Transcriptome Analysis and Metabolic Profiling of Anthocyanins Accumulation in Loropetalum Chinense var. Rubrum With Different Colors of Leaf

Abstract Background: Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum is a typical colorful ornamental and medicinal plant. However, the coloration information and potential colorful molecular mechanisms of its leaves remain unclear. We analyzed structural and regulatory genes for flavonoid metabolites and anthocyanin biosynthesis in 3 kinds color of leaves（PL, pink leaves; ML, middle color leaves; GL, green leaves) of L. chinense var. rubrum.Results: Metabolic detection to the samples showed that there were significant differences in the metabolites accumulated in different color leaves. Meanwhile, transcriptome indicated that DFR, ANR and UFGT genes in L. chinense var. rubrum might be one of the reasons for the accumulation of anthocyanin in ML and GL. We also found that several key members of the MYB, BHLH, and WD40 gene families played important roles in regulating the accumulation of flavonoids in plants, which were considered to be the main drivers of transcriptional changes in different colors of L. chinense var. rubrum leaves. Our findings provided a comprehensive data set for the metabolism and transcription of L. chinense var. rubrum as well as candidate structures and transcription factors information related to leaf pigmentation.Conclusions: The conclusion would provide useful information for elucidating the formation of leaf color and anthocyanin accumulation in L. chinense var. rubrum，which could also explain the color variation in its leaves.