@misc{iorizzo_curaba_pottorff_ferruzzi_simon_cavagnaro_2020, title={Carrot Anthocyanins Genetics and Genomics: Status and Perspectives to Improve Its Application for the Food Colorant Industry}, volume={11}, ISSN={["2073-4425"]}, DOI={10.3390/genes11080906}, abstractNote={Purple or black carrots (Daucus carota ssp. sativus var. atrorubens Alef) are characterized by their dark purple- to black-colored roots, owing their appearance to high anthocyanin concentrations. In recent years, there has been increasing interest in the use of black carrot anthocyanins as natural food dyes. Black carrot roots contain large quantities of mono-acylated anthocyanins, which impart a measure of heat-, light- and pH-stability, enhancing the color-stability of food products over their shelf-life. The genetic pathway controlling anthocyanin biosynthesis appears well conserved among land plants; however, different variants of anthocyanin-related genes between cultivars results in tissue-specific accumulations of purple pigments. Thus, broad genetic variations of anthocyanin profile, and tissue-specific distributions in carrot tissues and organs, can be observed, and the ratio of acylated to non-acylated anthocyanins varies significantly in the purple carrot germplasm. Additionally, anthocyanins synthesis can also be influenced by a wide range of external factors, such as abiotic stressors and/or chemical elicitors, directly affecting the anthocyanin yield and stability potential in food and beverage applications. In this study, we critically review and discuss the current knowledge on anthocyanin diversity, genetics and the molecular mechanisms controlling anthocyanin accumulation in carrots. We also provide a view of the current knowledge gaps and advancement needs as regards developing and applying innovative molecular tools to improve the yield, product performance and stability of carrot anthocyanin for use as a natural food colorant.}, number={8}, journal={GENES}, author={Iorizzo, Massimo and Curaba, Julien and Pottorff, Marti and Ferruzzi, Mario G. and Simon, Philipp and Cavagnaro, Pablo F.}, year={2020}, month={Aug} }
 @article{iorizzo_cavagnaro_bostan_zhao_zhang_simon_2019, title={A Cluster of MYB Transcription Factors Regulates Anthocyanin Biosynthesis in Carrot (Daucus carota L.) Root and Petiole}, volume={9}, ISSN={["1664-462X"]}, DOI={10.3389/fpls.2018.01927}, abstractNote={Purple carrots can accumulate large quantities of anthocyanins in their roots and –in some genetic backgrounds- petioles, and therefore they represent an excellent dietary source of antioxidant phytonutrients. In a previous study, using linkage analysis in a carrot F2 mapping population segregating for root and petiole anthocyanin pigmentation, we identified a region in chromosome 3 with co-localized QTL for all anthocyanin pigments of the carrot root, whereas petiole pigmentation segregated as a single dominant gene and mapped to one of these “root pigmentation” regions conditioning anthocyanin biosynthesis. In the present study, we performed fine mapping combined with gene expression analyses (RNA-Seq and RT-qPCR) to identify candidate genes controlling anthocyanin pigmentation in the carrot root and petiole. Fine mapping was performed in four carrot populations with different genetic backgrounds and patterns of pigmentation. The regions controlling root and petiole pigmentation in chromosome 3 were delimited to 541 and 535 kb, respectively. Genome wide prediction of transcription factor families known to regulate the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway coupled with orthologous and phylogenetic analyses enabled the identification of a cluster of six MYB transcription factors, denominated DcMYB6 to DcMYB11, associated with the regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis. No anthocyanin biosynthetic genes were present in this region. Comparative transcriptome analysis indicated that upregulation of DcMYB7 was always associated with anthocyanin pigmentation in both root and petiole tissues, whereas DcMYB11 was only upregulated with pigmentation in petioles. In the petiole, the level of expression of DcMYB11 was higher than DcMYB7. DcMYB6, a gene previously suggested as a key regulator of carrot anthocyanin biosynthesis, was not consistently associated with pigmentation in either tissue. These results strongly suggest that DcMYB7 is a candidate gene for root anthocyanin pigmentation in all the genetic backgrounds included in this study. DcMYB11 is a candidate gene for petiole pigmentation in all the purple carrot sources in this study. Since DcMYB7 is co-expressed with DcMYB11 in purple petioles, the latter gene may act also as a co-regulator of anthocyanin pigmentation in the petioles. This study provides linkage-mapping and functional evidence for the candidacy of these genes for the regulation of carrot anthocyanin biosynthesis.}, journal={FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE}, author={Iorizzo, Massimo and Cavagnaro, Pablo F. and Bostan, Hamed and Zhao, Yunyang and Zhang, Jianhui and Simon, Philipp W.}, year={2019}, month={Jan} }
 @article{cavagnaro_iorizzo_2019, title={Carrot Anthocyanin Diversity, Genetics, and Genomics}, ISBN={["978-3-030-03388-0"]}, ISSN={["2199-479X"]}, DOI={10.1007/978-3-030-03389-7_15}, abstractNote={Purple carrots (Daucus carota ssp. sativus var. atrorubens Alef.) accumulate anthocyanins in their roots, petioles, and other plant parts. These flavonoid pigments represent an excellent dietary source of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents. In addition, carrot anthocyanins are also used as food dyes. Compositional variation in carrot root, mainly with regard to the content of acylated (AA) and non-acylated anthocyanins (NAA), strongly influences the bioavailability and chemical stability of these pigments, therefore conditioning their potential use as nutraceutical agents or as food colorants. In this context, genetic diversity analysis for root anthocyanin composition is relevant for selecting materials for either purpose. Also, knowledge on the genetic basis underlying anthocyanin biosynthesis and modification is expected to aid in the development of new varieties with high nutraceutical or for extracting food dyes. In the last decades, germplasm collections have been characterized for anthocyanin content and composition. Various simply inherited traits for root and petiole anthocyanin pigmentation and acylation, including P1, P3 and Raa1, and QTL for root anthocyanins, have been described and mapped to two regions of chromosome 3, in different genetic backgrounds. Recent advances in high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatic analyses have facilitated the discovery of candidate regulatory genes for root and petiole pigmentation associated with the P3 region in chromosome 3, as well as structural genes involved in anthocyanin glycosylation and acylation. In this chapter, we reviewed recent advances in diversity, genetic, and genomic studies related to carrot anthocyanin pigmentation.}, journal={CARROT GENOME}, author={Cavagnaro, Pablo F. and Iorizzo, Massimo}, year={2019}, pages={261–277} }
 @article{iorizzo_ellison_pottorff_cavagnaro_2019, title={Carrot Molecular Genetics and Mapping}, ISBN={["978-3-030-03388-0"]}, ISSN={["2199-479X"]}, DOI={10.1007/978-3-030-03389-7_7}, abstractNote={Carrot (Daucus carota L.) is an important root vegetable crop that is consumed worldwide and is appreciated for its taste and nutritional content (e.g., provitamin A carotenoids, anthocyanins, vitamins, and other minerals). Carrot genetic research has improved vastly over the past few decades due to advancements in molecular genomic resources developed for carrot. The increasing availability of DNA sequences such as expressed sequence tags (ESTs), creation of a physical map, sequencing of the carrot genome, and the numerous advancements in DNA genotyping has enabled the study of phenotypic variation of crop traits through the development of genetic linkage maps, which enable the ability to identify QTLs and their underlying genetic basis. In addition, the creation of genetic and genomic tools for carrot has enabled the study of diversity within carrot populations and germplasm collections, enabled genome-wide association studies (GWASs), characterization of populations at the species level, and comparative genomics with other crops and model species. Combined, these tools will advance the breeding process for carrot by enabling a targeted approach to improving traits by utilizing marker-assisted selection (MAS) strategies.}, journal={CARROT GENOME}, author={Iorizzo, Massimo and Ellison, Shelby and Pottorff, Marti and Cavagnaro, Pablo F.}, year={2019}, pages={101–117} }