Anthocyanin regulatory gene expression in transgenic white clover can result in an altered pattern of pigmentation

This study presents the first evidence of heterologous anthocyanin regulato ry genes altering anthocyanin expression in stably transformed leguminous p lants. Two families of anthocyanin regulatory genes, myc (delila, B-Peru) a nd myb (myb.Ph2, C1), are involved in the activation of the phenylpropanoid pathway. White clover (Trifolium repens cv. Haifa) plants were transformed with dicotyledonous and monocotyledonous myb or myc genes. Some of these t ransformed plants exhibited enhanced anthocyanin accumulation in a range of tissues. One plant, transformed with the B-Peru gene driven by the Caulifl ower Mosaic Virus 35S promoter, displayed a unique pattern of anthocyanin a ccumulation in the leaf. The accumulation of anthocyanin in this plant was closely associated with the crescent of leaves, which is normally white. Th e red pigmentation declined in intensity in the oldest leaf stage. The B-Pe ru message was detected in all leaf stages of this white clover plant. This anthocyanin pattern was shown to be heritable.