Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses reveal novel R2R3-MYB transcription factors control anthocyanin biosynthesis in broccoli.

Quan Zhang, Shuhui Song, Holger Budahn, Ning Liu, Yunhua Ding

Abstract read

In one paragraph

Article in BMC plant biology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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1citing papers in PubMed

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3 · Its place in the literature

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1 citing paper in PubMed.

Comparative Transcriptomic Analysis of Chlorophyll Metabolism in Broccoli Under Preharvest 1-MCP Application Versus Pre-Cooling Combined with Cold Chain Storage.Foods (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026
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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Quan ZhangState Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Beijing Vegetable Research Center, National Engineering Research Center for Vegetables, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Science, Beijing, 100097, China.

Shuhui SongInstitute of Agri-food Processing and Nutrition, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, 100097, China.

Holger BudahnFederal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Institute for Breeding Research on Horticultural Crops, Julius Kuehn-Institute (JKI), Erwin-Baur-Strasse 27, D-06484, Quedlinburg, Germany.

Ning LiuState Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Beijing Vegetable Research Center, National Engineering Research Center for Vegetables, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Science, Beijing, 100097, China.

Yunhua DingState Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Beijing Vegetable Research Center, National Engineering Research Center for Vegetables, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Science, Beijing, 100097, China. dingyunhua@nercv.org.

Funding

Foreign High end Expert Invitation Project of Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences 2024-06International Science and Technology Cooperation Platform Construction Project of Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences 2024-15Research Project of Beijing Vegetable Research Center KYCX202303the Scientific and technological innovation capacity building project of BAAFS KJCX20251008Youth Fund of Youth Fund of Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences QNJJ202432

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Green broccoli is a very frequently consumed, nutrient-rich vegetable, whereas purple broccoli, known for its high anthocyanin content, is not so common. To investigate the anthocyanin biosynthesis in broccoli, one green broccoli and four purple broccolis were subjected to integrative analyses with metabolomics and transcriptomics. Our comprehensive examination revealed that in difference to other Brassica vegetables, the main anthocyanins accumulating in purple broccoli are delphinidin compounds, especially delphinidin-3-O-glucoside-5-O-galactoside. Transcriptomic analysis demonstrated significant variations in the expression levels of genes such as BoF3'H, BoDFR, and BoANS among the samples, suggesting the involvement of upstream transcription factors, regulating these genes. Furthermore, the integration of transcriptomic data and transient functional validation identified two MYB transcription factors, BoMYB147 and BoMYB148, as key regulators of anthocyanin biosynthesis. In conclusion, this study identifies the types of anthocyanins present in purple broccoli and enhances the understanding of the regulatory genes involved in anthocyanin synthesis. It provides genetic insights and a conceptual framework for future molecular breeding strategies directed toward enhancing the quality of purple broccoli varieties.

Indexed as

AnthocyaninsBrassicaPlant ProteinsTranscription FactorsTranscriptomeGene Expression ProfilingGene Expression Regulation, PlantMetabolomicsAnthocyaninsPlant ProteinsTranscription FactorsAnthocyaninBroccoliMetabolomicsMYBTranscriptomics

Identifiers

PMID41068591

DOI10.1186/s12870-025-07298-9

PMCPMC12512743

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.