The mechanisms underpinning anthocyanin accumulation in a red-skinned bud sport in pear ( Pyrus ussuriensis )

Key message In our study, we demonstrated that histone acetylation promotes anthocyanin accumulation in pears by affecting the expression of key genes. Abstract Color is an important trait of horticultural plants, and the anthocyanin content directly affects the nutritional value and commercial value of colored fruits. Therefore, it is important for fruit breeding to cultivate new varieties with bright colors. ‘Nanhong’ (NH) pear ( Pyrus ussuriensis ) is a bud sport cultivar of ‘Nanguo’ (NG) pear. The anthocyanin content in NH pear is significantly higher than that in NG pear, but the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear. Here, we observed that the anthocyanin biosynthesis structural gene PuUFGT (UDP-glucose: flavonoids 3-O-glucosyltransferase) and an anthocyanin transporter gene PuGSTF6 (glutathione S-transferase) had significantly higher expression levels in NH than in NG pears during the late stages of fruit development. Meanwhile, the R2R3-MYB transcription factor PuMYB110a was also highly expressed in NH pears and could positively regulate the transcription of PuUFGT and PuGSTF6 . Overexpression of PuMYB110a in pear increased the fruit anthocyanin content. In addition, despite no significant differences in methylation levels being found in the promoters of PuMYB110a , PuUFGT , and PuGSTF6 when comparing the two varieties, the histone acetylation levels of PuMYB110a were significantly higher in NH pear compared with those in NG pear. Our findings suggest a mechanism for anthocyanin accumulation in NH fruit.