Researchers identified 32 anthocyanin synthase (ANS) genes in the water lily species\u00a0Nymphaea colorata\u00a0and analyzed their structure, evolutionary history, and expression patterns. The study found that certain ANS genes were highly expressed in blue and red petals, while showing low activity in white flowers, directly linking gene expression with pigment production.<\/p>\n
Anthocyanins, water-soluble pigments in the flavonoid family, give rise to the vivid red, purple, and blue hues in many plants. These pigments serve ecological functions such as attracting pollinators and protecting against environmental stress.\u00a0Nymphaea\u00a0(water lilies) are ancient flowering plants that exhibit a striking diversity of petal colors, making them ideal models for color evolution and genetic studies. Previous research has highlighted anthocyanins\u2019 central role in floral coloration, but the specific regulatory genes responsible in\u00a0N. colorata\u00a0remain underexplored. Due to these knowledge gaps, a detailed investigation of the\u00a0ANS\u00a0gene family in this species is essential for understanding the molecular basis of flower color variation.<\/p>\n
A\u00a0study\u00a0(DOI: 10.48130\/tp-0025-0006)<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0published in\u00a0Tropical Plants<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>on\u00a024 March 2025\u00a0by Yang Bai & Fei Chen\u2019s team, Hainan University, not only deepens\u00a0our understanding of flower coloration in aquatic plants but also provides\u00a0a foundation for targeted breeding of ornamental plants with customized petal hues.<\/p>\n To investigate the genetic underpinnings of flower color variation in\u00a0Nymphaea colorata, researchers conducted a comprehensive analysis of the\u00a0ANS\u00a0gene family using genomic, phylogenetic, structural, and expression profiling methods. Initially, 32\u00a0NcANS\u00a0genes were identified from the\u00a0N. colorata\u00a0genome and characterized based on their chromosomal positions and physicochemical features. These genes exhibited considerable variation in protein length, molecular weight, isoelectric points, and stability, with most predicted to be hydrophilic and functionally unstable\u2014indicating diverse roles in cellular processes. Phylogenetic analysis incorporating\u00a0ANS\u00a0genes from six other plant species grouped the\u00a0NcANS\u00a0genes into seven subfamilies, highlighting both conserved and lineage-specific evolution. Motif and domain analyses revealed shared structural features such as the 2OG-FE(II)-dependent oxygenase and Diox domains, essential for anthocyanin biosynthesis. Promoter analysis uncovered a wide range of regulatory elements, including light- and hormone-responsive motifs, suggesting external stimuli may influence gene activity. Synteny and collinearity assessments revealed five syntenic gene pairs within\u00a0N. colorata\u00a0and multiple homologous genes shared with other dicotyledonous species, implying evolutionary conservation. Selection pressure analysis confirmed that the NcANS gene family has undergone purifying selection. Finally, transcriptome data and qPCR validation showed that several\u00a0NcANS\u00a0genes\u2014including\u00a0NcANS15,\u00a0NcANS16, and\u00a0NcANS19\u2014were highly expressed in red and blue petals but nearly silent in white flowers. This expression pattern corresponded with measured anthocyanin content and underscores the critical role of specific\u00a0NcANS\u00a0genes in determining petal pigmentation. These findings collectively reveal that flower color in\u00a0N. colorata\u00a0is genetically regulated through a complex and evolutionarily conserved network of\u00a0ANS\u00a0genes, providing a foundational resource for future studies in molecular breeding and floral trait manipulation.<\/p>\n These findings provide critical groundwork for developing genetically customized water lily varieties with enhanced color traits through molecular breeding. The study also opens avenues for exploring how environmental cues like light and temperature influence pigment biosynthesis via hormonal and promoter-level regulation. Moreover, dynamic expression profiling across floral development stages will help elucidate temporal gene regulation patterns. Understanding\u00a0ANS\u00a0gene networks could ultimately contribute to broader applications in horticulture, agriculture, and ecological adaptation studies.<\/p>\n ###<\/p>\n References<\/p>\n DOI<\/strong><\/p>\n 10.48130\/tp-0025-0006<\/a><\/p>\n Original Source URL<\/strong><\/p>\n https:\/\/doi.org\/10.48130\/tp-0025-0006<\/a><\/p>\n Funding information<\/strong><\/p>\n This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32172614), and Hainan Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (324RC452).<\/p>\n About\u00a0Tropical Plants<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n