AUTHOR=Luo Lei , Molthoff Jos , Li Qiang , Liu Ying , Luo Shuangxia , Li Na , Xuan Shuxin , Wang Yanhua , Shen Shuxing , Bovy Arnaud G. , Zhao Jianjun , Chen Xueping 

TITLE=Identification of candidate genes associated with less-photosensitive anthocyanin phenotype using an EMS mutant (pind) in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.)

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=14

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2023.1282661

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2023.1282661

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=<p>Eggplant (<italic>Solanum melongena</italic> L.) is a highly nutritious and economically important vegetable crop. However, the fruit peel of eggplant often shows poor coloration owing to low-light intensity during cultivation, especially in the winter. The less-photosensitive varieties produce anthocyanin in low light or even dark conditions, making them valuable breeding materials. Nevertheless, genes responsible for anthocyanin biosynthesis in less-photosensitive eggplant varieties are not characterized. In this study, an EMS mutant, named <italic>purple in the dark</italic> (<italic>pind</italic>), was used to identify the key genes responsible for less-photosensitive coloration. Under natural conditions, the peel color and anthocyanin content in <italic>pind</italic> fruits were similar to that of wildtype ‘14-345’. The bagged <italic>pind</italic> fruits were light purple, whereas those of ‘14-345’ were white; and the anthocyanin content in the <italic>pind</italic> fruit peel was significantly higher than that in ‘14-345’. Genetic analysis revealed that the less-photosensitive trait was controlled by a single dominant gene. The candidate gene was mapped on chromosome 10 in the region 7.72 Mb to 11.71 Mb. Thirty-five differentially expressed genes, including 12 structural genes, such as <italic>CHS</italic>, <italic>CHI</italic>, <italic>F3H</italic>, <italic>DFR</italic>, <italic>ANS</italic>, and <italic>UFGT</italic>, and three transcription factors <italic>MYB113</italic>, <italic>GL3</italic>, and <italic>TTG2</italic>, were identified in <italic>pind</italic> using RNA-seq. Four candidate genes <italic>EGP21875</italic> (myb domain protein 113), <italic>EGP21950</italic> (unknown protein), <italic>EGP21953</italic> (CAAX amino-terminal protease family protein), and <italic>EGP21961</italic> (CAAX amino-terminal protease family protein) were identified as putative genes associated with less-photosensitive anthocyanin biosynthesis in <italic>pind</italic>. These findings may clarify the molecular mechanisms underlying less-photosensitive anthocyanin biosynthesis in eggplant.</p>