Determination of Expression Level of Genes Associated with Anthocyanin Biosynthesis in Some Myrtle (Myrtus communis L) Genotypes

The Myrtle plant (Myrtus communis L.) is a plant species of the Myrtaceae family and a member of the maquis community, which naturally spreads in Mediterranean regions. Being resistant to arid conditions, the ecological distribution areas of the myrtle plant have been allowed to expand. The myrtle plant has been used of medicinal and aromatic plants, having interesting and beautiful flowers, and rich nutrient content of the fruit in terms of valuable phytochemicals, in particular, the nutritional content of its fruits and valuable metabolites have allowed the myrtle plant to be among the healthier foods. Antioxidant activity, which neutralizes reactive oxygen species (ROS), which causes many medical problems, is one of the most important features of the myrtle plant. Investigation of the biosynthesis of anthocyanin, which leads to antioxidant activity, and determination of the biosynthesis in different tissues and genotypes is important, especially in the development of production activities. Furthermore, this study aimed to investigate the anthocyanin biosynthesis in different genotypes with white and black fruits and various tissues of genotypes. For this purpose, the expression levels of CHS, CHI, F3H and PAL genes, which are involved in the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway, were determined by qRT-PCR. In the study, it was determined that there was an increase in the level of genes related to the biosynthesis of anthocyanin in the leaf and fruit tissues of the genotype with white fruits. It was determined that the expression level of genes related to the biosynthesis of anthocyanin was observed to be higher in the leaf and fruit tissues of the genotype with black fruits, and the highest gene expression level was found in black fruits. It was observed that anthocyanin biosynthesis was synthesized in different tissues of the plant, and anthocyanin biosynthesis was higher in fruits compared to leaves.