Anthocyanin regulatory gene expression in transgenic white clover can result in an altered pattern of pigmentation

Abstract

This study presents the first evidence of heterologous anthocyanin regulatory genes altering anthocyanin expression in stably transformed leguminous plants. Two families of anthocyanin regulatory genes, myc (delila, B-Peru) and myb (myb.Ph2, C1), are involved in the activation of the phenylpropanoid pathway. White clover (Trifolium repens cv. Haifa) plants were transformed with dicotyledonous and monocotyledonous myb or myc genes. Some of these transformed plants exhibited enhanced anthocyanin accumulation in a range of tissues. One plant, transformed with the B-Peru gene driven by the Cauliflower Mosaic Virus 35S promoter, displayed a unique pattern of anthocyanin accumulation in the leaf. The accumulation of anthocyanin in this plant was closely associated with the crescent of leaves, which is normally white. The red pigmentation declined in intensity in the oldest leaf stage. The B-Peru message was detected in all leaf stages of this white clover plant. This anthocyanin pattern was shown to be heritable.