Expression Analysis of the Anthocyanin Genes in Pink Spathes of Anthurium with Different Color Intensities

Anthurium (Anthurium andraeanum) is a tropical ornamental valued for its colorful spathe (modified bract) that subtends the inflorescence. The present genetic model for spathe color inheritance in anthurium does not account for differences among the red- and pink-spathed cultivars or for differences in the shades of pink among pink cultivars. To identify the mechanisms responsible for the variation in color and intensity, five genetically defined pink-spathed cultivars, with respect to the O, R, and M loci, with varying shade intensities, along with a genetically defined red-spathed cultivar (control), were analyzed at the mRNA, protein, chemical, and phenotypic levels at different spathe development stages. Spathe color values were recorded based on CIE L*a*b* system. Intensity of color (L*, which represents lightness) correlated with the anthocyanin content, with L* showing a strong negative relationship with anthocyanin abundance. Additionally, the red spathe accumulated anthocyanin throughout the spathe developmental stages, whereas the pinks either produced anthocyanin at early stages of development, which decreased as the spathe matured or showed a marked delay in anthocyanin accumulation. The level of anthocyanin closely mirrored flavonoid 3′-hydroxylase (F3′H) expression but did not correspond with the expression of any of the other genes assayed, chalcone synthase (CHS), flavanone 3-hydroxylase (F3H), dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR), and anthocyanidin synthase (ANS). It was found that earlier the expression and higher the rate of expression of F3′H during spathe development, the greater the accumulation of anthocyanin in the spathe. Differences in the a* color space parameter among cultivars also suggests that qualitative differences in color could be mediated through F3′H. Other ancillary mechanisms that down regulate F3H, ANS, and DFR expression levels, evident in some pink cultivars, are discussed.

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Understanding Alstroemeria pallida Flower Colour: Links between Phenotype, Anthocyanins and Gene Expression

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants10010055 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 55

Author(s):

Amanda Donoso ◽

Constanza Rivas ◽

Alan Zamorano ◽

Álvaro Peña ◽

Michael Handford ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Performance ◽

Chalcone Synthase ◽

Ornamental Plants ◽

Flower Colour ◽

Anthocyanin Content ◽

Anthocyanidin Synthase ◽

Visual Evaluation ◽

Royal Horticultural Society ◽

Polymerase Chain ◽

Colour Chart

Flower colour is mainly due to the accumulation of flavonoids, carotenoids and betalains in the petals. Of these pigments, flavonoids are responsible for a wide variety of colours ranging from pale yellow (flavones, flavonols and flavanodiols) to blue-violet (anthocyanins). This character plays a crucial ecological role by attracting and guiding pollinators. Moreover, in the ornamental plants market, colour has been consistently identified as the main feature chosen by consumers when buying flowers. Considering the importance of this character, the aim of this study was to evaluate flower colour in the native Chilean geophyte Alstroemeria pallida, by using three different approaches. Firstly, the phenotype was assessed using both a colour chart and a colourimeter, obtaining CIELab parameters. Secondly, the anthocyanin content of the pigmented tepals was evaluated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and finally, the expression of two key flavonoid genes, chalcone synthase (CHS) and anthocyanidin synthase (ANS) was analysed using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Visual evaluation of A. pallida flower colour identified 5 accessions, ranging from white (Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) N999D) to pink (RHS 68C). Moreover, this visual evaluation of the accessions correlated highly with the CIELab parameters obtained by colourimetry. An anthocyanidin corresponding to a putative 6-hydroxycyanidin was identified, which was least abundant in the white accession (RHS N999D). Although CHS was not expressed differentially between the accessions, the expression of ANS was significantly higher in the accession with pink flowers (RHS 68C). These results suggest a correlation between phenotype, anthocyanin content and ANS expression for determining flower colour of A. pallida, which could be of interest for further studies, especially those related to the breeding of this species with ornamental value.

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Comparative transcriptomic analysis reveals key components controlling spathe color in Anthurium andraeanum (Hort.)

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0261364 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (12) ◽

pp. e0261364

Author(s):

Jaime A. Osorio-Guarín ◽

David Gopaulchan ◽

Corey Quanckenbush ◽

Adrian M. Lennon ◽

Pathmanathan Umaharan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Developmental Stages ◽

De Novo ◽

Genetic Model ◽

Differentially Expressed ◽

Cdna Libraries ◽

Future Research ◽

Sequence Information ◽

Anthocyanin Pathway ◽

Late Developmental Stage ◽

Anthurium Andraeanum

Anthurium andraeanum (Hort.) is an important ornamental in the tropical cut-flower industry. However, there is currently insufficient information to establish a clear connection between the genetic model(s) proposed and the putative genes involved in the differentiation between colors. In this study, 18 cDNA libraries related to the spathe color and developmental stages of A. andraeanum were characterized by transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq). For the de novo transcriptome, a total of 114,334,082 primary sequence reads were obtained from the Illumina sequencer and were assembled into 151,652 unigenes. Approximately 58,476 transcripts were generated and used for comparative transcriptome analysis between three cultivars that differ in spathe color (‘Sasha’ (white), ‘Honduras’ (red), and ‘Rapido’ (purple)). A large number of differentially expressed genes (8,324), potentially involved in multiple biological and metabolic pathways, were identified, including genes in the flavonoid and anthocyanin biosynthetic pathways. Our results showed that the chalcone isomerase (CHI) gene presented the strongest evidence for an association with differences in color and the highest correlation with other key genes (flavanone 3-hydroxylase (F3H), flavonoid 3’5’ hydroxylase (F3’5’H)/ flavonoid 3’-hydroxylase (F3’H), and leucoanthocyanidin dioxygenase (LDOX)) in the anthocyanin pathway. We also identified a differentially expressed cytochrome P450 gene in the late developmental stage of the purple spathe that appeared to determine the difference between the red- and purple-colored spathes. Furthermore, transcription factors related to putative MYB-domain protein that may control anthocyanin pathway were identified through a weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). The results provided basic sequence information for future research on spathe color, which have important implications for this ornamental breeding strategies.

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Differential Regulation of Anthocyanins in Green and Purple Turnips Revealed by Combined De Novo Transcriptome and Metabolome Analysis

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms20184387 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 20 (18) ◽

pp. 4387 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Hongmei Zhuang ◽

Qian Lou ◽

Huifang Liu ◽

Hongwei Han ◽

Qiang Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Developmental Stages ◽

De Novo ◽

Skin Pigmentation ◽

Anthocyanin Content ◽

Anthocyanidin Synthase ◽

De Novo Transcriptome ◽

Metabolome Analysis ◽

Transcriptional Changes ◽

The Difference

Purple turnip Brassica rapa ssp. rapa is highly appreciated by consumers but the metabolites and molecular mechanisms underlying the root skin pigmentation remain open to study. Herein, we analyzed the anthocyanin composition in purple turnip (PT) and green turnip (GT) at five developmental stages. A total of 21 anthocyanins were detected and classified into the six major anthocynanin aglycones. Distinctly, PT contains 20 times higher levels of anthocyanins than GT, which explain the difference in the root skin pigmentation. We further sequenced the transcriptomes and analyzed the differentially expressed genes between the two turnips. We found that PT essentially diverts dihydroflavonols to the biosynthesis of anthocyanins over flavonols biosynthesis by strongly down-regulating one flavonol synthase gene, while strikingly up-regulating dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR), anthocyanidin synthase and UDP-glucose: flavonoid-3-O-glucosyltransferase genes as compared to GT. Moreover, a nonsense mutation identified in the coding sequence of the DFR gene may lead to a nonfunctional protein, adding another hurdle to the accumulation of anthocyanin in GT. We also uncovered several key members of MYB, bHLH and WRKY families as the putative main drivers of transcriptional changes between the two turnips. Overall, this study provides new tools for modifying anthocyanin content and improving turnip nutritional quality.

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Teacher Attrition and Mobility Over Time

Educational Researcher ◽

10.3102/0013189x211060840 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 0013189X2110608

Author(s):

Dan Goldhaber ◽

Roddy Theobald

Keyword(s):

Teacher Attrition ◽

Negative Relationship ◽

Public School Teachers ◽

School Teachers ◽

Unemployment Rates ◽

The Past ◽

State Unemployment Rate ◽

Strong Negative Relationship ◽

State Unemployment ◽

Over Time

We use 35 years of data on public school teachers in Washington to calculate several different measures of teacher attrition and mobility. We explore how these rates vary over time and their relationship with the state unemployment rate. Annual rates of teacher attrition from the workforce have been between 5% and 8% for each of the past 35 years, and there is a strong negative relationship between unemployment rates and these rates of attrition. This history suggests that teacher attrition is likely to increase as the economy recovers after the pandemic, but this increase is likely to be modest.

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Physical Modeling of Landward Scour Due to Tsunami Bore Overtopping Seawall

MATEC Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/matecconf/201820301003 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 203 ◽

pp. 01003

Author(s):

Raidan Maqtan ◽

Badronnisa Yusuf ◽

Saiful Bahri Hamzah

Keyword(s):

Froude Number ◽

Laboratory Experiments ◽

Negative Relationship ◽

Structural Performance ◽

Flow Depth ◽

Initial Water ◽

Field Surveys ◽

Strong Positive Relationship ◽

Strong Negative Relationship ◽

Wave Forms

many of the post tsunami field surveys which conducted by researchers revealed that, the failure due to scour at the landward toe of the seawall due to overtopping of tsunami wave forms one of the important types of coastal defence structures failure and constitutes one of the biggest threats to their structural performance. This study was intended to investigates the scour profile induced by tsunami bores at the landward toe of the vertical seawall and to discuss the effects of the parameters; tide level, incident bore Froude number Fb, incident bore height Hb, overtopping flow Froude number Fo, and overtopping flow depth Ho on the maximum scour depth induced at the landward toe of the seawall. A set of laboratory experiments were conducted at National Hydraulic Research Institute of Malaysia (NAHRIM) with the tichnique of dam break to generate the bore like tsunami. The experiments showed that the initial water level upstream of the seawall has a significant effect on the scour profile and there is a strong negative relationship exists with Froude number of the incident bore and a strong positive relationship exists with Froude number of the overtopping flow depth above the crest of the seawall.

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Nest prospecting brown-headed cowbirds ‘parasitize’ social information when the value of personal information is lacking

Proceedings of The Royal Society B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rspb.2017.1083 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 284 (1861) ◽

pp. 20171083 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

David J. White ◽

Hayden B. Davies ◽

Samuel Agyapong ◽

Nora Seegmiller

Keyword(s):

Personal Information ◽

Molothrus Ater ◽

Social Information ◽

Negative Relationship ◽

Brood Parasites ◽

Nest Selection ◽

Strong Negative Relationship ◽

Nest Quality ◽

Cognitive Challenges

Brood parasites face considerable cognitive challenges in locating and selecting host nests for their young. Here, we test whether female brown-headed cowbirds, Molothrus ater , could use information acquired from observing the nest prospecting patterns of conspecifics to influence their own patterns of nest selection. In laboratory-based experiments, we created a disparity in the amount of personal information females had about the quality of nests. Females with less personal information about the quality of two nests spent more time investigating the nest that more knowledgeable females investigated. Furthermore, there was a strong negative relationship between individual's ability to track nest quality using personal information and their tendency to copy others. These two contrasting strategies for selecting nests are equally effective, but lead to different patterns of parasitism.

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Atmospheric Pollution, Health, and Height in Late Nineteenth Century Britain

The Journal of Economic History ◽

10.1017/s0022050718000578 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 78 (4) ◽

pp. 1210-1247 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Roy E. Bailey ◽

Timothy J. Hatton ◽

Kris Inwood

Keyword(s):

Nineteenth Century ◽

Child Development ◽

Atmospheric Pollution ◽

Negative Relationship ◽

Late Nineteenth Century ◽

England And Wales ◽

Strong Negative Relationship ◽

Late Nineteenth

In nineteenth century Britain atmospheric pollution from coal-fired industrialization was on the order of 50 times higher than today. We examine the effects of these emissions on child development by analysing the heights on enlistment during WWI of men born in England and Wales in the 1890s. We find a strong negative relationship between adult heights and the coal intensity of the districts in which these men were observed as children in the 1901 census. The subsequent decline in atmospheric pollution likely contributed to the long-term improvement in health and increase in height.

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Anthocyanin and Chlorophyll Content in Flush as Selection Markers on Fine Flavor Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.)

Pelita Perkebunan (a Coffee and Cocoa Research Journal) ◽

10.22302/iccri.jur.pelitaperkebunan.v32i3.244 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 32 (3) ◽

pp. 171-180

Author(s):

Indah Anita Sari ◽

Sobir . ◽

Irvan Faizal ◽

Agung Wahyu Susilo ◽

Marcelinus A.S ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chlorophyll Content ◽

Negative Relationship ◽

Anthocyanin Content ◽

Orthogonal Contrasts ◽

Germplasm Collections ◽

A Value ◽

Randomized Design ◽

Munsell Color Chart ◽

Theobroma Cacao L ◽

Selection Markers

Level of anthocyanin content in flush is different between fine flavor cocoa and bulk cocoa. This study was aimed to determine the potential of anthocyanin and chlorophyll content in flush as one of the selection indicator for fine flavor cocoa. Flush sampling was carried out at Cocoa Germplasm Collections in Kaliwining Experimental Station, Indonesian Coffee and Cocoa Research Institute, while anthocyanin and chlorophyll analysis was conducted at Laboratory of Ma Chung Research Center for Photosynthetic Pigments, Ma Chung University, Malang.The research utilized a completely randomized design consisted of four genotypes of fine flavor cocoa, namely DR 2, ICCRI 02, DRC 16, PNT 16 and five genotypes of bulk cocoa, namely Sulawesi 1, MCC 01, MCC 02, KW 617 and PA 191.Each treatment was repeated three times. Anthocyanin and chlorophyll content in flush was measured. Anthocyanin analysis was done by destructive methods, while flush color was observed based on Munsell Color Chart for Plant Tissues Data analysis used orthogonal contrast, multivariate and simple correlation. The results showed that there were differences in flush color on fine flavor cocoa and that of bulk cocoa. The flush of the fine flavor cocoa had a tendency towards yellow and that of bulk cocoa had a tendency toward red with different levels of variation among genotypes. The analysis results of chlorophyll content in flush showed that chlorophyll content of fine flavor cocoa was higher than bulk cocoa with a range of 2376-3692 µmol/L for fine flavor cocoa and 1567-2628 µmol/L for bulk cocoa. On the contrary, anthocyanin content in fine flavor cocoa was lower than bulk cocoa with a range of 3.82-5.72 µmol/L for fine flavor cocoa and 6.01-11.88 µmol/L for bulk cocoa. The analysis results of orthogonal contrasts showed that chlorophyll content value was more stable than anthocyanin. There was negative relationship between anthocyanin and chlorophyll in flush with the regression Y = -221,1X + 3935 with a value of correlation r = -0.50. The anthocyanin and chlorophyll content in flush had a potential to be used as selection markers for fine flavor cocoa hybrid

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Genomic Analysis of the Glutathione S-Transferase Family in Pear (Pyrus communis) and Functional Identification of PcGST57 in Anthocyanin Accumulation

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms23020746 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 23 (2) ◽

pp. 746

Author(s):

Bo Li ◽

Xiangzhan Zhang ◽

Ruiwei Duan ◽

Chunhong Han ◽

Jian Yang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

Developmental Stages ◽

Genomic Analysis ◽

Pyrus Communis ◽

Anthocyanin Content ◽

Anthocyanin Accumulation ◽

Rna Seq ◽

Virus Induced Gene Silencing ◽

Functional Identification ◽

Glutathione S Transferase

Anthocyanin accumulation in vacuoles results in red coloration in pear peels. Glutathione S-transferase (GST) proteins have emerged as important regulators of anthocyanin accumulation. Here, a total of 57 PcGST genes were identified in the European pear ‘Bartlett’ (Pyrus communis) through comprehensive genomic analysis. Phylogenetic analysis showed that PcGST genes were divided into 10 subfamilies. The gene structure, chromosomal localization, collinearity relationship, cis-elements in the promoter region, and conserved motifs of PcGST genes were analyzed. Further research indicated that glutamic acid (Glu) can significantly improve anthocyanin accumulation in pear peels. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis showed that Glu induced the expression of most PcGST genes, among which PcGST57 was most significantly induced. Further phylogenetic analysis indicated that PcGST57 was closely related to GST genes identified in other species, which were involved in anthocyanin accumulation. Transcript analysis indicated that PcGST57 was expressed in various tissues, other than flesh, and associated with peel coloration at different developmental stages. Silencing of PcGST57 by virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) inhibited the expression of PcGST57 and reduced the anthocyanin content in pear fruit. In contrast, overexpression of PcGST57 improved anthocyanin accumulation. Collectively, our results demonstrated that PcGST57 was involved in anthocyanin accumulation in pear and provided candidate genes for red pear breeding.

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What we talk about when we talk about color

10.1101/2020.09.29.319517 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Colin R. Twomey ◽

Gareth Roberts ◽

David Brainard ◽

Joshua B. Plotkin

Keyword(s):

Visible Light ◽

Color Space ◽

Color Perception ◽

Geographic Location ◽

Cross Cultural ◽

Cultural Variation ◽

Inference Algorithm ◽

Color Categories ◽

New Directions ◽

Different Color

Names for colors vary widely across languages, but color categories are remarkably consistent [1–5]. Shared mechanisms of color perception help explain consistent partitions of visible light into discrete color vocabularies [6–10]. But the mappings from colors to words are not identical across languages, which may reflect communicative needs – how often speakers must refer to objects of different color [11]. Here we quantify the communicative needs of colors in 130 different languages, using a novel inference algorithm. Some regions of color space exhibit 30-fold greater demand for communication than other regions. The regions of greatest demand correlate with the colors of salient objects, including ripe fruits in primate diets. Using the mathematics of compression we predict and empirically test how languages map colors to words, accounting for communicative needs. We also document extensive cultural variation in communicative demands on different regions of color space, which is partly explained by differences in geographic location and local biogeography. This account reconciles opposing theories for universal patterns in color vocabularies, while opening new directions to study cross-cultural variation in the need to communicate different colors.

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