Breeding glittering carnations by an efficient mutagenesis syst

We have developed a systematic and directed method to create novel glittering mutants in carnation (D ianthus caryophyllus) by combining the advantages of ion-beam breeding and genomic information. �e method is a series of steps that include: (i) establishing a basic strategy to select appropriate genotypes for specic breeding aims using genomic information, (ii) identifying factors that induce anthocyanic vacuolar inclusions (AVIs), (iii) using ion-beam irradiation consecutively to modify pigment glycosylation and/or acylation, (iv) tuning shading of color, and (v) selecting stable m utants with markers. During the course of this work, we identied a factor that causes AVIs and analyzed the content of anthocyanins and related compounds in theowers of these mutants. Applying the method, we have created two highly novel carnations with the most glittering color ever reported. Abbreviations: AMalT, anthocyanin malyltransferase; AVIs, anthocyanic vacuolar inclusions; Cy3G, cyanidin 3-glucoside; Cy3,5dG, cyanidin 3,5-diglucoside; Cy3MG, cyanidin 3-malylglucoside; Cy3,5cMdG, cyanidin 3,5-cyclicmalyldiglucoside; GST, glutathione S-transferase; Pg3G, pelargonidin 3-glucoside; Pg3,5dG, pelargonidin 3,5-diglucoside; Pg3MG, pelargonidin 3-malylglucoside; Pg3,5cMdG, pelargonidin