Cloning and sequence analysis of chalcone synthase gene in Curcuma alismatifolia

Ornamental curcuma species are tropical flower plants with the second largest amount of floral-plant export of Thailand (rhizome, cut flower, and potted plant). Introducing new cultivars with a wide range of bract colors is essential in the flowering-plant industry in order to keep customer’s interest.
Flavonoids are the major pigments responsible for the colors of Curcuma alismatifolia and the first step of the flavonoid biosynthesis is catalyzed by chalcone synthase (CHS). The aim of this study was to characterize CHS gene from Curcuma alismatifolia. A CHS cDNA clone was isolated from Curcuma alismatifolia using Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) and 5′-3′ Rapid Amplification of cDNA End (5′-3′ RACE). The full length of CHS cDNA was 1,416 bp long, containing 1,194 bp open reading frame (ORF), translated for 397 amino acid polypeptide with a calculated molecular weight of 43.45 Kilodaltons.
The CHS amino acid sequence was closely related to chalcone synthase-like protein from Curcuma longa with 98% identity (accession number AEU17693).

I International Symposium on Tropical and Subtropical Ornamentals

S. Chanapan, B. Tontiworachai, R. Deewatthanawong, A. Suwanagul

curcuma, flavonoid, chalcone synthase

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2017.1167.43