Comparative genomics reveals candidate carotenoid pathway regulators of ripening watermelon fruit.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Many fruits, including watermelon, are proficient in carotenoid accumulation during ripening. While most genes encoding steps in the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway have been cloned, few transcriptional regulators of these genes have been defined to date. Here we describe the identification of a set of putative carotenoid-related transcription factors resulting from fresh watermelon carotenoid and transcriptome analysis during fruit development and ripening. Our goal is to both clarify the expression profiles of carotenoid pathway genes and to identify candidate regulators and molecular targets for crop improvement.

Results

Total carotenoids progressively increased during fruit ripening up to ~55 μg g(-1) fw in red-ripe fruits. Trans-lycopene was the carotenoid th

SUBMITTER: Grassi S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3840736 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature