Plant pigmentation is a crucial aspect of plant biology, encompassing a diverse array of functions, from attracting pollinators to protecting against environmental stressors. Carotenoids and anthocyanins are two major classes of pigments, responsible for the vivid yellows, oranges, reds, and purples observed in various plant tissues. The biosynthesis and accumulation of these pigments are highly regulated processes, influenced by complex genetic and environmental interactions. For example, RcMYB1, an R2R3-MYB transcription factor, is not only involved in the metabolic regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis but also contributes to the accumulation of carotenoids in roses. Understanding the co-regulation of carotenoid and anthocyanin pathways is pivotal for advancing our knowledge of plant growth, development, and adaptation, as well as for optimizing these pigments' use in agriculture and industry for nutritional and aesthetic purposes.
Despite significant advancements, the intricacies of how carotenoid and anthocyanin pathways are co-regulated within plant systems remain elusive. This is partly attributed to the intricate interplay among transcription factors, signaling pathways, and environmental cues. Moreover, it is also due to the limitation of current metabolic detection methods for carotenoids and anthocyanins, which fail to simultaneously detect these compounds with adequate accuracy and efficiency. There is a need to delineate the regulatory networks governing the expression of key biosynthetic genes, the cross-talk between different pigmentation pathways, and the impact of external factors on these processes. The primary aim of this Research Topic is to consolidate current knowledge and stimulate new research into the genetic, biochemical, and ecological dimensions of carotenoid and anthocyanin co-regulation. By achieving this, researchers hope to enhance breeding strategies for improved crop varieties with enhanced nutritional quality and stress resilience, as well as expand the use of pigments in biotechnological applications.
This Research Topic welcomes original research articles, reviews, and perspectives that address the co-regulation of carotenoid and anthocyanin pathways in plants, particularly focusing on:
• Molecular mechanisms underlying carotenoid and anthocyanin biosynthesis.
• Interactions between transcription factors and other regulatory proteins, as well as downstream structural genes.
• Impact of light, temperature, and other environmental factors on pigment biosynthesis.
• Genetic manipulation of pigment pathways for agricultural or industrial applications.
• Comparative studies of pigments across different plant species and tissues.
• Use of omics technologies to unravel complex pigment regulatory networks.
• Role of carotenoids and anthocyanins in plant stress responses.
• Advanced omics technologies, such as single-cell sequencing, spatial transcriptomics, and spatial metabolomics, employed in studying pigment regulation.
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