Expression of Anthocyanin Genes in Potato Periderm

Anthocyanins are a class of flavonoids that are responsible for pigments in flowers, fruit, and potato periderm. Developing `Norland' potatoes synthesize anthocyanins in periderm tissue when the tubers are mere swollen stolon tips. As the tubers enlarge, anthocyanin accumulation seems to stop, and anthocyanins synthesized early in development seem to be diluted as the tubers enlarge. Expression of dihydroflavonol reductase (DFR) limits anthocyanin synthesis in grape and maize fruit, and in petunia and snapdragon flowers. However, DFR expression in periderm tissue occurred throughout tuber development (Hung et al., 1999). To determine if expression of late anthocyanin pathway genes limit anthocyanin synthesis in developing potato tubers, we performed RNA gel blot analyses. Expression of leucoanthocyanidin dioxygenase and UDP glucose: flavonoid 3-O-glucosyl transferase was observed in swollen stolon tips but not in periderm of later tuber development stages. Surprisingly, expression was also observed in cortex tissue, although that tissue remained white throughout tuber growth.