Differential expression of anthocyanin biosynthesis genes in suspension culture cells of Rosa hybrida cv. Charleston

A suspension cultured cell line was established from the cultivar of Rosa hybrida ‘Charleston’ as a study model to understand the response of the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway to environmental cues. The major identified anthocyanin in cell cultures was cyanidin 3-glucoside (chrysanthemin). The anthocyanin yield was enhanced by culturing cells in the EM medium with added sucrose at high concentration under additional UV-B radiation to white light. Three cDNA fragments were cloned with degenerate primers by RT-PCR and the obtained sequences shared high homology with putative key enzymes (DFR, ANS, and UF3GT) of other species. The expression levels of these three genes were promoted under optimum conditions for anthocyanin accumulation. These results suggest that expression levels of these genes were closely correlated with a temporal buildup of anthocyanins in response to environmental factors.