Abstract
Key message
Compared with Magnolia biondii , higher anthocyanin content and higher expression level of related structural genes involved in flavonoids biosynthesis were detected in its variety M. biondii var. purpurascens .
Abstract
Magnolia plants are old species and have evolved a variety of flower colors. Color differences occur between Magnolia biondii (MB) and its variety M. biondii var. purpurascens (MBP). MB shows pink at the bottom and white at the top of petals, while MBP shows purple at the bottom and red at the top. To understand the underlying mechanism of color difference between these two Magnolia plants, the petal color phenotypic parameters, the composition and content of flavonoids, and the expression of related structural genes involved in flavonoids biosynthesis were compared and analyzed between MB and MBP. Generally, L* and b* values of MB were higher than those of MBP, and a* and C* values of MB were lower than those of MBP. Four anthocyanins and ten flavonols were identified in both MB and MBP. Total anthocyanin content (TA) in MBP was higher than that in MB at five developmental stages, while total flavonols content (TF) in MBP was higher than that in MB just at the soft bud stage. TA was significantly negatively correlated with L* value, but showed significant positive correlation with a* and C* values. Higher anthocyanin accumulation in MBP was related with high expression of many structural genes, but lower expression level of MbF3'H in MBP from soft bud stage to half blossom stage retards the increase of anthocyanins’ accumulation. These results will provide a foundation for revealing the underlying mechanism of color difference between MB and MBP, and understanding flower color evolution in Magnolia plants.
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This research was funded by the 13th Five-Year-Plan for Floriculture Special Breeding of Zhejiang Province, China (2016C02056-12), the Key R&D Project of Shanghai Science and Technology Commission (20dz1203700).
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Wang, Nh., Dai, My., Zheng, G. et al. Flavonoid components and gene expression analysis reveal flower pigmentation difference between Magnolia biondii and its variety M. biondii var. purpurascens. Trees 36, 583–591 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-021-02231-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-021-02231-7