Abstract: The apple NAC（NAM，ATAF1/2，CUC2）gene MdNAC029 was cloned by using PCR technology from the red flesh apple that was separated from the cross between‘Guanghui’（Malus spectabilis）and‘Orin’（Malus × domestica）. The open reading frame（ORF）of MdNAC029 contained 843 bp，encoding a protein of 280 amino acid residues. Conserved domain analysis showed that MdNAC029 contained a conserved NAC domain. The transcriptional analysis indicated that the expression of MdNAC029 was higher in the red flesh apple than non-red flesh apple. The MdNAC029-overexpressing apple calli exhibited increased anthocyanin content，suggesting that MdNAC029 might play an important role in regulating anthocyanin accumulation. The sequence of MdMYB1 promoter region was analyzed and a putative NAC-DNA binding motif was found. Meanwhile，the transient expression assays were performed in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. And the results showed that MdNAC029 could induce the expression of MdMYB1. It is speculated that MdNAC029 up-regulates anthocyanin accumulation by directly promoting the transcript of MdMYB1.

Key words: apple, NAC transcription factor, MdMYB1, anthocyanin