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Plant hues: decoding the apocarotenoid color palette
Matteo Nava1,2, Eleonora Fabene1,2, Sarah Frusciante2
1University of Tuscia, Department of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences (DAFNE), Via San Camillo de Lellis, 01100 Viterbo, Italy.
Journal of Experimental Botany
|July 30, 2026
Summary
Pigmented apocarotenoids, derived from carotenoids, play vital roles in plants. This review explores their distribution, biosynthesis, and adaptive significance, highlighting potential applications.
Area of Science:
- Plant biochemistry and specialized metabolism.
- Natural product chemistry and biosynthesis.
- Evolutionary biology and ecological interactions.
Background:
- Apocarotenoids are specialized metabolites formed by carotenoid cleavage, with pigmented forms being understudied.
- These compounds have diverse physiological, ecological, and communication roles in plants.
- Understanding apocarotenoids is crucial for exploring plant adaptations and natural product applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current knowledge on pigmented apocarotenoids.
- To emphasize their organ-specific distribution, biosynthesis, and adaptive significance.
- To highlight their potential in ethnobotany, industry, and biotechnology.
Main Methods:
- Critical review of existing literature on apocarotenoids and their biosynthesis.
- Focus on carotenoid cleavage dioxygenases (CCDs) and their enzymatic activity.
- Case study analysis of ethnobotanically relevant species and their apocarotenoid functions.
Main Results:
- Apocarotenoid pigments exhibit specific organ distribution and are regulated by CCD enzymes.
- These pigments contribute to pollinator attraction, stress tolerance, and allelopathy.
- Several under-explored species possess rare apocarotenoids with potential industrial value.
Conclusions:
- Further characterization of apocarotenoids will advance our understanding of specialized metabolism evolution.
- Apocarotenoids hold promise for applications in food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.
- Metabolic engineering strategies targeting biosynthetic enzymes are key for biotechnological production.
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