A new petunia flower colour generated by transformation of a mutant with a maize gene

Petunia hybrida is one of the classical subjects of investigation in plants in which the pathway of anthocyanin biosynthesis has been analysed genetically and biochemically. In petunia cyanidin- and delphinidin-derivatives, but no pelargonidin-derivatives are produced as pigments. This is due to the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nature (London) Vol. 330; no. 6149; p. 677
Main Authors: Meyer, P, Heidmann, I, Forkmann, G, Saedler, H
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: England 17.12.1987
Subjects:
DNA, Recombinant
Flavonols
Oxidoreductases - genetics
Pigmentation
Pigments, Biological - biosynthesis
Plants - genetics
Quercetin - analogs & derivatives
Quercetin - metabolism
Transformation, Genetic
Zea mays - genetics
ISSN:0028-0836
Online Access:Get more information
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Summary:Petunia hybrida is one of the classical subjects of investigation in plants in which the pathway of anthocyanin biosynthesis has been analysed genetically and biochemically. In petunia cyanidin- and delphinidin-derivatives, but no pelargonidin-derivatives are produced as pigments. This is due to the substrate specificity of the dihydroflavonol 4-reductase of petunia, which cannot reduce dihydrokaempferol. The petunia mutant RL01, which accumulates dihydrokaempferol, shows no flower pigmentation. RL01 served as a recipient for the transfer of the A1 gene of Zea mays encoding dihydroquercetin 4-reductase, which can reduce dihydrokaempferol and thereby provided the intermediate for pelargonidin biosynthesis. Transformation of RL01 with a vector p35A1, containing the A1-complementary DNA behind the 35S promotor leads to red flowers of the pelargonidin-type. Thus a new flower pigmentation pathway has been established in these plants.
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ISSN:0028-0836
DOI:10.1038/330677a0