Anthocyanin accumulation and expression pattern of anthocyanin biosynthesis genes in developing wheat coleoptiles

Abstract

Anthocyanin accumulation and expression pattern of anthocyanin biosynthesis genes were investigated in developing coleoptiles of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). In epidermal cell layers of the growing coleoptiles of cv. Hope, anthocyanins started to accumulate between day 2 and 3 after germination, reached their maximum on day 6 and then decreased while another cultivar, Chinese Spring (CS) did not accumulate anthocyanin pigments. None of the six anthocyanin biosynthesis genes was upregulated in coleoptiles of both cvs. grown in the dark, whereas all genes were activated by light in coleoptiles of cv. Hope. Transcript levels of all the six genes were relatively low on day 2, increased from days 3 to 5 and then declined to almost non-detectable levels on day 6. In coleoptiles of CS grown in the light, the early biosynthesis genes (EBGs) were expressed, but the three late biosynthesis genes (LBGs) were not.