Guangdong nongye kexue (Feb 2024)

Advances in Molecular Genetics of Carotenoid Biosynthesis in Capsicum

  • Minghua DENG,
  • Yunrong MO,
  • Junheng LYU,
  • Kai ZHAO,
  • Yaoyao HUANG,
  • Yanyan WANG,
  • Hong ZHANG

DOI
https://doi.org/10.16768/j.issn.1004-874X.2024.02.007
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 51, no. 2
pp. 71 – 80

Abstract

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Pepper (Capsicum spp.) belongs to the genus Capsicum in the Solanaceae family and is widely cultivated around the world as a vegetable and spice crop. In addition to its application as a cooking ingredient and spice, pepper also has a wide range of uses in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic fields. Carotenoids are a class of natural pigments involved in many important metabolic processes in plants, such as photosynthesis, photoprotection, photomorphogenesis and growth and development. Carotenoid is one of the main nutrients of pepper fruit, which has various biological activities. To cultivate varieties with higher carotenoid content, it is necessary to understand its biosynthesis and molecular mechanism of regulation. The development of molecular biology and biotechnology has promoted the identification of carotenoid biosynthesis genes, providing opportunities for breeding new varieties of pepper with higher carotenoid content. In this review, the physiological role of carotenoid, carotenoid and pepper fruit color, carotenoid biosynthesis pathway, structural genes and regulatory factors of carotenoid biosynthesis pathway, molecular genetics of pepper fruit color and QTL sites related to pepper fruit color are described. GGPS, PSY, PDS, ZDS, LCY, CCS are port enzymes and rate-limiting enzymes in the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway of pepper, and the expression abundance and activity of them directly regulate the carotenoid content in pepper. Transcription factors such as MYB306, DIVARICATA1 and BBX20 are involved in the regulation of carotenoid biosynthesis in pepper. The diversity of carotenoid biosynthesis and regulatory genes determines the amount and content of carotenoid monomer and affects the color of pepper fruit. Based on the current research progress, future research on carotenoid metabolism of pepper is prospected in order to provide new ideas for breeding new varieties of biofortified pepper rich in carotenoids in the future.

Keywords