Bulk Segregant RNA-Seq to Investigate the Production of Anthocyanins in Potato Corollas

Anthocyanins are secondary metabolites, widespread throughout the plant kingdom, which provide pigment to the tubers, flowers, stems and leaves of the staple crop potato.  They function to mitigate stress and attract pollinators as well as provide a dietary antioxidant. While the enzymes which lead to their genesis are relatively well parsed, their tissue specific regulation remains somewhat obscure. We used Bulk Segregant Analysis paired with high throughput RNA sequencing (BSA-RNA-seq) to identify a MYB transcription factor potentially responsible for the regulation of anthocyanin accumulation in potato floral organs in a population of diploid potatoes derived from a cross between a homozygous maternal and heterozygous paternal parent. Additionally we identified 78 genes, most of which do not occur in the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway, that were differentially expressed between purple and white corolla bulks. Many of these genes likely function in a peripheral capacity, such as anthocyanin modification, transportation, and sequestration. Ontological analysis and production of transgenics for validation of the candidate transcription factor and its effect on other differentially expressed genes is underway.