Examining Carotenoid Metabolism Regulation and Its Role in Flower Color Variation in Brassica rapa L

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences Vol. 25; no. 20; p. 11164
• Main Authors: Liu, Guomei, Luo, Liuyan, Yao, Lin, Wang, Chen, Sun, Xuan, Du, Chunfang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 17.10.2024; MDPI
• Subjects: Biosynthesis; Brassica rapa - genetics; Brassica rapa - metabolism; Carotenoids; Carotenoids - metabolism; Chloroplasts; Color; Flowers & plants; Flowers - genetics; Flowers - metabolism; Fruits; Gene expression; Gene Expression Profiling; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Mass spectrometry; Metabolism; Metabolites; Mutation; Pigmentation - genetics; Plant Proteins - genetics; Plant Proteins - metabolism; Plant reproduction; Plant Roots - genetics; Plant Roots - metabolism; Scientific imaging; Seeds; Seeds - genetics; Seeds - metabolism; Software; China; Brassica rapa L; carotenoids; transcriptome; metabolome
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms252011164

Carotenoids are vital organic pigments that determine the color of flowers, roots, and fruits in plants, imparting them yellow, orange, and red hues. This study comprehensively analyzes carotenoid accumulation in different tissues of the mutant "YB1", which exhibits altered flower and root colors. Integrating physiological and biochemical assessments, transcriptome profiling, and quantitative metabolomics, we examined carotenoid accumulation in the flowers, roots, stems, and seeds of YB1 throughout its growth and development. The results indicated that carotenoids continued to accumulate in the roots and stems of YBI, especially in its cortex, throughout plant growth and development; however, the carotenoid levels in the petals decreased with progression of the flowering stage. In total, 54 carotenoid compounds were identified across tissues, with 30 being unique metabolites. Their levels correlated with the expression pattern of 22 differentially expressed genes related to carotenoid biosynthesis and degradation. Tissue-specific genes, including and in flowers and in the roots and stems, were identified as key regulators of color variations in different plant parts. Additionally, we identified genes in the seeds that regulated the conversion of carotenoids to abscisic acid. In conclusion, this study offers valuable insights into the regulation of carotenoid metabolism in , which can guide the selection and breeding of carotenoid-rich varieties.