title: Correlations of carotenoid content and transcript abundances for fibrillin and carotenogenic enzymes in Capsicum annum fruit pericarp.
abstract: The fruits of Capsicum spp. are especially rich sites for carotenoid synthesis and accumulation, with cultivar-specific carotenoid accumulation profiles. Differences in chromoplast structure as well as carotenoid biosynthesis are correlated with distinct carotenoid accumulations and fruit color. In the present study, the inheritance of chromoplast shape, carotenoid accumulation profiles, and transcript levels of four genes were measured. Comparisons of these traits were conducted using fruit from contrasting variants, Costeño Amarillo versus Costeño Red, and from F1 hybrids; crosses between parental lines with novel versions of these traits. Intermediate chromoplast shapes were observed in the F1, but no association between specific carotenoid accumulation and chromoplast shape was detected. Increased total carotenoid content was associated with increased β-carotene and violaxanthin content. Transcript levels for phytoene synthase (Psy) and β-carotene hydroxylase (CrtZ-2) were positively correlated with increased levels of specific carotenoids. No correlation was detected between transcript levels of capsanthin/capsorubin synthase (Ccs) and carotenoid composition or chromoplast shape. Transcript levels of fibrillin, were differentially correlated with specific carotenoids, negatively correlated with accumulation of capsanthin, and positively correlated with violaxanthin. The regulation of carotenoid accumulation in chromoplasts in Capsicum fruit continues to be a complex process with multiple steps for control.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kilcrease
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Uribe
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA.
authors.forename: Richard D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Richins
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA.
authors.forename: Juan Manuel Garcia
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Arcos
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA.
authors.forename: Jesus
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Victorino
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA. Electronic address: moconnel@nmsu.edu.
authors.forename: Mary A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: O'Connell
mesh_terms: D053898:Biosynthetic Pathways; D002212:Capsicum / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D000071837:Fibrillins; D005638:Fruit / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D005838:Genotype; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018087:Plastids / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000071837:Fibrillins; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D002338:Carotenoids
keywords: Capsicum; Carotenoids; Chromoplast; Fibrillin; Pericarp; Xanthophylls