Volatile benzenoids/phenylpropanoids are the main flower scent compounds in petunia (Petunia hybrida). Heat shock factors (HSFs), well known as the main regulator of heat stress response, have been found to be involved in the biosynthesis of benzenoid/phenylpropanoid and other secondary metabolites. In order to figure out the potential function of HSFs in the regulation of floral scent in petunia, we systematically identified the genome-wide petunia HSF genes and analyzed their expression and then the interaction between the key petunia HSF gene with target gene involved in benzenoid/phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. The results revealed that 34 HSF gene family members were obtained in petunia, and most petunia HSFs contained one intron. The phylogenetic analysis showed that 23 petunia HSFs were grouped into the largest subfamily HSFA, while only two petunia HSFs were in HSFC subfamily. The DBD domain and NLS motif were well conserved in most petunia HSFs. Most petunia HSF genes’ promoters contained STRE motifs, the highest number of cis-acting element. PhHSF19 is highly expressed in petal tubes, followed by peduncles and petal limbs. During flower development, the expression level of PhHSF19 was dramatically higher at earlier flower opening stages than that at the bud stage, suggesting that PhHSF19 may have potential roles in regulating benzenoid/phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. The expression pattern of PhHSF19 is positively related with PhPAL2, which catalyzes the first committed step in the phenylpropanoid pathway. In addition, there are three STRE elements in the promoter of PhPAL2. PhHSF19 was proven to positively regulate the expression of PhPAL2 according to the yeast one hybrid and dual luciferase assays. These results lay a theoretical foundation for further studies of the regulation of HSFs on plant flower scent biosynthesis.

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Petal color in Zinnia elegans is characterized mainly by anthocyanin accumulation. The difference in the content of anthocyanins, especially cyanidins, affects petal coloration in Z. elegans, but the underlying regulatory mechanism remains elusive. Here, we report one R2R3-MYB transcription factor from subgroup 6, ZeMYB9, acting as a positive regulator of anthocyanin accumulation in Z. elegans. Up-regulated expression of ZeMYB9 and flavonoid 3′-hydroxylase gene (ZeF3’H) was detected in the cultivar with higher cyanidin content. ZeMYB9 could specifically activate the promoter of ZeF3’H, and over-expression of ZeMYB9 induces much greater anthocyanin accumulation and higher expression level of anthocyanin biosynthetic genes in both petunia and tobacco. And then, ZeMYB9 was demonstrated to interact with ZeGL3, a bHLH transcription factor belonging to IIIf subgroup. Promoter activity of ZeF3’H was significantly promoted by co-expressing ZeMYB9 and ZeGL3 compared with expressing ZeMYB9 alone. Moreover, transient co-expression of ZeMYB9 and ZeGL3 induced anthocyanin accumulation in tobacco leaves. Our results suggest that ZeMYB9 could enhance cyanidin synthesis and regulate petal color in Z. elegans though activating the expression of ZeF3’H, by itself or interacting with ZeGL3.