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Open Access

ARTICLE

Functional Characterization of LsMYB1, a Positive Regulator of Anthocyanin Biosynthesis in Lettuce

Xuebing Zhu1,2, Yongqiang Jiang1,2, Wei Li1,2, Lihui Wang1,2, Xuemei Sun1,2,*
1 Academy of Agriculture & Forestry, Qinghai University, Xining, China
2 Laboratory for Research and Utilization of Germplasm Resources in Qinghai Tibet Plateau, Qinghai University, Xining, China
* Corresponding Author: Xuemei Sun. Email: email
(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Advances in Plant Breeding and Genetic Improvement: Leveraging Molecular Markers and Novel Genetic Strategies)

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany https://doi.org/10.32604/phyton.2026.083772

Received 10 April 2026; Accepted 04 June 2026; Published online 30 June 2026

Abstract

Although transcriptional regulators of anthocyanin biosynthesis have been studied in many crops, the regulatory network controlling the purple leaf trait in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) remains incompletely understood. Our previous transcriptome analysis identified LsMYB1. This study further carried out the cloning and structural feature analysis of the LsMYB1 gene, and systematically verified its function using the tobacco heterologous overexpression system and CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology. Sequence analysis revealed a structural difference between the two alleles: the LsMYB1 allele in the purplecultivar contains two introns and three exons, whereas the allele in the greencultivar comprises only a single exon. Overexpression of the purple-associated LsMYB1 allele in tobacco induced anthocyanin accumulation and purple pigmentation. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutagenesis of LsMYB1 in lettuce resulted in reduced anthocyanin content and loss of purple color in most leaf areas. These results confirmsthat LsMYB1 is a regulator of anthocyanin biosynthesis in leaf lettuce. This study also highlights the potential role of allelic structural variation in trait diversification and provides a candidate gene for breeding lettuce with enhanced anthocyanin content.

Keywords

Leaf lettuce; anthocyanin; MYB; genetic transformation; CRISPR/Cas9

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