Multifaceted mechanisms underlying species- and cultivar-associated differential anthocyanin accumulation in fruits

Abstract Anthocyanin is responsible for the colored hues of fruit and plays a key role in determining consumer preference and marketability. Anthocyanin accumulation exhibits remarkable diversity among fruit species and cultivars, providing invaluable genetic resources for trait improvement. This review summarizes the multifaceted mechanisms underlying the differential anthocyanin accumulation in fruit between species and cultivars. There are diverse control mechanisms governing anthocyanin accumulation, including mutations in genes involved in biosynthesis, transport, and transcriptional regulation, as well as multilayered regulation through epigenetic, post-transcriptional, and post-translational processes. The discovery of these genetic variants affecting anthocyanin accumulation, along with an understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms, provides potential targets for fruit color modification through molecular breeding or biotechnological approaches.