Combined Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Analysis of the Coloration Mechanism in Colored-Leaf Osmanthus fragrans ‘Jinyu Guihua’

The colored-leaf <i>Osmanthus fragrans</i> is a valuable ornamental tree species that integrates greenery, colorful leaves, and fragrance. At present, research on colored-leaf <i>Osmanthus fragrans</i> mainly focuses on cultivar breeding, classification and cultivation, and physiological resistance, while studies on leaf color variation remain limited. In this study, the colored-leaf <i>Osmanthus</i> cultivar 'Jinyu Guihua' and its female parent were used as materials. The leaf coloration mechanism was systematically investigated through a combined analysis of physiology, transcriptomics, and metabolomics. The results showed that compared with the female parent, the leaves of 'Jinyu Guihua' exhibited significantly reduced chlorophyll b and anthocyanin contents, fewer chloroplasts, and more plastoglobules. Transcriptomic analysis identified 3938 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), among which the key chlorophyll metabolism gene <i>CAO</i> was downregulated and <i>NOL</i> was upregulated; the key carotenoid synthesis gene <i>PSY</i> was downregulated and <i>CYP97A3</i> was upregulated; the key anthocyanin synthesis gene <i>ANS</i> was downregulated; and the <i>PetC2</i> gene in the photosynthesis-related Cytb6-f complex was upregulated. qRT-PCR validation results were consistent with the RNA-seq data. Metabolomic analysis detected 1290 metabolites, classified into 21 subcategories, with flavonoids being the most abundant (17.21%). Anthocyanin synthase (<i>ANS</i>) significantly downregulated the expression levels of cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside (Cy3R) and delphinidin-3-O-rutinoside (De3R). In conclusion, the leaf color variation in 'Jinyu Guihua' is closely related to changes in leaf pigment content and the regulation of key metabolic pathway gene expression. The findings of this study provide a theoretical basis for the molecular breeding of new colored-leaf <i>Osmanthus</i> varieties and serve as a reference for trait research in other ornamental plants.