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There are some interestingly colorful citric fruits that have been manufactured by the University of Florida scientists. They have genetically engineered limes with genetic factors that result in grape skin and blood orange pulp, which can help them to create Mexican limes with a protein stimulating anthocyanin biosynthesis.

This is the process that leads to the scarlet color in red wine.

Hence, the colors of the lime can vary from dark purple to fuchsia along with a number of beneficial health effects. "Novel fruit, leaf, and flower colors could be produced by regulating anthocyanin biosynthesis," Manjul Dutt, who participated in the research, said in a press release. "Flower color ranged from light pink to fuchsia."

"Anthocyanins are beneficial bioflavonoids that have numerous roles in human well-being. Numerous pharmacological studies have implicated their intake to the prevention of a number of human health issues, such as obesity and diabetes," Dutt explained.

The genes isolated from the "red grape and the blood orange" were employed by the researchers to undertake the research so that they could make a "consumer-friendly, plant-derived system" for blood oranges. They need to develop their strange colors in cold temperatures. Injecting anthocyanins into limes can not only make the color changes of the fruit, but also the leaves, stems, and flowers to show some interesting hues.

The study will be published in the January issue of the Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science.