AUTHOR=Li Maofu , Zhang Hui , Yang Yuan , Wang Hua , Xue Zhen , Fan Youwei , Sun Pei , Zhang Hong , Zhang Xinzhu , Jin Wanmei 

TITLE=Rosa1, a Transposable Element-Like Insertion, Produces Red Petal Coloration in Rose Through Altering RcMYB114 Transcription

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2022.857684

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2022.857684

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=<p>Rose (<italic>Rosa</italic> sp.) flowers have a rich diversity of colors resulting from the differential accumulation of anthocyanins, flavonols, and carotenoids. However, the genetic and molecular determinants of the red-petal trait in roses remains poorly understood. Here we report that a transposable element-like insertion (Rosa1) into <italic>RcMYB114</italic>, a R2R3-MYB transcription factor’s promoter region causes its transcription, resulting in red petals. In red-petal varieties, <italic>RcMYB114</italic> is expressed specifically in flower organs, but is absent from non-red varieties. Sequencing, yeast two-hybrid, transient transformation, and promoter activity assays of <italic>RcMYB114</italic> independently confirmed the role of Rosa1 in altering <italic>RcMYB114</italic>’s transcription and downstream effects on flower color. Genetic and molecular evidence confirmed that the Rosa1 transposable element-like insertion, which is a previously unknown DNA transposable element, is different from those in other plants and is a reliable molecular marker to screen red-petal roses.</p>