Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41351315›Full record

ArticlePlant biotechnology journal2026

Two Indel Variations in the Regulated Carotenoid Pigment Gene Hold the Key to the Interspecies Flower Colour Differentiation in Liriodendron Plants.

Lichun Yang, Hainan Wu, Manli Bu, Huanhuan Liu, Yufang Shen, Hui Xia, Yaxian Zong, Jing Wang, Huogen Li

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Plant biotechnology journal, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Lichun YangState Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
Hainan WuState Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
Manli BuState Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
Huanhuan LiuSchool of Landscape Architecture, Jiangsu Vocational College of Agriculture and Forestry, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China.
Yufang ShenCAS Key Laboratory of Plant Germplasm Enhancement and Specialty Agriculture, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
Hui XiaThe Laboratory of Forestry Genetics, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, Hunan, China.
Yaxian ZongState Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
Jing WangState Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
Huogen LiState Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.

Funding

National Key Research and Development Program of China 2022YFD2200104National Natural Science Foundation of China 32201591National Natural Science Foundation of China 32371910Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions (PAPD)
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Flower colour variation is pivotal for plant evolution, ecological adaptation, and pollinator attraction. In the Liriodendron genus, L. tulipifera features a distinct orange petal stripe which is absent in L. chinense, driven by differential carotenoid accumulation, yet the underlying genetic mechanism remains unclear. To address this, we assembled a high-quality 1.57 Gb genome of L. tulipifera 'MSL' and analysed comparative transcriptome data to identify carotenoid biosynthesis-related regulatory factors. Transcriptomic analysis revealed specific activation of the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway in the orange stripe region of L. tulipifera, with specific expression of the lycopene ε-cyclase gene (LCYE). A subgroup 2 R2R3-MYB transcription factor, designated RCP (Regulated Carotenoid Pigment), was found to bind the LCYE promoter and promote carotenoid biosynthesis. Notably, two indel variants (24 and 15 bp) in the third exon of L. chinense LcRCP altered its function, reducing LCYE activation and carotenoid content, and these variants are widespread in natural L. chinense populations. Transient expression assays in N. benthamiana and Liriodendron leaves showed L. tulipifera LtRCP promoted carotenoid accumulation, while LcRCP inhibited it. Our findings uncover a natural regulatory variation governing interspecific flower colour divergence in Liriodendron, providing new insights into carotenoid pathway regulation and its role in floral trait evolution.

Indexed as

CarotenoidsFlowersINDEL MutationLiriodendronPigmentationGene Expression Regulation, PlantGenes, PlantPlant ProteinsTranscription FactorsTranscriptomeCarotenoidsPlant ProteinsTranscription Factorscarotenoidcolour variationindel variationLiriodendronR2R3‐MYB

Identifiers

PMID41351315
PMCPMC13140491

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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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.