花色形成及其调控机理研究是观赏植物次生代谢研究的热点与核心问题，但有关传统名花杜鹃的花色苷代谢研究却在很大程度上落后于百合、菊花等观赏植物，且目前关于杜鹃花色苷代谢与调控机理的研究尚处在起步阶段，相关分子信息非常有限，这极大地限制了研究者对杜鹃的花色改良及其药用和可食用价值的开发利用。本项目以黔产马缨杜鹃为研究材料，综合利用分子生物学、遗传学和生物化学技术从三个方面对类黄酮3-O-糖基转移酶（3GT）调控马缨杜鹃花色形成的机理进行研究：⑴ 马缨杜鹃花朵花色苷的定性与定量分析；⑵ 影响马缨杜娟花色形成的关键3GT基因的筛选与克隆；⑶ 全面系统地解析关键3GT基因的生物学功能。本项目旨在揭示3GT对马缨杜鹃花色形成的影响及调控机理。相关研究一方面可以丰富并补充国内外关于杜鹃花色成色机制研究的空缺，另一方面所获得的有功能的3GT基因可以直接用于植物花色改良，具有重要的科学理论意义和应用价值。

Flower color formation and its regulation mechanism is the most studied secondary metabolic pathway in ornamental plant. But the anthocyanin mechanism of Rhododendron has been extended to other ornamental plants, particularly lily and chrysanthemum. Moreover, the study on anthocyanin mechanism and its regulation of Rhododendron is still in its infancy, and the related molecular information is very limited, which greatly limits the improvement of flower color of Rhododendron, as well as its medicinal and edible value. In this study, Rhododendron delavayi is used as material, and several approaches will be taken to verify the mechanism of flower color formation of Rhododendron delavayi on the following three aspects: ⑴ Qualitative and quantitative analyses of anthocyanin on flower of Rhododendron delavayi; ⑵ screening and cloning of the key 3GT genes that affect flower color formation of Rhododendron delavayi; ⑶ Comprehensive analysis of the biological function of the key 3GT genes. The objective of this project is to elucidate the influence and mechanism of 3GT genes on flower color formation of Rhododendron delavayi. The potential results will provide new insights into the mechanism of flower color formation of Rhododendron. On the other hand, the key 3GT genes acquired in the study will be used for flower color modification directly, and all this implies their theoretical significance and application values in modern agriculture.