Elucidation of mechanism of biosynthesis of red-pigment, beta-citraurin, in citrus fruit

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25660023
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Horticultural science
• Research Institution: Shizuoka University
• Principal Investigator: Kato Masaya 静岡大学, 農学部, 教授 (10432197)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: β－シトラウリン / カロテノイド / カンキツ / CCD4

Outline of Final Research Achievements

β-Citraurin, a C30 apocarotenoid, is a color-imparting pigment responsible for the reddish color of citrus fruits. In the present study, we found that CitCCD4 was involved in the synthesis of β-citraurin, using two citrus varieties of Satsuma mandarin, ‘Yamashitabeni-wase’, which accumulates β-citraurin predominantly, and ‘Miyagawa-wase’, which does not accumulate β-citraurin. The expression of CitCCD4 increased significantly in the flavedo of ‘Yamashitabeni-wase’ during fruit maturation. In addition, function analysis showed that the cleavage of β-cryptoxanthin and zeaxanthin by CitCCD4 enzyme led to the formation of β-citraurin. The results suggested that CitCCD4 was a key gene regulating the biosynthesis of β-citraurin.

Free Research Field

収穫後生理学