Integrated Metabolomic and Transcriptomic Analyses Reveal Novel Insights of Anthocyanin Biosynthesis on Color Formation in Cassava Tuberous Roots

Abstract

Yellow roots are of higher nutritional quality and better appearance than white roots in cassava, a crucial tropical and subtropical root crop. In this work, two varieties with yellow and white cassava roots were selected to explore the mechanisms of color formation by using comparative metabolome and transcriptome analyses during seven developmental stages. Compared with the white-rooted cassava, anthocyanins, catechin derivatives, coumarin derivatives, and phenolic acids accumulated at higher levels in yellow-rooted cassava. Anthocyanins were particularly enriched and displayed different accumulation patterns during tuberous root development. This was confirmed by metabolic comparisons between five yellow-rooted and five white-rooted cassava accessions. The integrative metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis further revealed a coordinate regulation of 16 metabolites and 11 co-expression genes participating in anthocyanin biosynthesis, suggesting a vital role of anthocyanin biosynthesis in yellow pigmentation in cassava tuberous roots. In addition, two transcriptional factors, i.e., MeMYB5 and MeMYB42, were also identified to co-express with these anthocyanin biosynthesis genes. These findings expand our knowledge on the role of anthocyanin biosynthesis in cassava root color formation, and offer useful information for the genetic breeding of yellow-rooted cassava in the future.

Integrated Metabolomic and Transcriptomic Analyses Reveals Sugar Transport and Starch Accumulation in Two Specific Germplasms of Manihot esculenta Crantz

“…In this study, 299 SCMs were identified by the non-targeted metabolome in SC and PC. The quantity of SCMs in this study was significantly different from that in previous research into storage roots [ 26 , 27 ], owing to the characteristics of different cassava varieties. The composition and content of metabolites in cassava storage roots can directly affect the quality.…”

Why the adventitious roots of poplar are so colorful: RNAseq and metabolomic analysis reveal flavonols, flavones, and anthocyanins accumulation in canker pathogens-induced adventitious roots in poplar

“…Anthocyanins are the major colorants of flowers, fruits, buds, and young shoots, as well as of purple and purple-red leaves in autumn (Falcone Ferreyra et al 2012; Kayesh et al 2013; Mekapogu et al 2020; Vaknin et al 2005). Anthocyanins also accumulate and impart a red color to the roots or ARs of herbaceous plants, such as purple carrots, cassava roots, and Raphanus sativus (Chialva et al 2021; Fu et al 2022; Xiao et al 2021), and accumulate in the ARs of the woody plant Metrosideros excelsa (Solangaarachchi and Gould 2001). In this study, chemical assays illustrated that flavonoids, anthocyanins, and carotenoids significantly accumulated in poplar ARs under sunlight exposure (Figure 3C-E), and then, the metabolomic analysis identified the accumulated flavonoids metabolites as flavonols, flavones, and anthocyanins (Figure 4).…”

Integrative analysis of metabolome and transcriptome reveals the mechanism of color formation in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) leaves

“…Some specific cassava germplasms have purple leaves, which are rich in flavonoids, especially anthocyanin. Recent studies indicated that flavonoids are detected in the leaves or storage roots of cassava (Omar et al, 2012;Xiao et al, 2021;Fu et al, 2022). However, metabolomic and genetic differences in anthocyanin biosynthesis of cassava leaves in those specific germplasms are poorly understood.…”