Abscisic acid and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid affect the expression of anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway genes in 'Kyoho' grape berries

The effects of abscisic acid (ABA) and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) on the expression of seven anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway genes in 'Kyoho' grape berries were investigated. In untreated berries, the expression of the UDP-glucose-flavonoid: 3-O-glucosyltransferase (UFGT) gene was detected only at 42 d after full bloom (DAB), whereas the phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), chalcone synthase (CHS), chalcone isomerase (CHI), flavanone-3-hydroxylase (F3H), dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR) and leucoanthocyanidin dioxygenase (LDOX) genes were expressed throughout the growing period. ABA increased anthocyanin content in the skin and the expression of PAL, CHS, CHI, DFR and UFGT genes at 7 d after treatment. In contrast, 2,4-D inhibited the accumulation of anthocyanin and the expression of all the genes examined. The results clearly show that the anthocyanin levels resulting from the application of ABA and 2,4-D were correlated with the expression of anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway genes.