Combined transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses identifies CsERF003, a citrus ERF transcription factor, as flavonoid activator

Transcription factor (TF) modulation is a promising strategy for plant flavonoid improvement. Here, we observed evident decreases in some major flavones and flavonols and the expression of some key related genes in a ‘Newhall’ navel orange mutant (MT) relative to the wild type (WT). A consistently downregulated ERF TF CsERF003 in MT could increase the contents of major flavonoids and the precursor phenylalanine when transiently overexpressed in citrus fruit. Overexpression of CsERF003 in ‘Micro-Tom’ tomato (OE) resulted in a darker and redder fruit color than wild type ‘Micro-Tom’ (WTm). Two major flavonoids, naringeninchalcone and kaempferolrutinoside, were averagely induced by 7.99- and 36.83-fold in OEs, respectively, while little change was observed in other polyphenols, such as caffeic acid, ferulic acid, and gallic acid. Key genes involved in the initiation of phenylpropanoid (PAL, 4CH, and 4CL) and flavonoid (CHS and CHI) biosynthesis were up-regulated, while most genes participating in the biosynthesis of other polyphenols, such as HCT and CCR, were down-regulated in OEs. Therefore, it could be concluded that carbon flux floods into the phenylpropanoid biosynthetic pathway and is then specifically directed for flavonoid biosynthesis. CsERF003 may be a potentially promising gene for fruit quality improvement and engineering of natural flavonoid components.