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Abstract

We obtained a white-peel eggplant (L6-5) by EMS mutation in our previous study, whose total anthocyanin content was significantly decreased as compared with that of wild-type (WT). To analyse the anthocyanin biosynthesis mechanism in eggplants, we analysed the eggplant peel by RNA-seq in this study. The transcript results revealed upregulation of 465 genes and downregulation of 525 genes in L6-5 as compared with the WT eggplant. A total of 11 anthocyanin biosynthesis structure genes were significantly downregulated in L6-5 as compared with that in WT. Meanwhile, on the basis of the RT-PCR results of four natural eggplant cultivars, the expression pattern of 11 anthocyanin biosynthesis structure genes was consistent with the anthocyanin content. Thus, we speculated the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway in eggplant peel. The transcript and RT-PCR results suggested positive regulation of MYB1, MYB108 and TTG8 and negative regulation of bHLH36 in anthocyanin biosynthesis. This study enhanced our cumulative knowledge about anthocyanin biosynthesis in eggplant peels.