Petunia hybrida is one of the most popular pottedplant
species. Cascade/creeping types of P. hybrida
derived from a wild species have been commanding high
market values for last 15 years. Although petunia flower
color was modified by genetic transformation, the results
have been mainly obtained by over- or down-expression
of a single gene in experimental petunia lines whose
genotypes are characterized. In this study, we aimed
to modify flower color of the commercial petunias
including creeping/cascade varieties by genetic
engineering focusing on commercial values of
phenotypes. The changes are the result of: 1. Gene
suppression; 2. Suppression of an endogenous gene and
expression of a heterologous gene; and 3. Modification
of copigments. The results should be also significant to
engineer plant secondary metabolic pathway.