AUTHOR=Ma Lianlian , Liu Zhengguo , Cheng Zhikui , Gou Jiquan , Chen Jieying , Yu Wenjin , Wang Peng 

TITLE=Identification and Application of BhAPRR2 Controlling Peel Colour in Wax Gourd (Benincasa hispida)

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2021.716772

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2021.716772

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=<p>Peel color is an important factor affecting commodity quality in vegetables; however, the genes controlling this trait remain unclear in wax gourd. Here, we used two F<sub>2</sub> genetic segregation populations to explore the inheritance patterns and to clone the genes associated with green and white skin in wax gourd. The F<sub>2</sub> and BC<sub>1</sub> trait segregation ratios were 3:1 and 1:1, respectively, and the trait was controlled by nuclear genes. Bulked segregant analysis of both F<sub>2</sub> plants revealed peaks on Chr5 exceeding the confidence interval. Additionally, 6,244 F<sub>2</sub> plants were used to compress the candidate interval into a region of 179 Kb; one candidate gene, <italic>Bch05G003950</italic> (<italic>BhAPRR2</italic>), encoding two-component response regulator-like protein <italic>Arabidopsis</italic> pseudo-response regulator2 (APRR2), which is involved in the regulation of peel color, was present in this interval. Two bases (GA) present in the coding sequence of <italic>BhAPRR2</italic> in green-skinned wax gourd were absent from white-skinned wax gourd. The latter contained a frameshift mutation, a premature stop codon, and lacked 335 residues required for the protein functional region. The chlorophyll content and <italic>BhAPRR2</italic> expression were significantly higher in green-skinned than in white-skinned wax gourd. Thus, <italic>BhAPRR2</italic> may regulate the peel color of wax gourd. This study provides a theoretical foundation for further studies of the mechanism of gene regulation for the fruit peel color of wax gourd.</p>