Expression of a Chromoplast-Specific Lycopene β-Cyclase Gene (-) Is Implicated in Carotenoid Accumulation and Coloration in the Loquat.

Carotenoids are the principal pigments in the loquat. Although the metabolic pathway of plant carotenoids has been extensively investigated, few studies have been explored the regulatory mechanisms of loquat carotenoids because knowledge of the loquat genome is incomplete. The chromoplast-specific lycopene β-cyclase gene (-) could catalyze cyclization of lycopene to β-carotene.