Anthocyanin Biosynthesis and Methylation of the <i>MdMYB10</i> Promoter Are Associated with the Red Blushed-Skin Mutant in the Red Striped-Skin “Changfu 2” Apple

Abstract

The color of apple skin, particularly anthocyanin-based coloration, is a key factor determining market acceptance. The mechanisms of anthocyanin accumulation in apples with different skin color patterns (i.e., striped and blushed) were analyzed. In total, 14 anthocyanins and 5 procyanidins were simultaneously assayed in red blushed-skin mutants (CF-B1 and CF-B2) and red striped-skin parents (CF-S1 and CF-S2), and 13 significant differences were revealed. Anthocyanin accumulation was significantly higher in the red blushed-skin apples than it was in the parents. The transcript levels of anthocyanin biosynthesis genes and regulatory factors (<i>MdMYB10</i>, <i>MdbHLH3</i>, and <i>MdWD40</i>) were associated with different skin color patterns during the coloring period at 4, 6, and 8 days after the fruits were debagged. The methylation levels of the <i>MdMYB10</i> promoter regions -1203 to -779 bp, -1667 to -1180 bp, and -2295 to -1929 bp were associated with different skin color patterns, and there was more methylation in red striped-skin apples. These results improve our understanding of anthocyanin accumulation and its underlying molecular mechanism in apples with different skin color patterns, thereby providing valuable information for apple breeding.