Expression Differences of Pigment Structural Genes and Transcription Factors Explain Flesh Coloration in Three Contrasting Kiwifruit Cultivars

Abstract

Fruits of kiwifruit cultivars (<i>Actinidia chinensis</i> and <i>A. deliciosa</i>) generally have green or yellow flesh when ripe. A small number of genotypes have red flesh but this coloration is usually restricted to the inner pericarp. Three kiwifruit cultivars having red ('Hongyang'), or yellow ('Jinnong-2'), or green ('Hayward') flesh were investigated for their color characteristics and pigment contents during development and ripening. The results show the yellow of the 'Jinnong-2' fruit is due to the combined effects of chlorophyll degradation and of beta-carotene accumulation. The red inner pericarps of 'Hongyang' fruit are due to anthocyanin accumulation. Expression differences of the pathway genes in the inner pericarps of the three different kiwifruits suggest that <i>stay-green</i> (<i>SGR)</i> controls the degradation of chlorophylls, while <i>lycopene beta-cyclase</i> (<i>LCY-</i>β<i>)</i> controls the biosynthesis of beta-carotene. The abundance of anthocyanin in the inner pericarps of the 'Hongyang' fruit is the results of high expressions of <i>UDP flavonoid glycosyltransferases</i> (<i>UFGT)</i>. At the same time, expressions of anthocyanin transcription factors show that <i>AcMYBF110</i> expression parallels changes in anthocyanin concentration, so seems to be a key R2R3 MYB, regulating anthocyanin biosynthesis. Further, transient color assays reveal that <i>AcMYBF110</i> can autonomously induce anthocyanin accumulation in <i>Nicotiana tabacum</i> leaves by activating the transcription of <i>dihydroflavonol 4-reductase</i> (<i>NtDFR</i>), <i>anthocyanidin synthase</i> (<i>NtANS)</i> and <i>NtUFGT</i>. For basic helix-loop-helix proteins (bHLHs) and WD-repeat proteins (WD40s), expression differences show these may depend on <i>AcMYBF110</i> forming a MYB-bHLH-WD40 complex to regulate anthocyanin biosynthesis, instead of it having a direct involvement.