Abstract
In order to reveal the molecular mechanisms of unusual pigmentation patterns of flowering peach, gene expression of pink-coloured flowers and variegated ones were investigated by RTPCR Southern-hybridization. The CHS gene was strongly expressed in both of pink-coloured flower buds and variegated ones. But the DFR gene and the AS gene were strongly expressed only in pink-coloured flower buds. Therefore variegation considered to be caused by a transcription factor regulating the expression of structural genes in the later part of anthocyanin synthesis. Complementation of pigment synthesis was attempted by introducing five genes encoding Antirrhinum transcription factors into variegated flowers by particle bombardment. Red spots were reverted in petals by Rosea1 one of MYB-like transcription factors. Two MYB-like clones expressed only in pink-coloured flower buds were obtained by RTPCR cloning as a candidate responsible for the variegation.
