Distinct transcription profile of genes involved in carotenoid biosynthesis among six different color carrot (Daucus carota L.) cultivars.

Carotenoid, a group of lipophilic molecules, is widely distributed in nature, and is important for plant photosynthesis and photoprotection. In carrot taproot, different types of dominant carotenoid accumulation lead to yellow, orange, and red colors. In this study, six different carrot cultivars were used to simultaneously analyze carotenoid contents by high performance liquid chromatography. The expression levels of genes involved in carotenoid biosynthesis of carrot were also detected by real-time quantitative PCR. It was found that genes involved in xanthophyll formation were expressed at high levels in yellow carrot cultivars. However, these genes were expressed at low levels in orange carrot cultivars. The contents of α- and β-carotene accounted for a large proportion in total carotenoid contents in orange carrot cultivars. These results indicate that α-carotene accumulation and xanthophyll formation may be related to the expression levels of carotene hydroxylase genes in carrot.
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