Scientia Agricultura Sinica ›› 2025, Vol. 58 ›› Issue (23): 5046-5056.doi: 10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.23.018

• HYBRIDIZATION BREEDING AND GERMPLASM INNOVATION IN PAEONIA • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Analysis of Red Color Leaf Traits in Tree Peony Based on Leaf Color Phenotypes and Anthocyanin Accumulation Characteristics

WEI ChenXi(), DONG ShanRong, WANG XiaoMan, LUO JianRang*()   

  1. College of Landscape Architecture and Arts, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi
  • Received:2025-08-04 Accepted:2025-09-15 Online:2025-12-01 Published:2025-12-09
  • Contact: LUO JianRang

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Abstract:

【Objective】 Tree peony, renowned for its ornamental flowers, also serves as a spring foliage plant due to the striking purple-red coloration of its young leaves. Elucidating the physiological mechanisms and key genes underlying red color leaf traits provides a theoretical basis for breeding ornamental foliage cultivars. 【Method】 Leaf samples were collected at six developmental stages from Paeonia qiui and P. Luoyang Hong. Leaf color parameters were measured using a colorimeter. Anthocyanin and chlorophyll contents were quantified through enzymatic methods. The composition of anthocyanins was analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Furthermore, quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) was utilized to examine the expression levels of structural genes involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis. 【Result】 Phenotypic observations and colorimetric analyses revealed that P. qiui exhibits a higher redness and a prolonged red-leaf period that persists until flowering. Conversely, P. Luoyang Hong displays red coloration in its young leaves during the early stages, but this red hue rapidly transitions to green following leaf expansion. HPLC analysis revealed that both tree peonies had peonidin-3,5-diglucoside (Pn3G5G) as the main anthocyanin component in leaves. The total anthocyanin content in P. qiui was significantly higher than that in P. Luoyang Hong, with the most pronounced difference observed during the S4 stage. qPCR results showed that the expression levels of CHS, DFR, and ANS in P. qiui were consistent with the trend in anthocyanin content. Correlation analysis further revealed a highly significant positive correlation between DFR expression levels and anthocyanin content, as well as a significant positive correlation for ANS. These findings underscore the critical role of DFR and ANS as key structural genes in anthocyanin biosynthesis. Similarly, in P. Luoyang Hong, the expression levels of CHS, F3H, DFR, and ANS generally aligned with the trends in anthocyanin content. Correlation analysis confirmed that both DFR and ANS expression levels were significantly positively correlated with anthocyanin content. 【Conclusion】 The primary pigment responsible for the red coloration in the leaves of P. qiui and P. Luoyang Hong is peonidin-3,5-diglucoside. DFR and ANS are key structural genes in the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway of tree peony. Their expression levels are closely associated with anthocyanin accumulation, which in turn influences the formation of red leaf coloration in peonies.

Key words: tree peony, Paeonia qiui, leaf color, anthocyanin, structural genes

Fig. 1

Leaf phenotypes at different developmental stages in P. qiui and P. Luoyang Hong A: Leaf phenotypes of P. qiui at different developmental stages; B: Leaf phenotypes of P. Luoyang Hong at different developmental stages"

Table 1

Primers for qPCR"

基因 Gene name 正向引物 Forward primer (5′-3′) 反向引物 Reverse primer (5′-3′)
PqCHS, PsCHS TAGTCCCGGATAGCGATGGT TGCCTGGTCGCTTGTAGTTT
PqCHI, PsCHI GTCAGCGGAGTCAAGATTGAA AATATCCCGGAAGAAGTCGTC
PqF3H, PsF3H ACGAAATCCCAATCATCTCCC CTATTTCACGCCAATCTCGCA
PqF3’H, PsF3’H CAAGGCCGACAAATTCAAGGA ACCCTCGCTATCAACATCATC
PqDFR, PsDFR TGGTGGATGGAAGCTTTGATG TAAACTCCATGTCACTCCAGC
PqANS, PsANS CAGCATCACCAACATCTTCGA CAGCAATCTTCCCAGTCTCTT
PqUFGT, PsUFGT ACCATCATCCGCTACCTTTC CACTAAACAGCTCACCTTCC

Table 2

Leaf color data based on the RHSCC in P. qiui and P. Luoyang Hong"

种类 Species 时期 Period 英国皇家园艺学会比色卡 RHSCC
卵叶牡丹
P. qiui		 S1 红色组47B Red group 47B
S2 红色组47A Red group 47A
S3 灰红组181B Greyed-red group 181B
S4 灰红组182B Greyed-red group 182B
S5 灰红组177C Greyed-red group 177C
S6 绿色组135C Green group 135C
洛阳红
P. Luoyang Hong		 S1 红色组45C Red group 45C
S2 灰红组180C Greyed-red group 180C
S3 灰红组176D Greyed-red group 176D
S4 绿色组143C Green group 143C
S5 绿色组141C Green group 141C
S6 绿色组139B Green group 139B

Fig. 2

Leaf color indices of P. qiui and P. Luoyang Hong"

Fig. 3

Pigment contents of leaves at different developmental stages of P. qiui and P. Luoyang Hong A: Anthocyanin extracts and chlorophyll extracts; B: Anthocyanin content in leaves; C: Chlorophyll content in leaves. Different lowercase letters indicate significant differences at P<0.05 level. The same as below"

Fig. 4

Anthocyanin composition and content at different developmental stages of P. qiui and P. Luoyang Hong"

Fig. 5

Expression analysis of genes related to anthocyanin synthesis at different developmental stages of P. qiui and P. Luoyang Hong"

Fig. 6

Correlation analysis between anthocyanin content and structural gene expression in the leaves of P. qiui and P. Luoyang Hong"

Fig. 7

A schematic model of red leaf development in tree peonies during spring"

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