Method for producing yellow flower by controlling flavonoid synthetic pathway
There is provided a gene coding for the amino acid sequence listed as SEQ ID NO: 2 or SEQ ID NO: 70, for example. Co-expression of the 4′CGT gene and AS gene in a plant lacking natural aurone synthesis ability is carried out to successfully accumulate aurones and alter the flower color to have a yellow tint. In addition to the expression of both genes, the flavonoid pigment synthesis pathway of the host plant itself is inhibited to obtain flowers with a more defined yellow color.
1. An isolated gene coding for a protein having the activity of transferring a sugar to the chalcone 4′-position, wherein the protein having the activity of transferring a sugar to the chalcone 4′-position has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 70.
2. The gene according to claim 1 , which is derived from the family Scrophulariaceae.
3. The gene according to claim 2 , which is derived from Antirrhinum majus or Linaria bipartita.
4. A vector comprising the gene according to claim 1 .
5. An isolated host cell transformed by the vector according to claim 4 .
6. A plant having the gene according to claim 1 introduced therein or a progeny of said plant having the same properties as said plant, wherein the progeny comprises the gene according to claim 1 , or a vegetatively propagated plant or tissue from the plant or plant progeny.
7. Flowers cut from the plant or plant progeny according to claim 6 .
8. A method for transferring a sugar to the chalcone 4′-position comprising expressing the gene according to claim 1 .
9. A plant having modified flower color obtained by introducing and expressing the gene according to claim 1 into a plant, or a progeny of said plant having the same properties as said plant, wherein the plant progeny comprises the gene according to claim 1 .
10. The plant or plant progeny according to claim 9 , wherein the flower color has a yellow tint.
11. A method for altering flower color to yellow in a plant comprising introducing and expressing the gene according to claim 1 together with a gene coding for Antirrhinum majus aureusidin synthase in a plant to alter the flower color to yellow.