Anthocyanins and Anthocyanin Biosynthesis Gene Expression in <i>Passiflora</i> Flower Corona Filaments

The diversity in anthocyanin flower pigmentation is vital in the ornamental plant market. To understand the regulation of the corona filament pigmentation of the <i>Passiflora</i> flower, we investigated the anthocyanin profiles of five distinct species (<i>P. violacea</i>, &...

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Main Authors: Eliana Nutricati, Erika Sabella, Carmine Negro, Samar Min Allah, Andrea Luvisi, Luigi De Bellis, Rita Annunziata Accogli
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Plants
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/7/1050
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author Eliana Nutricati
Erika Sabella
Carmine Negro
Samar Min Allah
Andrea Luvisi
Luigi De Bellis
Rita Annunziata Accogli
author_facet Eliana Nutricati
Erika Sabella
Carmine Negro
Samar Min Allah
Andrea Luvisi
Luigi De Bellis
Rita Annunziata Accogli
author_sort Eliana Nutricati
collection DOAJ
description The diversity in anthocyanin flower pigmentation is vital in the ornamental plant market. To understand the regulation of the corona filament pigmentation of the <i>Passiflora</i> flower, we investigated the anthocyanin profiles of five distinct species (<i>P. violacea</i>, <i>P. caerulea</i>, <i>P. edulis</i>, <i>P. incarnata</i>, and <i>P. coccinea</i>) using HPLC-MS. A total of 14 anthocyanins, differentially distributed in the analyzed species, were identified as responsible for the differences in corona color, which can be attributed to different ratios of pelargonidin, cyanidin, and delphinidin. Additionally, we evaluated the expression of some biosynthetic genes, including <i>dehydroflavonol reductase</i> (<i>DFR), flavonoid 3′-hydroxylase (F3′H)</i>, and <i>flavonoid 3′,5′-hydroxylase (F3′5′H)</i>. <i>F3′H</i> seems to regulate the accumulation of cyanidins, <i>F3′5′H</i> determines blue pigmentation, and <i>DFR</i> enhances the biosynthesis of pelargonidins. Furthermore, three genes coding for key transcription factors, <i>Myeloblastosis (MYB)</i>, <i>basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH)</i>, and <i>WD repeat protein (WD40)</i>, were examined using qPCR. The results confirm that such genes regulate anthocyanin biosynthesis and provide insight into the molecular mechanisms that underlie pigment biosynthesis for application in biotechnologies.
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spelling doaj-art-d8562ac3bfdc48ee9bd12ec362a6d2ac2025-08-20T03:03:23ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-03-01147105010.3390/plants14071050Anthocyanins and Anthocyanin Biosynthesis Gene Expression in <i>Passiflora</i> Flower Corona FilamentsEliana Nutricati0Erika Sabella1Carmine Negro2Samar Min Allah3Andrea Luvisi4Luigi De Bellis5Rita Annunziata Accogli6Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DiSTeBA), Salento University, Via Prov. le Lecce-Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, ItalyDepartment of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DiSTeBA), Salento University, Via Prov. le Lecce-Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, ItalyDepartment of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DiSTeBA), Salento University, Via Prov. le Lecce-Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, ItalyDepartment of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DiSTeBA), Salento University, Via Prov. le Lecce-Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, ItalyDepartment of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DiSTeBA), Salento University, Via Prov. le Lecce-Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, ItalyDepartment of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DiSTeBA), Salento University, Via Prov. le Lecce-Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, ItalyDepartment of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DiSTeBA), Salento University, Via Prov. le Lecce-Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, ItalyThe diversity in anthocyanin flower pigmentation is vital in the ornamental plant market. To understand the regulation of the corona filament pigmentation of the <i>Passiflora</i> flower, we investigated the anthocyanin profiles of five distinct species (<i>P. violacea</i>, <i>P. caerulea</i>, <i>P. edulis</i>, <i>P. incarnata</i>, and <i>P. coccinea</i>) using HPLC-MS. A total of 14 anthocyanins, differentially distributed in the analyzed species, were identified as responsible for the differences in corona color, which can be attributed to different ratios of pelargonidin, cyanidin, and delphinidin. Additionally, we evaluated the expression of some biosynthetic genes, including <i>dehydroflavonol reductase</i> (<i>DFR), flavonoid 3′-hydroxylase (F3′H)</i>, and <i>flavonoid 3′,5′-hydroxylase (F3′5′H)</i>. <i>F3′H</i> seems to regulate the accumulation of cyanidins, <i>F3′5′H</i> determines blue pigmentation, and <i>DFR</i> enhances the biosynthesis of pelargonidins. Furthermore, three genes coding for key transcription factors, <i>Myeloblastosis (MYB)</i>, <i>basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH)</i>, and <i>WD repeat protein (WD40)</i>, were examined using qPCR. The results confirm that such genes regulate anthocyanin biosynthesis and provide insight into the molecular mechanisms that underlie pigment biosynthesis for application in biotechnologies.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/7/1050<i>Passiflora</i>anthocyanin profilesflower pigmentationanthocyanin biosynthetic pathwayflavonoids
spellingShingle Eliana Nutricati
Erika Sabella
Carmine Negro
Samar Min Allah
Andrea Luvisi
Luigi De Bellis
Rita Annunziata Accogli
Anthocyanins and Anthocyanin Biosynthesis Gene Expression in <i>Passiflora</i> Flower Corona Filaments
Plants
<i>Passiflora</i>
anthocyanin profiles
flower pigmentation
anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway
flavonoids
title Anthocyanins and Anthocyanin Biosynthesis Gene Expression in <i>Passiflora</i> Flower Corona Filaments
title_full Anthocyanins and Anthocyanin Biosynthesis Gene Expression in <i>Passiflora</i> Flower Corona Filaments
title_fullStr Anthocyanins and Anthocyanin Biosynthesis Gene Expression in <i>Passiflora</i> Flower Corona Filaments
title_full_unstemmed Anthocyanins and Anthocyanin Biosynthesis Gene Expression in <i>Passiflora</i> Flower Corona Filaments
title_short Anthocyanins and Anthocyanin Biosynthesis Gene Expression in <i>Passiflora</i> Flower Corona Filaments
title_sort anthocyanins and anthocyanin biosynthesis gene expression in i passiflora i flower corona filaments
topic <i>Passiflora</i>
anthocyanin profiles
flower pigmentation
anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway
flavonoids
url https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/7/1050
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