Biotechnology Bulletin ›› 2025, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (9): 124-138.doi: 10.13560/j.cnki.biotech.bull.1985.2025-0103

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Identification of the R2R3-MYB Gene and Expression Analysis of Flavonoid Regulatory Genes in Blueberry

LIU Jia-li(), SONG Jing-rong, ZHAO Wen-yu, ZHANG Xin-yuan, ZHAO Zi-yang, CAO Yi-bo(), ZHANG Ling-yun()   

  1. State Key Laboratory of Efficient Production of Forest Resources, Key Laboratory of Forest Silviculture and Conservation of the Ministry of Education, The College of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083
  • Received:2025-01-23 Online:2025-09-26 Published:2025-09-24
  • Contact: CAO Yi-bo, ZHANG Ling-yun E-mail:936606393@qq.com;caoyibo@bjfu.edu.cn;lyzhang@bjfu.edu.cn

Abstract:

Objective Elucidating the expression patterns of the R2R3-MYB transcription factor family in blueberry during flavonoid regulation, thereby providing a theoretical foundation for exploring the regulatory mechanisms underlying flavonoid biosynthesis in blueberry. Method Bioinformatics was used to analyze the characteristics of R2R3-MYB genes in blueberry, such as physicochemical properties and subcellular localization, and RT-qPCR was to detect the expression patterns of VcMYBs in different tissues and different fruit development stages. Result A total of 278 R2R3-MYB genes were identified in blueberry, with amino acid sequence lengths ranging from 160 to 970 aa, and most of them were located in the nucleus. The blueberry VcMYBs was divided into 23 subfamilies by phylogenetic tree analysis, and the genes belonging to the same subfamily had similar structural characteristics. Cis-acting element analysis showed that VcMYBs may be involved in biological stress, abiotic stress, hormone induction, plant growth and development, and light response. Fourteen genes (SG4, SG5, SG6 and SG7) that may be involved in the regulation of flavonoid synthesis were randomly selected for further analysis. RT-qPCR analysis showed that the most of the VcMYBs had high expressions in fruits. Among them, VcMYB91(SG6) and VcMYB56(SG5) genes were lowly expressed in the green fruit stage and highly expressed in the mature stage, suggesting that they may be involved in fruit coloring. However, VcMYB88(SG4) and VcMYB96(SG4) showed the opposite expression pattern, suggesting that they may inhibit fruit coloring. In addition, VcMYB236(SG7) and VcMYB44(SG7) genes may be involved in flavonoid synthesis. Conclusion The 278 blueberry R2R3-MYB genes were identified via genome-wide analysis. Functional dissection revealed that four genes (VcMYB56, VcMYB91, etc.) from the SG5/6 subgroups regulate anthocyanin biosynthesis, six genes (VcMYB88, VcMYB96, etc.) from the SG4/5 subgroups participate in proanthocyanidin synthesis, and two genes (VcMYB236, VcMYB44) from the SG7 subgroup may govern flavonol metabolism.

Key words: blueberry, R2R3-MYB, bioinformatics, tissue expression pattern, different fruit development stages, flavonoid synthesis