved in the pigment metabolic pathway across all three stages of rose petals (JT-T, JT-O, and JT-P) for transcriptomics analysis and two stages (JT-T and JT-P) for metabolomics analysis. Result A total of 872 metabolites were identified in rose flowers. Comparative analysis revealed significant differences in 153 accumulated metabolites between open flowers in JT-P and flower buds in JT-T. The flower coloration of this rose cultivar is primarily influenced by carotenoids and anthocyanins, with carotenoids being the main differential metabolites responsible for altering the flower colors during the transition from JT-T to JT-P, particularly β-carotene, violaxanthin and its derivatives. Furthermore, by conducting a comparative study on differentially expressed genes (DEGs) during the transition of petal color, potential candidate genes related to this specific phenotypic characteristic were successfully identified. PSY, PDS, ZISO, and ZDS genes showed significant down-regulation, while RcCCD4 exhibited strong up-regulation in JT-P compared with JT-T, which could directly contribute to the reduction of carotenoid contents during the JT-P stage. The TF-gene-metabolite correlations involved in the change of pigments in rose petals were identified through comprehensive data analysis. MYB308 and MYB1 (RchiOBHmChr3g0448721, RchiOBHmChr2g0116041) could play pivotal roles in the regulation of pigment metabolism in this rose cultivar. Conclusions These findings contribute to our understanding of the impact of specific metabolites and transcripts on flower color changes and the molecular mechanisms of carotenoid metabolism and flavonoid biosynthesis in rose flowers. The candidate key genes related to pigment metabolism may serve as valuable genetic resources for molecular breeding of ornamental plants with specific flower colors.
format Article
id doaj-art-bf0882cbd3c14ca9b727ad4f87cf6a76
institution Kabale University
issn 1471-2229
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series BMC Plant Biology
spelling doaj-art-bf0882cbd3c14ca9b727ad4f87cf6a762025-08-20T04:01:24ZengBMCBMC Plant Biology1471-22292025-07-0125111910.1186/s12870-025-06794-2Integrated transcriptome and metabolome analyses provide molecular insights into the transition of flower color in the rose cultivar ‘Juicy Terrazza’Yun Xuan0Jie Ren1Zhu Chen2Dan Shi3Institute of Agricultural Machinery Equipment and Engineering, Anhui Academy of Agricultural SciencesInstitute of Agricultural Machinery Equipment and Engineering, Anhui Academy of Agricultural SciencesInstitute of Agricultural Machinery Equipment and Engineering, Anhui Academy of Agricultural SciencesInstitute of Agricultural Machinery Equipment and Engineering, Anhui Academy of Agricultural SciencesAbstract Background Flower color is a prominent ornamental characteristic in roses, and their petals contain a wide range of bioactive compounds. In this study, the petal development of the rose cultivar ‘Juicy Terrazza’ was categorized into three stages: tangerine-colored petals in the flower bud (JT-T), orange-colored petals of the blooming flower (JT-O), and pink-colored petals of the open flower (JT-P). We utilized transcriptomics and metabolomics approaches to investigate the genes and metabolites involved in the pigment metabolic pathway across all three stages of rose petals (JT-T, JT-O, and JT-P) for transcriptomics analysis and two stages (JT-T and JT-P) for metabolomics analysis. Result A total of 872 metabolites were identified in rose flowers. Comparative analysis revealed significant differences in 153 accumulated metabolites between open flowers in JT-P and flower buds in JT-T. The flower coloration of this rose cultivar is primarily influenced by carotenoids and anthocyanins, with carotenoids being the main differential metabolites responsible for altering the flower colors during the transition from JT-T to JT-P, particularly β-carotene, violaxanthin and its derivatives. Furthermore, by conducting a comparative study on differentially expressed genes (DEGs) during the transition of petal color, potential candidate genes related to this specific phenotypic characteristic were successfully identified. PSY, PDS, ZISO, and ZDS genes showed significant down-regulation, while RcCCD4 exhibited strong up-regulation in JT-P compared with JT-T, which could directly contribute to the reduction of carotenoid contents during the JT-P stage. The TF-gene-metabolite correlations involved in the change of pigments in rose petals were identified through comprehensive data analysis. MYB308 and MYB1 (RchiOBHmChr3g0448721, RchiOBHmChr2g0116041) could play pivotal roles in the regulation of pigment metabolism in this rose cultivar. Conclusions These findings contribute to our understanding of the impact of specific metabolites and transcripts on flower color changes and the molecular mechanisms of carotenoid metabolism and flavonoid biosynthesis in rose flowers. The candidate key genes related to pigment metabolism may serve as valuable genetic resources for molecular breeding of ornamental plants with specific flower colors.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06794-2RosePetal colorTranscriptomeMetabolomeCarotenoidsFlavonoids
spellingShingle Yun Xuan
Jie Ren
Zhu Chen
Dan Shi
Integrated transcriptome and metabolome analyses provide molecular insights into the transition of flower color in the rose cultivar ‘Juicy Terrazza’
BMC Plant Biology
Rose
Petal color
Transcriptome
Metabolome
Carotenoids
Flavonoids
title Integrated transcriptome and metabolome analyses provide molecular insights into the transition of flower color in the rose cultivar ‘Juicy Terrazza’
title_full Integrated transcriptome and metabolome analyses provide molecular insights into the transition of flower color in the rose cultivar ‘Juicy Terrazza’
title_fullStr Integrated transcriptome and metabolome analyses provide molecular insights into the transition of flower color in the rose cultivar ‘Juicy Terrazza’
title_full_unstemmed Integrated transcriptome and metabolome analyses provide molecular insights into the transition of flower color in the rose cultivar ‘Juicy Terrazza’
title_short Integrated transcriptome and metabolome analyses provide molecular insights into the transition of flower color in the rose cultivar ‘Juicy Terrazza’
title_sort integrated transcriptome and metabolome analyses provide molecular insights into the transition of flower color in the rose cultivar juicy terrazza
topic Rose
Petal color
Transcriptome
Metabolome
Carotenoids
Flavonoids
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06794-2
work_keys_str_mv AT yunxuan integratedtranscriptomeandmetabolomeanalysesprovidemolecularinsightsintothetransitionofflowercolorintherosecultivarjuicyterrazza
AT jieren integratedtranscriptomeandmetabolomeanalysesprovidemolecularinsightsintothetransitionofflowercolorintherosecultivarjuicyterrazza
AT zhuchen integratedtranscriptomeandmetabolomeanalysesprovidemolecularinsightsintothetransitionofflowercolorintherosecultivarjuicyterrazza
AT danshi integratedtranscriptomeandmetabolomeanalysesprovidemolecularinsightsintothetransitionofflowercolorintherosecultivarjuicyterrazza