Phylogenetic Analysis of Family Genes in Diels et Gilg and Roles of and in Flavonoid Biosynthesis.

Diels et Gilg () is an extensively used Chinese folk herb with multiple bioactivities. Among these bioactivities, flavonoids are recognized as the representative active ingredients. We previously found an elevated accumulation of flavonoids in under water stress; however, the mechanism remains unclear. R2R3-MYB transcription factors play vital roles in the plant response to environmental stress and the regulation of secondary metabolites. Herein, a systematic transcriptome identification of family genes under water stress in was performed to explore their potential function in the biosynthesis of flavonoids. A total of 26 genes were identified, most of which were clustered into functional branches of abiotic stress. and were then screened out to be associated with the biosynthesis of flavonoids through a protein-protein interaction prediction. An expression correlation analysis based on RNA-seq further confirmed that and were positively related to the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway genes of . In - and -overexpression hairy roots, it was found that the expression of and was significantly increased, suggesting that and may act as regulators in flavonoid biosynthesis. This will shed new light on the promotion of flavonoid production and the medicinal value of by manipulating transcription factors.