| Summary: | Fig (<i>Ficus carica</i> L.), a deciduous fruit tree of the Moraceae, provides ingredients for human health such as anthocyanins. However, little information is available on its molecular structure. In this study, the fig peels in the yellow (Y) and red (R) stages were used for transcriptomic analyses. Comparing the R with the Y stage, we obtained 6224 differentially expressed genes, specifically, anthocyanin-related genes including five <i>CHS</i>, three <i>CHI</i>, three <i>DFR</i>, three <i>ANS</i>, two <i>UFGT</i> and seven <i>R2R3-MYB</i> genes. Furthermore, three anthocyanin biosynthetic genes, i.e., <i>FcCHS1</i>, <i>FcCHI1</i> and <i>FcDFR1</i>, and two <i>R2R3-MYB</i> genes, i.e., <i>FcMYB21</i> and <i>FcMYB123</i>, were cloned; sequences analysis and their molecular characteristics indicated their important roles in fig anthocyanin biosynthesis. Heterologous expression of <i>FcMYB21</i> and <i>FcMYB123</i> significantly promoted anthocyanin accumulation in both apple fruits and calli, further suggesting their regulatory roles in fig coloration. These findings provide novel insights into the molecular mechanisms behind fig anthocyanin biosynthesis and coloration, facilitating the genetic improvement of high-anthocyanin cultivars and other horticultural traits in fig fruits.
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