Abstract
Green chrysanthemums are difficult to breed but have high commercial value. The molecular basis for the green petal color in chrysanthemum is not fully understood. This was investigated in the present study by RNA sequencing analysis of white and green ray florets collected at three stages of flower development from the F1 progeny of the cross between Chrysanthemum × morifolium “Lüdingdang” with green-petaled flowers and Chrysanthemum vistitum with white-petaled flowers. The chlorophyll content was higher and chloroplast degradation was slower in green pools than in white pools at each developmental stage. Transcriptome analysis revealed that genes that were differentially expressed between the two pools were enriched in pathways related to chlorophyll metabolism and photosynthesis. We identified the transcription factor genes CmCOLa, CmCOLb, CmERF, and CmbHLH as regulators of the green flower color in chrysanthemum by differential expression analysis and weighted gene co-expression network analysis. These findings can guide future efforts to improve the color palette of chrysanthemum flowers through genetic engineering.
Highlights
Florist’s chrysanthemum originated in China and has been cultivated for more than 1500 years [1]
Chloroplasts containing chlorophyll are the site of photosynthesis
The chlorophyll content of both the green and white florets decreased with the development of flower heads, but the rate of decrease was slower in the green pools than in the white pools (Figure 1B)
Summary
Florist’s chrysanthemum originated in China and has been cultivated for more than 1500 years [1]. While thousands of chrysanthemum cultivars in a variety of colors are available, green-colored chrysanthemum flowers are relatively rare. Flower color is an important trait that determines the commercial value of chrysanthemum cultivars, and green cultivars are admired for their beauty and rarity. Flower color is mainly determined by anthocyanin, carotenoid, and chlorophyll contents. Less is known about the role of chlorophyll in green flowers. Ornamental plants with green flowers have been reported; carnations (Dianthus caryophyllus) with pale green petals were found to contain more chlorophyll than cultivars with non-green petals [7], and the green color of chrysanthemum florets was shown to be derived from chlorophyll [8,9]
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