First record of abnormal body coloration in a rockfish Sebastes koreanus(Scorpaenoidei:Sebastidae)from coastal water of China based on morphological characteristics and DNA barcoding

The first record of abnormal body coloration in Sebastes koreanus Kim and Lee,1994,from the Yellow Sea of China,was documented based on morphological characteristics and DNA barcoding.The two rockfish specimens were collected from the coastal waters of Qingdao,China,and the whole body and all fins of them were red.Of the two red-colored rockfish,there were tiny deep red spots on each fin,2 red radial stripes behind and below the eyes and 1 large deep red blotch on the opercula,while the similar stripe and spot patterns are also present in the S.koreanus specimens with normal body coloration.The countable characteristics of the two specimens are in the range of the morphometry of S.koreanus.To further clarify the species identity and taxonomic status of the two specimens,DNA barcode analysis was carried out.The genetic distance between the red-colored rockfish and S.koreanus was 0,and the minimum net genetic distances between the red-colored rockfish and other Sebastes species except for S.koreanus were 3.0%,which exceeds the threshold of species delimitation.The phylogenetic analysis showed that the DNA barcoding sequences of the two red-colored rockfish clustered with the S.koreanus sequences.The above results of DNA barcode analysis also support that the two red-colored rockfish could be identified as the species of S.koreanus.The mechanism of color variation in S.koreanus is desirable for further research and the species could be an ideal model to study the color-driven speciation of the rockfishes.

Unraveling the regulatory network of flower coloration in soybean:Insights into roles of GmMYBA3 and GmMYBR1

Anthocyanins play crucial roles in pollen protection and pollinator attraction in flowering plants.However,the mechanisms underlying flower color determination and whether floral anthocyanin regulators participate in other processes remain largely unresolved in soybeans(Glycine max).In this study,we investigated the genetic components and mechanisms governing anthocyanin biosynthesis in soybean flowers.Molecular and genetic studies have characterized two antagonistic regulators,the positive activator GmMYBA3 and the negative repressor GmMYBR1,that modulate the gene expression of anthocyanin biosynthesis in soybean flowers.Further findings revealed a regulatory interplay between GmMYBA3 and GmMYBR1 bridged by GmTT8a,highlighting the complexity of anthocyanin regulation in different soybean organs.Exploration of additional soybean cultivars demonstrated the universality of GmMYBA3 and GmMYBR1 in regulating floral anthocyanin biosynthesis-related genes,with GmF3’5’H identified as a crucial determinant of white flower color.This study provides a molecular mechanism underlying soybean flower color determination,paving the way for the molecular modification of soybean flowers to probably enhance their resistance to abiotic stresses and attractiveness to pollinators.

Insights into flavonoid biosynthesis during cucumber fruit peel coloration based on metabolite profiling and transcriptome analyses

The fruit peel color is a crucial trait of cucumber.To better understand the molecular mechanisms underlying cucumber peel coloration,we compared the UPLC-ESI-MS/MS-based flavonoid metabolomic and RNA sequencing-based transcriptomic profiling of the brown peeled cucumber line‘PW’at six developmental stages.A total of 210 flavonoid metabolites were identified.Of which,117 flavonoid metabolites were differentially accumulated.In this study,weighted gene co-expression network analysis combined with Kyoto Encyclopedia of Gene and Genomes enrichment analysis revealed key genes coding for seven enzymes and eight transcription factors(TFs)associated with flavonoid biosynthesis.Among them,the R2R3MYB CsaV3_4G001130 is the best candidate gene that is responsible for controlling mature fruit colors in cucumber.Sanger sequencing revealed one nonsynonymous SNP in the exon of CsaV3_4G001130 among the selected 11 cucumber lines,which introduced a premature stop codon,generating a truncated protein in pale yellow or creamy peeled fruits.Yeast two-hybrid assays showed a direct interaction of CsaV3_4G001130 with the bHLH TF CsaV3_1G002260 and the WD40 protein CsaV3_5G001800.However,the interactions were influenced by the nonsynonymous SNP we identified.Our finding revealed that the integrated transcriptome and metabolome analysis further demonstrated that the abundance of some pigmented flavonoids(especially anthocyanins and chalcones)contributed to the coloration of‘PW’fruits.These findings pave the way for elucidation of flavonoid biosynthesis and improvement of cucumber peel color in the future.

The R2R3-MYB transcription factor GaPC controls petal coloration in cotton

Although a few cases of genetic epistasis in plants have been reported, the combined analysis of genetically phenotypic segregation and the related molecular mechanism remains rarely studied. Here, we have identified a gene(named GaPC) controlling petal coloration in Gossypium arboreum and following a heritable recessive epistatic genetic model. Petal coloration is controlled by a single dominant gene,GaPC. A loss-of-function mutation of GaPC leads to a recessive gene Gapc that masks the phenotype of other color genes and shows recessive epistatic interactions. Map-based cloning showed that GaPC encodes an R2R3-MYB transcription factor. A 4814-bp long terminal repeat retrotransposon insertion at the second exon led to GaPC loss of function and disabled petal coloration. GaPC controlled petal coloration by regulating the anthocyanin and flavone biosynthesis pathways. Expression of core genes in the phenylpropanoid and anthocyanin pathways was higher in colored than in white petals. Petal color was conferred by flavonoids and anthocyanins, with red and yellow petals rich in anthocyanin and flavonol glycosides, respectively. This study provides new insight on molecular mechanism of recessive epistasis,also has potential breeding value by engineering GaPC to develop colored petals or fibers for multifunctional utilization of cotton.

Expression levels of GSTA2 and APOD genes might be associated with carotenoid coloration in golden pheasant(Chrysolophus pictus) plumage

Carotenoids, which generate yellow, orange, and red colors, are crucial pigments in avian plumage. Investigations into genes associated with carotenoid- based coloration in avian species are important; however, such research is difficult because carotenoids cannot be synthetized in vertebrates as they are only derived from dietary sources. Here, the golden pheasant （Chrysolophus pictus） was used as a model in analysis of candidate gene expression profiles implicated in carotenoid binding and deposition. Using mass and Raman spectrometry to confirm the presence of carotenoids in golden pheasant feathers, we found C40H540 and C40H5602 in feathers with yellow to red colors, and in the rachis of iridescent feathers. The global gene expression profiles in golden pheasant skins were analyzed by RNA-seq and all six carotenoid binding candidate genes sequenced were studied by real- time PCR. STAR4, GSTA2, Scarbl, and APOD in feather follicles showed different expressions in red breast and orange nape feathers compared with that of iridescent mantle feathers. Further comparison of golden pheasant yellow rump and Lady Amherst＇s pheasant （Chrysolophus amherstiae） white nape feathers suggested that GSTA2 and APOD played a potential role in carotenoid-based coloration in golden pheasant.

Physiological and Transcriptomic Changes During Autumn Coloration and Senescence in Ginkgo biloba Leaves

Autumn leaf senescence and coloration is a complex process and a striking natural phenomenon.Here,through biology approach integrating transcriptomic analyses in Ginkgo biloba,we determined that the content of chlorophyll decreased during leaf senescence,while carotenoid components increased until late October in the turning stage(TS)and then decreased in the yellow leaf stage(YS).Simultaneously,chlorophyll biosynthesis genes exhibited significantly lower expression levels while chlorophyll degradation genes showed increased expression from the green leaf stage(GS)to YS.However,carotenoid biosynthesis-related genes showed enhanced expression,especially in TS.An analysis of the expression of genes related to senescence demonstrated that the expression levels of most abscisic acid-and jasmonic acid-related genes,autophagy,WRKY,and NAC genes increased,whereas cytoskeleton-,photosynthesis-,and antioxidation-related genes decreased from GS to YS.Furthermore,G.biloba seedlings exogenously treated with abscisic acid,jasmonic acid,or ultraviolet-B radiation all showed obvious color variation and senescence symptoms.We used these exogenously seedlings to further validate the function of several genes involved in chlorophyll biosynthesis and senescence.Taken together,these results contribute to the elucidation of the molecular mechanisms of leaf coloration and senescence in G.biloba as well as in the identification of candidate genes involved in this process.

Review: Physical Coloration-Nanoscopic Science and Macroscopic Impact

Physical coloration stimulated the development of a new era of science and technology some hundred years earlier.It is now again presenting us new opportunities and challenges on multiple fronts.This article focuses on a selectively few of them that are more directional in nature:scalable nanomanufacturing of physical coloration,physical amplification of colorimetric sensing,and provision of biophilic lighting with real-time full-spectrum physical coloration.Physical coloration is a rather large multi-dimensional field that is open and awaiting for creative minds and hands.Its impact has been broad and profound to the well-being of humankind.This article attempts to complement the reviews of broad scopes available in literature by one with a narrower focus on the more recent advances on the three fronts.

The Effect of Live Food on the Coloration and Growth in Guppy Fish, <i>Poecilia reticulata</i>

Colour production in fish is due mostly to food. In conditions of captivity, the type of food is restricted, while various types of food are used in aquaculture, from processed dry food to small aquatic animals. In this study, we used nauplii of Artemia franciscana, “water fleas” Moina wierzejski, micro-worm Panagrellus redivivus, and commercial flakes. We used Poecilia reticulata, which is one of the most traded fish in ornamental aquaculture and hypothesise that if the live food influences the coloration and growth of P. reticulata, there must be differences in the intensity of colour pattern and growth rate in fish fed with different living animals. Consistent with our prediction, females and males of P. reticulata were more colourful when they were fed on A. franciscana, P. redivivus and M. wierzejski than when they were fed commercial flakes. Females and males of P. reticulata fed with A. franciscana grew in less time than fish fed with P. redivivus, M. wierzejski, or commercial flakes. We conclude that live food is an excellent way to affect growth and coloration in fish.

Expression of Genes Affecting Skin Coloration and Sugar Accumulation in Apple Fruits at Ripening Stages in High Temperatures

High temperature is one of the most important environmental factors that affect the successful cultivation of apple (Malus × domestica Borkh). The expression of genes related with anthocyanin synthesis and sugar accumulation by high temperature treatment was investigated in the fruits of “Fuji” apple at different developmental stages in different temperature conditions through real- time PCR. In the initial ripening stages in fruits, there was high expression of genes associated with fruit ripening, flavonoid compound accumulation, and coloration in high temperatures. Expression of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, chalcone synthase, flavone 3-hydrogenase, and malate dehydrogenase genes increased gradually in initial ripening stages, while sharply reduced at 24 hr after treatment. In addition, there was no significant difference in the expression of all temperature treatments in late ripening stages. In the further work, investigation of expression levels of various genes could be conducted in the level of transcriptomes from fruits at the early stages to get meaningful information of ripening metabolism in apples in high temperatures.

THE INFLUENCE OF COMPOSITION AND TEMPERATURE OF BATH ANDAFTER-TREATMENT 0N COLORATION IN COLORING HOT DIPGALVANIZATION

The 08 Al steel sheets were hot dip ped into Zn - Mn bath with 0 1 % Mn and 0 2 % Mn at600 ～420 ℃ bath tem perature , and then w ere treated in different w ays . The after - treat ments include cooling in the air at room tem perature directly , holding at the upper part of thehot dip galvanizing furnace for 60 s an d then holding at 510 ±10 ℃for 90 s . The results in dicated that blue , yellow , and purple , w hose coloration varied with the co m position an d thetem perature of bath and the w ays of after - treat ment . Finally , the mechanism of coloredzinc coating w as discussed .

Adsorption of Cu and Ni Ions from Aqueous Solutions by Commercial Activated Carbon and the Reutilization in Glass Coloration

Toxic Cu(Ⅱ) and Ni(Ⅱ) ions in aqueous solutions were adsorbed by microporous activated carbon(AC). The adsorption isotherm and kinetics correlation coefficients indicate that the adsorption of Cu(Ⅱ) and Ni(Ⅱ) ions on the AC fits the pseudo second-order rate model and Langmuir adsorption model. The used AC adsorbents containing the adsorbed Cu and Ni ions were used as colorant in glass preparation. The coloration effect of Cu ions was influenced by the carbon absorbent included in the glass batch due to the reduction phenomenon, while the coloration of Ni ions was not affected.

Preparation of Cr-Doped YAlO3 Red Ceramic Pigment and the Coloration Mechanism

The red ceramic pigment is widely used in industrial production, but the pigments with pure color and bright red performance are rare. Therefore, it is important to study and develop new red ceramic pigment with perfect color performance. This paper reports the preparation of Cr-doped YAlO_3 red ceramic pigment rendering by sol-gel method with high temperature resistance, good color and proposed color mechanism. The prepared samples were characterized by XRD, SEM, EDS and UV-vis, and the effects of Cr on the crystal structure, color rendering properties and color mechanism were discussed. The results showed that the optimum concentration of coloring agent（Cr） in Cr：YAlO_3 red ceramic pigment was 3 at.%. The main color mechanism was also discussed. Compared with the solid phase sintering and precipitation methods for the synthesis of red ceramic pigment, the sol-gel method possessed obvious advantages, such as perfect mixing of the raw materials, uniform dispersion of doping ions and the pure color.

Influence of ambient water coloration on habitat and conspecific choice in the female Lake Malawi cichlid, Metriaclima zebra

Female cichlid fish living in African great lakes are known to have sensory systems that are adapted to ambient light environments.These sen-sory system adaptations are hypothesized to have influenced the evolution of the diverse male nuptial coloration.In rock-dwelling Lake Malawi mbuna cichlids,however,the extent to which ambient light environments influence female sensory systems and potentially associated male nuptial coloration remains unknown.Yet,the ubiquitous blue flank coloration and UV reflection of male mbuna cichlids suggest the potential impacts of the blue-shifted ambient light environment on these cichlid's visual perception and male nuptial coloration in the shallow water depth in Lake Malawi.In the present study,we explored whether and how the sensory bias of females influences intersexual communication in the mbuna cichlid,Metriaclima zebra.A series of choice experiments in various light environments showed that M.zebra females (1)have a pref-erence for the blue-shifted light environment,(2)prefer to interact with males in blue-shifted light environments,(3)do not show a preference between dominant and subordinate males in full-spectrum,long-wavelength filtered,and short-wavelength filtered light environments,and (4)show a"reversed"preference for subordinate males in the UV-filtered light environment.These results suggest that the visual perception of M.zebra females may be biased to the ambient light spectra in their natural habitat by local adaptation and that this sensory bias may influence the evolution of blueand UV reflectivepatterns in male nuptial coloration.

High-quality reference genomes of swallowtail butterflies provide insights into their coloration evolution

Swallowtail butterflies(Papilionidae)are a historically significant butterfly group due to their colorful wing patterns,extensive morphological diversity,and phylogenetically important position as a sister group to all other butterflies and have been widely studied regarding ecological adaption,phylogeny,genetics,and evolution.Notably,they contain a unique class of pigments,i.e.,papiliochromes,which contribute to their color diversity and various biological functions such as predator avoidance and mate preference.To date,however,the genomic and genetic basis of their color diversity and papiliochrome origin in a phylogenetic and evolutionary context remain largely unknown.Here,we obtained high-quality reference genomes of 11 swallowtail butterfly species covering all tribes of Papilioninae and Parnassiinae using long-read sequencing technology.Combined with previously published butterfly genomes,we obtained robust phylogenetic relationships among tribes,overcoming the challenges of incomplete lineage sorting(ILS)and gene flow.Comprehensive genomic analyses indicated that the evolution of Papilionidae-specific conserved non-exonic elements(PSCNEs)and transcription factor binding sites(TFBSs)of patterning and transporter/cofactor genes,together with the rapid evolution of transporters/cofactors,likely promoted the origin and evolution of papiliochromes.These findings not only provide novel insights into the genomic basis of color diversity,especially papiliochrome origin in swallowtail butterflies,but also provide important data resources for exploring the evolution,ecology,and conservation of butterflies.

Does melanin-based plumage coloration reflect health status of free-living birds in urban environments?

Background:Ecological functions and processes in urban ecosystems are governed by various human activities.City-adapted and city-exploiting animal species are expected to present certain specific behavioral and physiological traits in comparison to city-avoiders or conspecific individual frequenting less urbanized or rural environments.A trait of high importance,the plumage color polymorphism has been selected as the main study model and was correlated with different morphological and physiological parameters to highlight its importance in determining the possible health status of urban Feral Pigeons(Columba livia)in North African urban habitats.Methods:Different body morphometrics,hematological and hemoparasitic parameters were quantified on freeliving Feral Pigeons in urban environments of northern Algeria.Moreover,plumage melanin-based coloration(MBC)was measured and the data collected at the individual scale was correlated with the previous parameters using linear and non-linear modeling approaches.Results:Plumage MBC scores of the sampled Feral Pigeons ranged between 0.3%and 74.8%.Among the 12 morphological traits measured,body weight,tail length and total length were deemed to be positively correlated with MBC.Darker morphs appeared to have more hemoparasites compared to lighter pigeons.Quite the same observation goes with the immunity but with non-linear trends.The number of monocytes and granulocytes increased with the increase in MBC levels in lighter morphs,while pigeons with high MBC scores exhibited negative relationships between MBC levels and the number of white blood cells.Conclusions:Despite the existence of a number of studies demonstrating phenotypic directional selection,further studies are undoubtedly necessary to understand in detail the underlying mechanisms in species life-history strategies between differently colored individuals.Findings of this correlative study open exciting perspectives revealing that MBC can be considered a good indicator of and health status and adaptation strategies to changes in urban environments.

Light Intensity Affects the Coloration and Structure of Chimeric Leaves of Ananas comosus var.bracteatus

Ananas comosus var.bracteatus is an important ornamental plant because of its green/white chimeric leaves.The accumulation of anthocyanin makes the leaf turn to red especially in the marginal part.However,the red fades away in summer and winter.Light intensity is one of the most important factors affecting leaf color along the seasons.In order to understand the effects of light intensity on the growth and coloration of the chimeric leaves,Ananas comosus var.bracteatus was grown under full sunlight,50%shade and 75%shade for 75 days to evaluate the concentration of pigments,the color parameters(values L^(*),a^(*),b^(*))and the morpho-anatomical variations of chimeric leaves.The results showed that a high irradiance was beneficial to keep the chimeric leaves red.However,prolonged exposure to high irradiance caused a damage,some of the leaves wrinkled and even burned.Shading instead decreased the concentration of anthocyanin and increased the concentration of chlorophyll,especially in the white marginal part of the leaves.Numerous chloroplasts were observed in the mesophyll cells of the white marginal part of the chimeric leaves under shading for 75 days.The increase in chlorophyll concentration resulted in a better growth of plants.In order to balance the growth and coloration of the leaves,approximately 50%shade is suggested to be the optimum light irradiance condition for Ananas comosus var.bracteatus in summer.

Dietary Plant Extracts Combined with Vitamin E Limit the Discoloration in Stored n-3 PUFA Rich Meat

In finishing cull-cows given n-3 PUFA-rich diets (for 101 ± 3 days preceding slaughter), the ability of vitamin E (2.8 g/animal/day) or vitamin E associated with plant extracts rich in polyphenols (PERP) (126 g/animal/day) to limit discoloration was evaluated on color attributes of Longissimus thoracis (LT) and Semitendinosus (ST) processed meat. Color attributes were determined after muscles ageing and retail display in different packaging systems consisting in 14 d. under vacuum (V), 4 d. aerobic (A) or 7 d. under modified atmosphere (70:30, O2/CO2) (MA). Vit. E associated with PERP were able to limit color deterioration by decreasing metmyoglobin% in ST and LT for all tested packaging systems. The antioxidant association increased the L* coordinate and the oxygenation index as compared with vit. E alone. We show the possibility to limit color deterioration of processed beef by an original dietary antioxidant strategy during the finishing period.

Transforming the Snapdragon Aurone Biosynthetic Genes into Petunia Alters Coloration Patterns in Transgenic Flowers

Aurones belong to a small class of flavonoids that provide yellow color in some floricultural plants including snapdragon. To explore novel flower coloration, two full-length cDNAs encoding chalcone 4'-O-glucosyltransferase (designated as SRY4'CGT) and aureusidin synthase (designated as SRYAS1) in the aurone biosynthetic pathway were cloned from yellow flowers of snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus cv. Ribbon Yellow). Binary vectors were constructed and transformed separately into Petunia hybrida harboring blue flowers. Only a few flowers in 4 out of 9 transgenic SRY4'CGT plants showed variegated blue-white sectors;as time passed, amounts of variegated flowers and proportion of white sectors in the background blue color of the new-born flowers gradually increased, until finally, the petal color was completely white in all late-born flowers. In contrast, a few flowers in 3 out of 13 transgenic SRYAS1 plants showed variegated blue-white sectors;but, the amounts of variegated flowers did not increase over the whole flowering stage, and no complete white flowers were observed. RNA samples isolated from blue and white sectors of T1 transgenic SRY4'CGT plants were analyzed by reverse transcription-PCR, transgenic SRY4'CGT transcripts were detected in both sectors;however, transcripts of an upstream gene, chalcone synthase (CHS), were abundantly detected in the blue sectors but largely reduced in the white sectors, suggesting that the expression of CHS gene was suppressed in white sectors of transgenic plants. Furthermore, HPLC coupled with mass spectrometry demonstrated cyandin, malvidin and their derivatives were absent in white sectors, causing the white phenotype. Our findings may be attractive to molecular breeders.

Changes in Tree Frog (<i>Hyla savignyi</i>) Coloration in Unstable Habitats at the Southern Border of Its Distribution

This study examined the relationship between tree frog (Hyla savignyi) coloring and its different seasonal habitats at the southern border of its distribution. The results show that tree frog color is affected by the dominant colors in its habitat, which vary seasonally, especially between winter and summer. Tree frog colors were various shades of green, white, brown, and black. No genetic marker was found to characterize the color. The ability of a small frog to infer its own time with the help of color changes occurring in the habitat on the southern border of its distribution, which are relatively broad, gives this species an advantage.