Genome-Wide Identification of the R2R3-MYB Gene Family in Solanum americanum and Functional Analysis of Its Role in Fruit Coloration
TL;DR
Results showed that reduced SaMYB106 expression weakened the purple color of S. americanum fruits and decreased anthocyanin content, suggesting that this gene may promote anthocyanin production in fruits.
Abstract
Simple Summary Fruit color is an important trait for understanding and utilizing plants. Anthocyanins are natural pigments that give many plant fruits their red, purple, and other colors. However, the key genes that control fruit color formation remain poorly understood in many wild plants. Solanum americanum is a wild species of the genus Solanum with potential nutritional and medicinal value. Its mature fruits show a distinct purple color, but the genetic basis underlying fruit coloration remains unclear. In this study, we analyzed genes potentially associated with fruit color formation in S. americanum and identified SaMYB106 as a candidate gene associated with purple fruit coloration. The results showed that reduced SaMYB106 expression weakened the purple color of S. americanum fruits and decreased anthocyanin content, suggesting that this gene may promote anthocyanin production in fruits. This study improves our understanding of fruit color formation in wild Solanum plants and provides a basis for identifying and utilizing genes related to fruit color.