万寿菊是重要的叶黄素来源和类胡萝卜素积累调控研究系统，其花色主要取决于花瓣内叶黄素含量。万寿菊黄色花瓣自交系V-01M来源于橘红色自交系V-01的自然突变，其花色突变的转录调控机理尚不明确。本研究利用V-01和V-01M以及雄性不育系S121AB及杂交F1为材料，采用转录组测序技术，初步筛选调控万寿菊类胡萝卜素合成的相关功能基因，通过荧光定量PCR和高效液相色谱分析候选基因表达与类胡萝卜素含量的相关性，确定调控花色突变的关键基因。通过在万寿菊中过量表达和沉默手段，分析目标基因功能，阐述其参与类胡萝卜素积累的分子调控网络。本项目的实施将克隆万寿菊花色调控关键基因，加深人们对植物类胡萝卜素积累调控机制的认识。

Marigold is both a source of lutein and a model system for the study of regulation of carotenoid accumulation in plants, and carotenoid content determines color of its petals. Marigold inhred line V-01M with yellow petals was originated from V-01 which has orange petals, and the mechanism of mutation from orange to yellow is unclear. In this study, based on V-01, V-01M, S121AB and their F1 hybrid, different genes were screened from the related materials. By real-time PCR and HFLC, correlation between expression of certain genes and carotenoid content was analyzed to obtain related functional genes. Over-expression and gene silence of the target gene in marigold were made to confirm the role of those key genes in regulating carotenoid accumulation in marigold. This study will clone the key gene regulating flower color, provide a gene for related trait modification and deepen our understanding of .the knowledge of carotenoid accumulation in plants