PpBBX24 is a candidate negative regulator of pear (Pyrus) anthocyanin biosynthesis

Pear (Pyrus) is one of the most important fruit tree in the world. Here, using the genotyping by sequencing (GBS) approach, we were able to detect the SNPs within ‘Yuluxiang’, ‘Hongzaosu’ and their 176 progenies. Through utilizing the SNPs, we constructed a new genetic map. In this genetic map, there were 3,032 SNP markers and they were distributed to 17 linkage groups. The total length of the genetic map is 1,196.035 cM. Through quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping, we identified PpBBX24 and it is supposed to be a candidate gene responsible for the red color of ‘Hongzaosu’. Further analysis revealed that PpBBX24 is a homologous gene of PpBBX21 and MdCOL4, both of which are negative regulators of anthocyanin biosynthesis. This study provided a genetic map which is valuable for the QTL mapping of the genes controlling key phenotypes in this population and identified a candidate gene regulating anthocyanin biosynthesis in pear.