Transcriptome sequencing of Bixa orellana L. to study the gene expression profile during seed development

Bixa orellana L. or achiote produces high levels of important metabolites. Among its main compounds are the carotenoids from which bixin derives. This red-orange pigment is extracted from achiote seeds and is mainly used to color food products. International trade interest in bixin as a food industry dye has been growing gradually because it is safe for human consumption stable and water-soluble substance for industrial use. Currently, its demand is more significant than its supply.However, achiote reduction faces a problem because of the heterogeneity of its bixin content.The bixin biosynthesis pathway has been documented in a heterologous system; however, recently, our research group analyzed achiote transcriptome (Cardenas-Conejo et al., 2015), and we found several related candidates for bixin biosynthesis. Thanks to these transcriptomes analysis, the availability of this essential resource will facilitate research to elucidate the genes involved in bixin synthesis. Then it will be possible to clarify the different steps of the bixin biosynthesis pathway.