AUTHOR=Fang Zhi-Zhen , Lin-Wang Kui , Zhou Dan-Rong , Lin Yan-Juan , Jiang Cui-Cui , Pan Shao-Lin , Espley Richard V. , Andre Christelle M. , Ye Xin-Fu 

TITLE=Activation of PsMYB10.2 Transcription Causes Anthocyanin Accumulation in Flesh of the Red-Fleshed Mutant of ‘Sanyueli’ (Prunus salicina Lindl.)

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2021.680469

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2021.680469

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=<p>Plum is one of the most important stone fruits in the world and anthocyanin-rich plums are increasingly popular due to their health-promoting potential. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms of anthocyanin accumulation in the flesh of the red-fleshed mutant of the yellow-fleshed plum ‘Sanyueli’. RNA-Seq and qRT-PCR showed that anthocyanin biosynthetic genes and the transcription factor <italic>PsMYB10.2</italic> were upregulated in the flesh of the mutant. Functional testing in tobacco leaves indicated that <italic>PsMYB10.2</italic> was an anthocyanin pathway activator and can activate the promoter of the anthocyanin biosynthetic genes <italic>PsUFGT</italic> and <italic>PsGST</italic>. The role of <italic>PsMYB10.2</italic> in anthocyanin accumulation in the flesh of plum was further confirmed by virus-induced gene silencing. These results provide information for further elucidating the underlying mechanisms of anthocyanin accumulation in the flesh of plum and for the breeding of new red-fleshed plum cultivars.</p>