Uncovering the mechanism of anthocyanin accumulation in a purple-leaved variety of foxtail millet (Setaria italica) by transcriptome analysis
Yaofei Zhao,
Yaqiong Li,
Xiaoxi Zhen,
Jinli Zhang,
Qianxiang Zhang,
Zhaowen Liu,
Shupei Hou,
Yuanhuai Han,
Bin Zhang
Affiliations
Yaofei Zhao
Shanxi Key Laboratory of Minor Crop Germplasm Innovation and Molecular Breeding, College of Agriculture, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi, China
Yaqiong Li
Shanxi Key Laboratory of Minor Crop Germplasm Innovation and Molecular Breeding, College of Agriculture, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi, China
Xiaoxi Zhen
Shanxi Key Laboratory of Minor Crop Germplasm Innovation and Molecular Breeding, College of Agriculture, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi, China
Jinli Zhang
Shanxi Key Laboratory of Minor Crop Germplasm Innovation and Molecular Breeding, College of Agriculture, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi, China
Qianxiang Zhang
Shanxi Key Laboratory of Minor Crop Germplasm Innovation and Molecular Breeding, College of Agriculture, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi, China
Zhaowen Liu
Shanxi Key Laboratory of Minor Crop Germplasm Innovation and Molecular Breeding, College of Agriculture, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi, China
Shupei Hou
Shanxi Key Laboratory of Minor Crop Germplasm Innovation and Molecular Breeding, College of Agriculture, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi, China
Yuanhuai Han
Shanxi Key Laboratory of Minor Crop Germplasm Innovation and Molecular Breeding, College of Agriculture, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi, China
Bin Zhang
Shanxi Key Laboratory of Minor Crop Germplasm Innovation and Molecular Breeding, College of Agriculture, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi, China
Anthocyanin is a natural pigment that has a functional role in plants to attract pollinating insects and is important in stress response. Foxtail millet (Setaria italica) is known as a nutritional crop with high resistance to drought and barren. However, the molecular mechanism regulating anthocyanin accumulation and the relationship between anthocyanin and the stress resistance of foxtail millet remains obscure. In this study, we screened hundreds of germplasm resources and obtained several varieties with purple plants in foxtail millet. By studying the purple-leaved B100 variety and the control variety, Yugu1 with green leaves, we found that B100 could accumulate a large amount of anthocyanin in the leaf epiderma, and B100 had stronger stress tolerance. Further transcriptome analysis revealed the differences in gene expression patterns between the two varieties. We identified nine genes encoding enzymes related to anthocyanin biosynthesis using quantitative PCR validation that showed significantly higher expression levels in B100 than Yugu1. The results of this study lay the foundation for the analysis of the molecular mechanism of anthocyanin accumulation in foxtail millet, and provided genetic resources for the molecular breeding of crops with high anthocyanin content.
