Li Yanwen, Li Mengyao, Guo Zheng, Liu Junting, Chen Peiran, Lu Wei, Jiang Chengyao, Xiao Jiachang, Lei Fengyun, Zheng Yangxia
College of Horticulture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.
Agricultural Equipment Research Institute, Chengdu Academy of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, Chengdu, China.
Front Plant Sci. 2025 Feb 18;16:1531574. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2025.1531574. eCollection 2025.
Asparagus is a valuable vegetable, and its edible part is a tender stem. The color of the tender stem epidermis is an important trait. In particular, purple asparagus is rich in anthocyanins. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying anthocyanin accumulation in purple asparagus remains unclear.
The white variety 'Jinguan' (JG), the green variety 'Fengdao 2' (FD), and the purple variety 'Jingzilu 2' (JZ) were compared using physiological and transcriptomic analysis. High-performance liquid chromatography and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction were employed to detect anthocyanins and validate gene expression.
Cyanidin 3-glucoside and cyanidin 3-rutinoside were detected as the main anthocyanins in JZ. Transcriptome data demonstrated that 4,694 and 9,427 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected in the JZ versus FD and JZ versus JG control groups, respectively. These DEGs were significantly enriched in pathways associated with anthocyanin accumulation, including phenylalanine metabolism, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and flavonoid biosynthesis. A total of 29 structural genes related to anthocyanin biosynthesis were identified. The expression of these structural genes was higher in JZ than in FD and JG, thereby activating the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway. Additionally, a candidate gene, , was identified based on transcriptomic data. The expression of was associated with anthocyanin accumulation in different tissues. Further research found that overexpression of activated the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway. It promoted leaf pigment accumulation in transgenic .
These findings demonstrate that positively regulated anthocyanin biosynthesis. This study elucidates the molecular mechanism underlying purple coloration in asparagus. It provides important insights for improving asparagus quality and for breeding high-anthocyanin varieties.
芦笋是一种珍贵的蔬菜，其可食用部分为嫩茎。嫩茎表皮颜色是一个重要性状。特别是紫色芦笋富含花青素。然而，紫色芦笋中花青素积累的分子机制仍不清楚。
使用生理和转录组分析比较白色品种‘京冠’（JG）、绿色品种‘丰岛2号’（FD）和紫色品种‘京紫芦2号’（JZ）。采用高效液相色谱法和实时定量聚合酶链反应检测花青素并验证基因表达。
在JZ中检测到矢车菊素3 - 葡萄糖苷和矢车菊素3 - 芸香糖苷为主要花青素。转录组数据表明，在JZ与FD对照组以及JZ与JG对照组中分别检测到4694个和9427个差异表达基因（DEG）。这些DEG在与花青素积累相关的途径中显著富集，包括苯丙氨酸代谢、苯丙烷生物合成和类黄酮生物合成。共鉴定出29个与花青素生物合成相关的结构基因。这些结构基因在JZ中的表达高于FD和JG，从而激活了花青素生物合成途径。此外，基于转录组数据鉴定出一个候选基因，。的表达与不同组织中的花青素积累相关。进一步研究发现，的过表达激活了花青素生物合成途径。它促进了转基因植株叶片色素积累。
这些发现表明正向调控花青素生物合成。本研究阐明了芦笋紫色形成的分子机制。它为提高芦笋品质和培育高花青素品种提供了重要见解。
