Elucidation of the coloring mechanism using Hepatica nobilis var. japonica, having a high variety of the color polymorphism.

How the flower color polymorphism that occur within population has been interested in evolutionary biologist. Plants of the Hepatica nobilis var. japonica (Ranunculaceae), endemic to Japan, exhibits conspicuous flower color polymorphism (e.g. white, reddish purple, pure purple and bluish purple) has been observed within populations in Japan. Identifying the genes responsible for the flower color polymorphism in this species is important to elucidate the mechanism of polymorphism maintained. We will find the flower color related genes by comparative analysis of differential expressed genes (DEGs) among different flower color types. To reveal mechanism of maintenance of flower color polymorphism within population, estimation of nucleotide diversity, phylogenetic analysis, and inheritance pattern of the flower color related genes would be needed in future study.