Abstract
The expression of seven genes from the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway was determined in different tissues of Shiraz grapevines. All of the tissues contained proanthocyanidins, but only the berry skin accumulated anthocyanins. In most tissues, all of the flavonoid genes except UDP glucose-flavonoid 3-o-glucosyl transferase (UFGT) were expressed, but UFGT expression was only detected in berry skin. Similar patterns of expression were observed in the skin of other red grapes. In white grapes, UFGT expression was not detected. White grape cultivars appear to lack anthocyanins because they lack UFGT, although they also had decreased expression of other flavonoid pathway genes.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
BossPK, DaviesC, RobinsonSP: Analysis of the expression of anthocyanin pathway genes in developing Vitis vinifera L. cv. Shiraz grape berries and the implications for pathway regulation. Plant Physiol 111: 1059–1066 (1996).
BroadhurstRB, JonesWT: Analysis of condensed tannins using acidified vanillin. J Sci Food Agric 29: 788–694 (1978).
CoombeBG: Research on development and ripening of the grape berry. Am J Enol Vitic 43: 101–110 (1992).
DaviesC, RobinsonSP: Sugar accumulation in grape berries: cloning of two putative vacuolar invertase cDNAs and their expression in grapevine tissues. Plant Physiol 111: 275–283 (1996).
DoonerHK, RobbinsTP, JorgensenRA: Genetic and developmental control of anthocyanin biosynthesis. Annu Rev Genet 25: 173–199 (1991).
GeratsAGM, MartinC: Flavonoid synthesis in Petunia hybrida: genetics and molecular biology of flower colour. In: StaffordHA, IbrahimRK (eds) Recent Advances in Phytochemistry, vol. 26, pp. 165–199. Plenum Press, New York (1992).
GoodrichJ, CarpenterR, CoenES: A common gene regulates pigmentation pattern in diverse plant species. Cell 68: 955–964 (1992).
HellerW, ForkmannG: Biosynthesis. In: HarbourneJB (ed) The Flavonoids: Advances in Research since 1980, pp. 399–425. Chapman and Hall, London (1988).
HoltonTA, CornishEC: Genetics and biochemistry of anthocyanin biosynthesis. Plant Cell 7: 1071–1083 (1995).
KoesRE, QuattrocchioF, MolJNM: The flavonoid biosynthetic pathway in plants: function and evolution. BioEssays 16: 123–132 (1994).
LudwigSR, HaberaLF, DellaportaSL, WesslerSR: Lc, a member of the maize R gene family responsible for tissue-specific anthocyanin production encodes a protein similar to transcriptional activators and contains the myc-homology region. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 86: 7092–7096 (1989).
MartinC, GeratsT: The control of flower coloration. In: JordanBR (ed), The Molecular Biology of Flowering, pp. 219–255. CAB International, Wallingford, UK (1993).
Paz-AresJ, WienandU, PetersonPA, SaedlerH: Molecular cloning of the c locus of Zea mays: a locus regulating the anthocyanin pathway. EMBO J 5: 829–833 (1986).
Paz-AresJ, GhosalD, WienandU, PetersonPA, SaedlerH: The regulatory cl locus of Zea mays encodes a protein with homology to myb proto-oncogene products and with structural similarities to transcriptional activators. EMBO J 6: 3553–3558 (1987).
QuattrocchioF, WingJF, LepperHTC, MolJNM, KoesR: Regulatory genes controlling anthocyanin pigmentation are functionally conserved among plant species and have distinct sets of target genes. Plant Cell 5: 1497–1512 (1993).
SlinkardK, SingletonVL: Phenol content of grape skins and the loss of ability to make anthocyanins by mutation. Vitis 23: 175–178 (1984).
SparvoliF, MartinC, ScienzaA, GavazziG, TonelliC: Cloning and molecular analysis of structural genes involved in flavonoid and stilbene biosynthesis in grape (Vitis vinifera L.). Plant Mol Biol 24: 743–755 (1994).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Boss, P.K., Davies, C. & Robinson, S.P. Expression of anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway genes in red and white grapes. Plant Mol Biol 32, 565–569 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00019111
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00019111