Flower color variations are determined by betalain biosynthetic genes in Portulaca umbraticola.

ABSTRACT: Portulaca umbraticola, an important summer garden plant, belongs to the family Portulacaceae within the order Caryophyllales. Unlike most plants that produce anthocyanins, species in Caryophyllales typically produce betalains, pigments divided into yellow betaxanthins and reddish-purple betacyanins. Previous research on a limited number of plants has identified five key enzymes responsible for betalain biosynthesis: cytochrome P450-α, β (CYP76AD-α, β), DOPA 4,5-dioxygenase, cyclo-DOPA-5-O-glucosyltransferase, and betanidin 5-O-glucosyltransferase. These genes, however, had not been previously identified in P. umbraticola, and the molecular basis for its flower color variation remained unclear. In this study, we identified these genes in P. umbraticola (PuDOD1, PuCYP76AD1/3 (α), PuCYP76AD2

SUBMITTER: Sumi C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12344092 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature