StWRKY13 promotes anthocyanin biosynthesis in potato (Solanum tuberosum) tubers
Huiling Zhang
A , Zhonghua Zhang A , Yanan Zhao A , Dalong Guo A , Xijuan Zhao B C , Wen Gao A , Juping Zhang A and Botao Song B *
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471000, People’s Republic of China.
B Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology, Ministry of Education, and Key Laboratory of Potato Biology and Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, People’s Republic of China.
C College of Horticulture, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, People’s Republic of China.
Functional Plant Biology 49(1) 102-114 https://doi.org/10.1071/FP21109
Submitted: 14 April 2021 Accepted: 22 October 2021 Published: 19 November 2021
© 2022 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing
Abstract
Although the role of WRKY transcription factors (TFs) in colour formation has been reported in several species, their function in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) anthocyanin biosynthesis remains unclear. In this study, the potato WRKY gene StWRKY13 was isolated and characterised. Expression analysis revealed a significantly higher StWRKY13 expression in chromatic tubers than in yellow ones. Transient activation assays showed that StWRKY13 could enhance the role of StAN2 in promoting anthocyanin biosynthesis in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.). Over-expressing the StWRKY13 gene promoted anthocyanin biosynthesis in potato tubers. Further investigations indicated that StWRKY13 could interact with the StCHS, StF3H, StDFR, and StANS gene promoters and significantly enhance their activities. Our findings showed that StWRKY13 could promote anthocyanin biosynthesis by activating StCHS, StF3H, StDFR, and StANS transcription in potato tubers, thereby supporting the theoretical basis for anthocyanins formation in coloured potato tubers.
Keywords: anthocyanin biosynthesis, expression analysis, over-expressing, potato, promote, StWRKY13, transcription activation, transcription factor.
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