Environmental Stimuli and Phytohormones in Anthocyanin Biosynthesis: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

Anthocyanin accumulation in plants plays important roles in plant growth and development, as well as the response to environmental stresses. Anthocyanins have antioxidant properties and play an important role in maintaining the reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis in plant cells. Furthermore, anthocyanins also act as a “sunscreen”, reducing the damage caused by ultraviolet radiation under high-light conditions. The biosynthesis of anthocyanin in plants is mainly regulated by an MYB-bHLH-WD40 (MBW) complex. In recent years, many new regulators in different signals involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis were identified. This review focuses on the regulation network mediated by different environmental factors (such as light, salinity, drought, and cold stresses) and phytohormones (such as jasmonate, abscisic acid, salicylic acid, ethylene, brassinosteroid, strigolactone, cytokinin, and auxin). We also discuss the potential application value of anthocyanin in agriculture, horticulture, and the food industry.

Transcriptome Analysis of White- and Red-Fleshed Apple Fruits Uncovered Novel Genes Related to the Regulation of Anthocyanin Biosynthesis

“…The putative mechanism of gene regulation of the plant hormone and transduction pathway is presented in the scheme below (Figure 12). In accordance with the presented scheme, a similar observation was described by Su, Shi and coworkers [28,34]. They postulated that the structural genes from the anthocya- In parallel, based on our observations, we found a significant inactivation of the genes NPR1 and MYC2, responsible for salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA) signal transduction, respectively, influencing the negative correlation with anthocyanin regulation in apple fruits.…”

“…In accordance with the presented scheme, a similar observation was described by Su, Shi and coworkers [28,34]. They postulated that the structural genes from the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway were up-regulated in apple calli, suppressing the expression of the brassinosteroids resistant gene (BZR1) (BR accumulation = anthocyanin pathway activation).…”

“…In this regard, previous research by Sohn et al and summarized by Wang and Chang explained the role of JA in the regulation of secondary metabolites, plant defense response, and organ development [7,40]. Moreover, later studies by Qi, An, and coworkers showed that the activation of MYB and bHLH significantly correlated with anthocyanin accumulation in A. thaliana and it is promoted by complex mechanisms, including the degradation of a repressor protein (the so-called JA ZIM DOMAIN) [34,41,42]. Recent reports of Wang et al also underline the role of jasmonic acid as a signaling factor influencing the MYB24L gene and affecting anthocyanin biosynthesis [24].…”

“…They postulated that the structural genes from the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway were up-regulated in apple calli, suppressing the expression of the brassinosteroids resistant gene (BZR1) (BR accumulation = anthocyanin pathway activation). They also reported that the interaction of BZR1 with MdJa2 modulates the target gene transcription and generally regulates plant response to brassinosteroids [28,34]. Based on an observation of apple calli development, Zheng and coworkers also underlined anthocyanin biosynthesis regulation by plant hormones, including brassinosteroids, which strictly influenced their accumulation [35].…”

Anthocyanin gene enrichment in the distal region of cotton chromosome A07: mechanisms of reproductive organ coloration

“…Alternatively, colored anthocyanins can be reduced to epicatechins by anthocyanin reductase (ANR), or directly to catechins by leucoanthocyanidin reductase (LAR), which then polymerize to form proanthocyanidins in the vacuole ( Zhao et al., 2010 ; Yu et al., 2023 ). The activity of these enzymes is regulated by v-myb avian myeloblastosis viral oncogene homolog (MYB), WD40, and basic Helix-Loop-Helix (bHLH) transcription factors, highlighting a complex control mechanism over the biosynthetic pathway ( Petroni and Tonelli, 2011 ; Yan et al., 2021 ; Shi et al., 2023 ).…”