Esterified carotenoids are synthesized in petals of carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus) and accumulate in differentiated chromoplasts.

ABSTRACT: Although yellow and orange petal colors are derived from carotenoids in many plant species, this has not yet been demonstrated for the order Caryophyllales, which includes carnations. Here, we identified a carnation cultivar with pale yellow flowers that accumulated carotenoids in petals. Additionally, some xanthophyll compounds were esterified, as is the case for yellow flowers in other plant species. Ultrastructural analysis showed that chromoplasts with numerous plastoglobules, in which flower-specific carotenoids accumulate, were present in the pale yellow petals. RNA-seq and RT-qPCR analyses indicated that the expression levels of genes for carotenoid biosynthesis and esterification in pale yellow and pink petals (that accumulate small amounts of carotenoids) were similar or lower tha

SUBMITTER: Iijima L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7495429 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature