pigmentation
Pigmentation refers to the natural pigments—such as anthocyanins, carotenoids, and chlorophylls—that give plant tissues their color through specialized biosynthetic pathways. Studying these pathways helps researchers understand how plants attract pollinators, defend against UV damage and pests, and respond to environmental stress. Insights into pigmentation genetics also enable breeders to develop ornamental varieties with novel flower colors and crops with enhanced nutritional or stress-resistant traits.
open_in_new WikipediaPubMed · 2026-07-04
Scientists used CRISPR gene editing to disable a key enzyme in petunia flowers and discovered that disrupting one step in the color-making pathway unexpectedly shrinks flowers, reduces leaf mass, and lowers chlorophyll levels across the whole plant.
CRISPR disruption of DFR reduced floral dimensions by 20-40% and leaf biomass by 30-50%, revealing growth consequences beyond pigment loss.
Chlorophyll and carotenoid levels dropped 35-60% in petals of edited plants, and a key chlorophyll-synthesis gene (PORA) was suppressed by 60-75%.
Transcriptional profiling showed the competing enzyme flavonol synthase (FLS) increased nearly twofold while upstream pathway genes CHSA and CHIA were downregulated, indicating metabolic flux rerouting.
