Multiomics analysis unravels a UV-B-mediated regulatory network of anthocyanin biosynthesis in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.).

UV-B exposure activates a LsHY5a/b-LsMYB113b transcriptional cascade, increasing anthocyanin levels in lettuce, with UV-B positively correlating to anthocyanin accumulation.

• Why it matters: Understanding how UV-B influences anthocyanin biosynthesis addresses a key gap in optimizing nutrient-rich lettuce production in greenhouse systems with limited natural UV-B light.
• What they did: Researchers integrated metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses of lettuce grown under UV-sufficient and UV-deficient conditions, identifying key regulatory genes and pathways involved.
• The result: The study reveals that UV-B induces anthocyanin accumulation through a specific transcriptional cascade, offering strategies to boost nutritional quality in controlled-environment horticulture.