Table 1_Anthocyanins in woody ornamental plants: biosynthesis, regulatory networks, and trade-offs in stress adaptation.docx

Increasing evidence has shown that both biotic and abiotic stresses can markedly affect anthocyanin biosynthesis and accumulation, thereby influencing plant defense capacity, stress tolerance, and metabolic reprogramming. In addition to serving as pigments, anthocyanins contribute to plant protection through multiple mechanisms, including reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging, metal chelation, photoprotection, and the modulation of stress-related signaling pathways.

In ornamental plants, particularly woody ornamentals, anthocyanins not only determine key aesthetic traits such as flower and leaf coloration, but also serve as critical components of the stress defense system. However, compared with herbaceous model plants, the regulatory networks and functional roles of anthocyanins in these species remain insufficiently studied. This review comprehensively explores the molecular regulatory mechanisms of anthocyanin accumulation in woody plants under various stresses.