Analysis of Key Genes Involved in Potato Anthocyanin Biosynthesis Based on Genomics and Transcriptomics Data

The accumulation of secondary metabolites, such as anthocyanins, in cells plays an important role in colored plants. The synthesis and accumulation of anthocyanins are regulated by multiple genes, of which the R2R3-MYB transcription factor gene family plays an important role. Based on the genomic data in the Potato Genome Sequencing Consortium database (PGSC) and the transcriptome data in the SRA, this study used potato as a model plant to comprehensively analyze the plant anthocyanin accumulation process. The results indicated that the most critical step in the synthesis of potato anthocyanins was the formation of p-coumaroyl-CoA to enter the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway. The up-regulated expression of the CHS gene and the down-regulated expression of HCT significantly promoted this process. At the same time, the anthocyanins in the potato were gradually synthesized during the process from leaf transport to tubers. New transcripts of stAN1 and PAL were cloned and named stAN1-like and PAL-like, respectively, but the functions of these two new transcripts still need further study. In addition, the sequence characteristics of amino acids in the R2-MYB and R3-MYB domains of potato were preliminarily identified. The aims of this study are to identify the crucial major genes that affect anthocyanin biosynthesis through multi-omics joint analysis and to transform quantitative traits into quality traits, which provides a basis and reference for the regulation of plant anthocyanin biosynthesis. Simultaneously, this study provides the basis for improving the anthocyanin content in potato tubers and the cultivation of new potato varieties with high anthocyanin content.