Anthocyanin Accumulation and Differential Expression of the Biosynthetic Genes Result in a Discrepancy in the Red Color of Herbaceous Peony (Paeonia lactiflora Pall.) Flowers

Herbaceous peony (Paeonia lactiflora Pall.) is an ornamental plant with huge potential in the international flower market. Similar to flowers of most other plants, top sellers P. are those red or pink flowers. However, studies on colors have focused novel and neglected common In this study, a cultivar (‘Dafugui’) (‘Qingwen’) were selected order study discrepancy color The results demonstrate that these two cultivars same compositions as anthocyanins, flavones, flavonols but different contents. ‘Dafugui’ was found high accumulation upstream substances due higher expression early genes encoding phenylalanine ammonialyase (PlPAL) flavonoid 3?-hydroxylase (PlF3?H). Moreover, anthocyanidin synthase gene (PlANS) UDP-glucose 3-O-glucosyltransferase (PlUF3GT) enzymes catalyze into resulting more redness than ‘Qingwen’. Our thus provides better understanding anthocyanin coloring mechanism can serve theoretical basis for breeding using genetic engineering techniques cater consumers’ preferences.